Light pollution is a growing problem. An increasing body of evidence proves that light at night has deleterious effects on flora, fauna,
and human health. It’s time to re-evaluate our night lighting around our homes and in the garden. Among the findings:
The beauty of a natural nocturnal environment and a star filled night sky are both increasingly rare sights in our developed world. The
night is beautiful in itself as is our landscape when lighted by a full moon and by star light, for those lucky few with a very dark
environment.
The recommendations to protect the health of our gardens and our nocturnal environment are simple:
NOTE: Many efforts are underway to limit “light pollution” including by the US Fish and Wildlife, the National Parks system and an
increasing number of municipalities, in order to control “light trespass”. The Garden Club of East Hampton supports all local
initiatives to reduce excessive landscape lighting.
Go to: www.darksky.org for more information on light pollution and for a selection of "dark sky friendly" light fixtures.
Information Resource:
Susan Harder
and human health. It’s time to re-evaluate our night lighting around our homes and in the garden. Among the findings:
- Continuous lighting depresses the formation and maintenance of chlorophyll in leaves and promotes lengthening of the
internodes of the branches and expansion of the leaf area. - Light falling on pond water increases algae growth.
- 24-hour lighting inhibits flowering and promotes vegetative growth of short-day plants; encourages continued vegetative
growth and early flowering of long-day plants; and increases stem lengths of day-neutral plants. - Excessive exposure to artificial night lighting can alter basic biological circadian rhythms, change predator-prey relationships,
and even trigger deadly hormonal imbalances. - Researchers found that artificial night lighting disrupts the physiology and behavior of all nocturnal animals studied (half the
species on earth are nocturnal), including birds, bats, frogs, salamanders, fish and fireflies. - Bats, which are good for insect eating and therefore a positive addition to the garden, are less likely to cross a barrier of
continuous lighting. - Illuminated buildings confuse migrating birds accustomed to navigating by the stars. Some smash into windows and others
drop from exhaustion after hovering moth-like around the lights. With estimated deaths at more than 100 million a year, major
skyscrapers in Chicago and New York have begun dimming their lights. - Winter dieback can be severe on lighted trees during the following spring because dormancy was delayed.
The beauty of a natural nocturnal environment and a star filled night sky are both increasingly rare sights in our developed world. The
night is beautiful in itself as is our landscape when lighted by a full moon and by star light, for those lucky few with a very dark
environment.
The recommendations to protect the health of our gardens and our nocturnal environment are simple:
- Use the lowest amount of light necessary to see foliage (usually in the range of 7-20 watts incandescent).
- Highlight the garden sparingly and with shielded light bulbs.
- Turn off the lights when you are not there and in the middle of the night.
NOTE: Many efforts are underway to limit “light pollution” including by the US Fish and Wildlife, the National Parks system and an
increasing number of municipalities, in order to control “light trespass”. The Garden Club of East Hampton supports all local
initiatives to reduce excessive landscape lighting.
Go to: www.darksky.org for more information on light pollution and for a selection of "dark sky friendly" light fixtures.
Information Resource:
Susan Harder
| The Garden Club of East Hampton |
| EARTH FRIENDLY TIPS |
Natural Cleaners
Household cleaning products made with toxic chemicals have a negative impact on the
environment and the people who are exposed to them. There are many non-toxic “home”
cleaners that clean just about anything. These natural products will improve the indoor air
quality of your home and reduce the health risks associated with harmful chemicals.
Read the labels on your cleaning products and consider the following alternatives:
Bleach
Bug Spray
Carpet Stains
Crayon on Walls
Dish Washer
Deodorizers
Disinfectants
Drain Cleaner
Dusting
Floor Cleaners
Glass Cleaner
Laundry
Leather
Metal Polish
Mildew & Mold
Moth Repellant
Soft Scrub
Squeaky Door
Tile Cleaner
Water Rings
Wood Polish
Information Resource:
www.greendaily.com
www.thedailygreen.com
Household cleaning products made with toxic chemicals have a negative impact on the
environment and the people who are exposed to them. There are many non-toxic “home”
cleaners that clean just about anything. These natural products will improve the indoor air
quality of your home and reduce the health risks associated with harmful chemicals.
Read the labels on your cleaning products and consider the following alternatives:
Bleach
- Hydrogen peroxide is a laundry bleach.
Lemon juice and/or sunlight bleaches fabric stains naturally.
Bug Spray
- Castile soap dissolved in warm water and placed in a spray bottle is a bug
repellent.
Carpet Stains
- Club soda or equal parts white vinegar and water applied to the spot - blot, dry,
repeat if necessary.
