Hello
Let me introduce myself. I am MaLou, I live in Warwickshire and I have been living with Chemical Sensitivities for over thirty years. Whilst it is a heavy burden on my life it has gifted me an awareness of the impact that chemicals have in our garden. The natural ecosystem within our private space is an area of life that we chemically sensitive people can embrace, which in turn enables nature to repay us with wildflowers, butterflies, insects for fledgling birds. To list a few. So here are a couple of tips to help you be chemically free in your outdoor space.
Weed killers including lawn treatments have a huge impact on the health of your outdoor space. It is difficult to use any without risk of contamination. No it isnt fun weeding by hand and a quick squirt with a toxic substance will kill them. The spray may also float in your airspace while spraying or be ingested into your blood stream through your skin if you come into contact with it. Along with the weeds it will kill any insect close by. The pollen and seedheads from ‘weeds’ have huge benefits for wildlife so pull out the ones you don’t like but embrace the ones you do. Clover and daisies in your lawn are not so bad. Improving drainage and airflow in your soil by digging a garden fork into your lawn at regular intervals is both therapeutic and good exercise. Grass will flourish and so will nature. Within a year your worm population will increase and so will the wild birds feeding on them. I will never forget many years ago applying a lawn treatment and the next day witnessing the poor worms lying dead on the surface, unable to escape.
Mother Nature relies on us not to mess with the perfect home she has created. Stone cleaner sold to help clean up slabs when using a pressure washer will have you off guard as fragrance is not something to be expected in such products, but I havent found one that i dont react to. I just take longer without the help of chemicals. Insecticides are another no. You can use your fingers to remove bugs from plants or trim back to remove bulk of infestation. Or just let the insect predators work their magic. Wasps are fantastic pollinators and feast on our undesirable invertebrates. A healthy outdoor space will repay you with much needed fresh air which will enhance your general wellbeing. Add a birdbath into the equation and help our feathered friends stay hydrated and clean. Its a win win situation.
Please note. If you have old garden chemicals stored that you no longer wish to use please dispose of them safely by following guidance offered by your local recycling centre or tip as we used to call it. You cannot put them into general waste which goes to landfill.
MaLou
