MissionOur mission is to eliminate any barrier to having an all-natural lawn & garden, by providing the necessary education and resources to the West Michigan community.
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PurposeWhen it comes to lawn care, we've identified four problems in our West Michigan community that Good Sweet Earth Grassroots' programs can address.
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Problem #1: With around 40 million acres of lawn in the continental United States, turfgrass is by far the largest irrigated crop in the country. We have three times as much land set aside for growing turf as we do for irrigated corn. Each year, Americans apply around 90 million pounds of synthetic chemical fertilizer. These chemicals destroy the composition of our soils, pollute our waters and damage the creatures responsible for natural decomposition processes. Chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides also introduce toxins to humans, pets and wildlife, which are known to cause disease and other health problems.
Additionally, the manufacturing process of synthetic chemical fertilizers produces 1.9% of all carbon dioxide emissions around the world annually, which makes this a significant, and unnecessary, contributor of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.
Solution #1: Transitioning to a natural lawn maintenance program takes those toxic chemicals out of our soils. Natural fertilizers also promote decomposition of plant matter, which supports billions of microbes, earthworms, beetles and other critters in the soil, helping to keep soils from becoming compacted and sterile. Natural fertilization also puts carbon back into the soil, keeping it out of our atmosphere where it can become a greenhouse gas, contributing to the warming of the planet.
Problem #2: Since World War II, American’s have been convinced that the only attractive lawn is a monoculture– a dedicated space around a home covered uniformly with only one type of plant: turfgrass. The chemical lawn industry has marketed a standard ideal to Americans which is simply unsustainable– in both the short term and the long term. Because of the chemical industry’s marketing, any amount of diversity is seen as a failure in one’s lawn. Prior to World War II, however, plants like clover were regularly included in standard grass seed mixes and dandelions were not seen as a nuisance.
Homeowners far too often expect perfection from their lawn, because this is what the chemical industry has convinced us is “normal.” In an ongoing effort to attain that level of perfection, synthetic chemicals are applied again and again, in the hopes that any flaws will be instantly fixed.
The eradication of any amount of diversity from lawns is also contributing to the decline of pollinators’ populations. Without dandelions and clover populating the landscape, bees and other insects can’t find the food they need to sustain their numbers.
Solution #2: Education around what makes a lawn healthy is key to breaking the cycle of synthetic chemicals. Giving people the resources they need to effectively over-seed their lawns with grass and clover seed on an annual basis will eliminate the need for hundreds of thousands of pounds of synthetic weed killers and fertilizers, and will help us repopulate the area with those critical pollinators. Providing seed at no cost will encourage regular over-seeding of lawns. Increasing the use of clover, and encouraging a healthy level of diversity in lawns, will continue to make monocultures less “idealized” in our neighborhoods.
Problem #3: Nature works slowly. Synthetic chemicals, on the other hand, have given us the illusion of instant gratification. While applying a synthetic chemical may “fix” an immediate problem on a lawn, that chemical often creates several more problems down the road. Natural lawn maintenance (fertilization, pest control) doesn’t typically give instant results; rather it sets processes in motion: decomposition, diverse ecosystems, carbon fixation, etc. The problem arises when a homeowner spends hundreds, or upwards of a thousand dollars per year on natural treatments, but doesn’t see instant results. This can cause a homeowner to become frustrated and abandon their goal of a healthy, natural lawn, in favor of the quick fix of cheap chemicals.
Solution #3: By offering low-cost or no-cost organic fertilizer, pest control, grass seed, clover seed and soil amendments, we eliminate the “cost” excuse. The lure of cheap chemical fixes goes by the wayside if the natural fix is less expensive. Because natural lawn treatments can often take a year or two to show improvement, homeowners will be more inclined to stick with it if they know cost is not an issue.
Problem #4: A healthy, well-maintained lawn can add thousands of dollars in value to a home. Neighborhoods with healthy, well-maintained lawns can add hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in property value to communities. Unfortunately, many West Michigan households don’t have the resources available to purchase natural products that can improve the beauty and value of their homes.