Cornmeal sprinkled on carpet and left to dry vacuums up easily lifting spills.
Salt removes wine stains.
Crayon on Walls
- Baking soda and warm water mixed to a paste.
Rub gently, using as soft scrub cleanser that removes crayon marks on walls.
Dish Washer
- Scrape dirty dishes, do not rinse before loading.
Only run full loads using baking soda and vinegar.
Deodorizers
- Baking soda in refrigerators and closed spaces.
Cinnamon and cloves simmered in water as room freshener avoids the smoke
and air pollution that crude oil based candles produce.
Disinfectants
- Hydrogen peroxide disinfects cutting boards.
Vodka is a disinfectant; add to vase of water to keep cut flowers fresh. If poison
ivy contact then rinse skin with vodka to wash away urushiol oil.
Drain Cleaner
- Baking soda and vinegar in equal parts unclogs drains. After ½ hour rinse with
boiling water.
Dusting
- Reuse old dryer sheets as dust cloths.
Black tea gets rid of dust mites.
Floor Cleaners
- White vinegar and warm water mops hardwood and stone flooring.
Olive oil covers scratches in wood floors.
Glass Cleaner
- White vinegar cleans mirrors and glass.
Laundry
- Baking soda is used as a fabric softener.
Use cold water when doing your laundry and save energy on heating.
Leather
- Olive oil polishes and softens leather belts/shoes.
Metal Polish
- White vinegar shines chrome and stainless steel.
Lemon juice removes tarnish from brass and bronze.
Ketchup cleans copper. Also, lemon juice and cream of tartar mixed to a paste
will clean copper, rub, leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse well.
Club soda removes rust.
Aluminum foil, baking soda, salt, and boiling water used as a soak for your
sterling and the tarnish will transfer to the foil.
Mildew & Mold
- Tea tree oil, 2 tsp in 2 cups hot water, spray, do not rinse.
White vinegar, spray, leave for 10 minutes, rinse.
Hydrogen peroxide and water solution, spray, leave for 1 hour, rinse.
Moth Repellant
- Herbs (thyme, lavender) are antibacterial and protect clothes by repelling moths.
Soft Scrub
- Baking soda and vinegar made into a paste. Rub gently.
Squeaky Door
- Olive oil lubricates door hinges eliminating squeak
Tile Cleaner
- Baking soda, salt and warm water cleans tile.
Water Rings
- White vinegar removes rings on wood furniture. Rub and buff with soft cloth.
Wood Polish
- Olive oil - one pint mixed with 1 tbsp lemon oil. Rub and buff with soft cloth.
Black tea will darken and clean wood furniture.
Information Resource:
www.greendaily.com
www.thedailygreen.com
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Native
Invasive
Invasive
Recycling
Center
Chemicals-
Electronics
Center
Chemicals-
Electronics
Our
Legislators
Legislators
Integrated Pest Management known as IPM is an approach to gardening that controls pests while eliminating the need for toxic
chemicals. These techniques resolve garden problems by using organic products and natural methods that are safer for our
wellbeing. IPM achieves a landscape that is resistant to insect, fungus and weed problems while providing an overall healthier
environment.
chemicals. These techniques resolve garden problems by using organic products and natural methods that are safer for our
wellbeing. IPM achieves a landscape that is resistant to insect, fungus and weed problems while providing an overall healthier
environment.
The EPA has determined that the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, lawn and garden chemicals create a health risk to adults,
children and pets. Exposure to these harmful chemicals is reported to increase the risk of:
• cancer
• respiratory problems
• liver and kidney damage
• infertility
• birth defects
• learning, & developmental disorders
• behavioral issues
Harmful chemicals that should be avoided are found in pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Pesticides are chemical products
used to kill pests particularly insects. Herbicides are chemical substances used to kill unwanted plants, i.e., weeds. Fungicides are
toxic chemicals that prevent and kill fungi.
Some healthy tips to keep in mind are:
An effective spray is a mixture of:
Weekly updates and additional tips are available at:
www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/pestmgmt.html
www.pesticides.org/educmaterials.html
Information Resource:
The Garden Club of America
children and pets. Exposure to these harmful chemicals is reported to increase the risk of:
• cancer
• respiratory problems
• liver and kidney damage
• infertility
• birth defects
• learning, & developmental disorders
• behavioral issues
Harmful chemicals that should be avoided are found in pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Pesticides are chemical products
used to kill pests particularly insects. Herbicides are chemical substances used to kill unwanted plants, i.e., weeds. Fungicides are
toxic chemicals that prevent and kill fungi.
