About Us
The YARDSCAPING initiative formed out of the rising concern among statewide organizations and agencies over the possible pollution caused by yard care chemicals washing away into water bodies and the risks of pesticide exposure to people, pets and wildlife.
Gary Fish, a member of YardScaping and manager of pesticide programs at the Maine Board of Pesticides Control, knows how deep the pursuit for the perfect yard can go after working for the nation's largest yard care company.
“YardScaping hopes to change the way people think about their yards,” he said. “We hope to grow a better homeowner, so to speak.”
A “better” yard lover would need to lower their bar on perfection, learn to accept a few weeds and insects, leave grass clippings, reduce the size of their lawn, consider groundcovers in shady areas, select the right plant for the right place, to name a few.
To help get the word out about the program at the neighborhood level, property owners that have a YardScape or pledge to grow one can display a weather resistant YardScaping sign in their yards—much like the ones used by commercial lawn care companies after pesticides are applied.
The coalition also has started developing its first YardScaping demonstration site.
Working with the City of Portland, a public area has been selected for the site along the Back Cove. Once completed, it will showcase appropriate plantings in a beautiful, homeowner-doable way, plus serve as a model for municipalities across the state.
The demonstration project is funded in part by a $35,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
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