Solution #4: By connecting with lower-income communities through churches, community centers and food pantries, we can provide the resources needed to help individuals grow healthier lawns, landscapes and gardens, with cost never being a barrier. This can increase property values, thus increasing wealth in marginalized communities across West Michigan.
Additionally, the manufacturing process of synthetic chemical fertilizers produces 1.9% of all carbon dioxide emissions around the world annually, which makes this a significant, and unnecessary, contributor of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.
Solution #1: Transitioning to a natural lawn maintenance program takes those toxic chemicals out of our soils. Natural fertilizers also promote decomposition of plant matter, which supports billions of microbes, earthworms, beetles and other critters in the soil, helping to keep soils from becoming compacted and sterile. Natural fertilization also puts carbon back into the soil, keeping it out of our atmosphere where it can become a greenhouse gas, contributing to the warming of the planet.
Problem #2: Since World War II, American’s have been convinced that the only attractive lawn is a monoculture– a dedicated space around a home covered uniformly with only one type of plant: turfgrass. The chemical lawn industry has marketed a standard ideal to Americans which is simply unsustainable– in both the short term and the long term. Because of the chemical industry’s marketing, any amount of diversity is seen as a failure in one’s lawn. Prior to World War II, however, plants like clover were regularly included in standard grass seed mixes and dandelions were not seen as a nuisance.
Homeowners far too often expect perfection from their lawn, because this is what the chemical industry has convinced us is “normal.” In an ongoing effort to attain that level of perfection, synthetic chemicals are applied again and again, in the hopes that any flaws will be instantly fixed.
The eradication of any amount of diversity from lawns is also contributing to the decline of pollinators’ populations. Without dandelions and clover populating the landscape, bees and other insects can’t find the food they need to sustain their numbers.
Solution #2: Education around what makes a lawn healthy is key to breaking the cycle of synthetic chemicals. Giving people the resources they need to effectively over-seed their lawns with grass and clover seed on an annual basis will eliminate the need for hundreds of thousands of pounds of synthetic weed killers and fertilizers, and will help us repopulate the area with those critical pollinators. Providing seed at no cost will encourage regular over-seeding of lawns. Increasing the use of clover, and encouraging a healthy level of diversity in lawns, will continue to make monocultures less “idealized” in our neighborhoods.
Problem #3: Nature works slowly. Synthetic chemicals, on the other hand, have given us the illusion of instant gratification. While applying a synthetic chemical may “fix” an immediate problem on a lawn, that chemical often creates several more problems down the road. Natural lawn maintenance (fertilization, pest control) doesn’t typically give instant results; rather it sets processes in motion: decomposition, diverse ecosystems, carbon fixation, etc. The problem arises when a homeowner spends hundreds, or upwards of a thousand dollars per year on natural treatments, but doesn’t see instant results. This can cause a homeowner to become frustrated and abandon their goal of a healthy, natural lawn, in favor of the quick fix of cheap chemicals.
Solution #3: By offering low-cost or no-cost organic fertilizer, pest control, grass seed, clover seed and soil amendments, we eliminate the “cost” excuse. The lure of cheap chemical fixes goes by the wayside if the natural fix is less expensive. Because natural lawn treatments can often take a year or two to show improvement, homeowners will be more inclined to stick with it if they know cost is not an issue.
Problem #4: A healthy, well-maintained lawn can add thousands of dollars in value to a home. Neighborhoods with healthy, well-maintained lawns can add hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in property value to communities. Unfortunately, many West Michigan households don’t have the resources available to purchase natural products that can improve the beauty and value of their homes.
Solution #4: By connecting with lower-income communities through churches, community centers and food pantries, we can provide the resources needed to help individuals grow healthier lawns, landscapes and gardens, with cost never being a barrier. This can increase property values, thus increasing wealth in marginalized communities across West Michigan.