Some healthy tips to keep in mind are:
- Stop using garden chemicals . . . Lawn pesticides and fertilizers leach into drinking water and come into your home on shoes
and pets. - The many natural products available at your local garden shop are better alternatives. Organic products include fireplace wood
ashes, grass clippings, blood meal, bone meal, aged manure, compost and seaweed. - Control pests and avoid using pesticides by introducing beneficial insects into your garden. Natural defenses include
ladybugs, bees, spiders, bats, toads, birds and beneficial soil organisms.
- One ladybug eats as many as 5,000 aphids per year.
- Reduce mosquitoes by putting a bat box in your yard.
- Encourage insect eating birds by providing birdhouses.
- Do not allow herbicide 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (ingredient found in agent orange) to be used on your lawn. Exposure
doubles your pets’ risk of canine malignant lymphoma and threatens your own health. - Vinegar and dish soap are common kitchen items that rid weeds and pests. Kill aphids by spraying soapy water on infested
plants rinsing with clear water. - To avoid herbicides use white vinegar to kill grass between patio bricks and spot spray on weeds in lawn – best results when
used on a sunny day. - Bacteria causes wilt, galls, rots, blights, or spots. Ways to minimize infection include washing leaves with soapy water or
spraying with a copper formulated product.
An effective spray is a mixture of:
- 1 gallon water +
2 Tbsp. dish detergent +
2 Tbsp. baking soda +
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Weekly updates and additional tips are available at:
www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/pestmgmt.html
www.pesticides.org/educmaterials.html
Information Resource:
The Garden Club of America
Planting shade trees in your yard will establish a “green roof” effect. Trees planted near the house will keep it cooler in the summer
heat by shading your home and warmer in the winter by blocking cold blustery winds. Also, trees will absorb rainfall and prevent storm
water runoff. These benefits will reduce your water and energy consumption.
Furthermore, planting trees will help to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The plants absorb the CO2 and store it as carbon
in their leaves, branches and roots. This is a process known as carbon sequestration. One shade tree can absorb up to 50 pounds
of CO2 per year; that equates to the removal of 100 million tons of carbon dioxide over a tree’s average lifetime of 40 years.
Information Resource:
National Wildlife Federation
heat by shading your home and warmer in the winter by blocking cold blustery winds. Also, trees will absorb rainfall and prevent storm
water runoff. These benefits will reduce your water and energy consumption.
Furthermore, planting trees will help to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The plants absorb the CO2 and store it as carbon
in their leaves, branches and roots. This is a process known as carbon sequestration. One shade tree can absorb up to 50 pounds
of CO2 per year; that equates to the removal of 100 million tons of carbon dioxide over a tree’s average lifetime of 40 years.
Information Resource:
National Wildlife Federation
Be Aware of What “Lawn Care” Companies are Putting on Your Lawn!
Lawn Care companies say they are “organic-based” even if only 50% of the fertilizer they use is organic. Ask your Lawn Care
company what chemicals they use, how long they last, and how long you should stay off a treated lawn? Do they use the least toxic
method of control?
The following are some basic steps that are environmentally friendly while at the same time promote a lush and healthy lawn for
you to enjoy.
Feed the Soil – One of the best things you can do for your soil is to rake an inch or so of compost into your lawn each spring and
fall. This soil building process is essential to growing healthy turf.
Feed the Grass – Cutting your lawn with a mulching lawn mower will leave beneficial grass clippings that provide nitrogen and
reduce the amount of fertilizer needed.
Re-seed Annually - A thick turf will control weeds. Seed in late summer or early fall with a mixture of indigenous grasses.
Water Less, But Longer – Once a week watering in the very early morning for several hours is the best method. Consider the
natural rainfall and that sandy soil needs more water than clay based soil.
Mow High – Cut grass at approximately 3 ½ inches, allowing it to shade its roots, conserve moisture and keep out weeds.
Control Weeds – If you don’t want dandelions, dig them out. Also an organic corn-gluten product that prevents weed seeds from
germinating can be used on established lawns.
Control Pests without Chemicals – Common pests such as grubs and chinch bugs can be controlled with beneficial nematodes.
Beneficial organisms in healthy soil will out compete unwanted pests.
Information Resource:
Grassroots Environmental Education
Lawn Care companies say they are “organic-based” even if only 50% of the fertilizer they use is organic. Ask your Lawn Care
company what chemicals they use, how long they last, and how long you should stay off a treated lawn? Do they use the least toxic
method of control?
The following are some basic steps that are environmentally friendly while at the same time promote a lush and healthy lawn for
you to enjoy.
Feed the Soil – One of the best things you can do for your soil is to rake an inch or so of compost into your lawn each spring and
fall. This soil building process is essential to growing healthy turf.
Feed the Grass – Cutting your lawn with a mulching lawn mower will leave beneficial grass clippings that provide nitrogen and
reduce the amount of fertilizer needed.
Re-seed Annually - A thick turf will control weeds. Seed in late summer or early fall with a mixture of indigenous grasses.
Water Less, But Longer – Once a week watering in the very early morning for several hours is the best method. Consider the
natural rainfall and that sandy soil needs more water than clay based soil.
Mow High – Cut grass at approximately 3 ½ inches, allowing it to shade its roots, conserve moisture and keep out weeds.
Control Weeds – If you don’t want dandelions, dig them out. Also an organic corn-gluten product that prevents weed seeds from
germinating can be used on established lawns.
Control Pests without Chemicals – Common pests such as grubs and chinch bugs can be controlled with beneficial nematodes.
Beneficial organisms in healthy soil will out compete unwanted pests.
Information Resource:
Grassroots Environmental Education
The Garden Club of East Hampton believes that clean water is of major importance for sustaining all life on earth. We must do all
that we can to protect and preserve our clean water supply. Our water on the eastern end of Long Island comes from a sole source
aquifer. Whether you have a private well or public water, it all comes from the same underground aquifer. Therefore, what is put on
top of the ground leaches into the aquifer and ends up in our drinking water. With this in mind, the following information is
particularly important.
In the Home
Conserve water by using less. Furthermore, be sure to not dump or flush any chemical materials into toilets, drains, indoors or out.
These include left over medications, cleaners, polishes, paints, motor oils, fertilizers, and pesticides. It is also important to learn
about our watersheds.
Private Wells
Over 15 million private wells supply drinking water to American families. Many private wells are used in the Springs area of East
Hampton. Well water is ground water and needs to be tested periodically. The EPA does not require testing, but homeowners with
wells should test their water for bacteria and nitrates at least once a year and for chemicals every three years. If gastrointestinal
illness develops among well water users, the supply should be tested immediately and the local health department consulted. The
department will have the names of local water testing laboratories. The National Testing Laboratories can be reached at 1-800-458-
3330 or on the Internet at www.watercheck.com.
Well owners should be aware of the aquifer that supplies their water. Is there new development in the neighborhood that would
threaten draw down? Could there be contamination in the area?
Public Water
Public water systems are required by the Safe Drinking Water Act to test their water on a regular basis and report the results to the
state and the EPA. You can get these results by calling your water company. If you want to have your own tap water tested, use a
laboratory certified by the EPA. Your state water agency can give you the name and number of your water company and the name
and number of testing laboratories in your area.
In the Garden
Water is a resource that needs conserving. Gardeners can set a good example by determining when to water, how to water and
how much to apply.
Maintain a small lawn and keep the rest of your yard with trees, shrubs and native plantings that require little water.
Collect rain runoff (rain barrels under gutter downspouts), use rain gauges, water timers and water only when necessary. Water
deeply, not often.
Do not water during the heat of the day, between 10 am and 4 pm, because of high evaporation loss. The best time is early morning
to prevent diseases.
Soaker or drip hoses provide water without the evaporation caused by sprinklers and prevent erosion and runoff.
Water systems with moisture sensors can greatly reduce water usage.
2-4” of mulch reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil. Pine bark mulch is preferred – it is a byproduct of the timber/paper
industries. When it breaks down, it adds organic matter to the soil. Ground up leaves, such as oak, and pine straw are also good
choices.
Avoid applying toxic chemicals to lawn and garden that will leach into our ground water.
Information Resource:
The Garden Club of America
that we can to protect and preserve our clean water supply. Our water on the eastern end of Long Island comes from a sole source
aquifer. Whether you have a private well or public water, it all comes from the same underground aquifer. Therefore, what is put on
top of the ground leaches into the aquifer and ends up in our drinking water. With this in mind, the following information is
particularly important.
In the Home
Conserve water by using less. Furthermore, be sure to not dump or flush any chemical materials into toilets, drains, indoors or out.
These include left over medications, cleaners, polishes, paints, motor oils, fertilizers, and pesticides. It is also important to learn
about our watersheds.
Private Wells
Over 15 million private wells supply drinking water to American families. Many private wells are used in the Springs area of East
Hampton. Well water is ground water and needs to be tested periodically. The EPA does not require testing, but homeowners with
wells should test their water for bacteria and nitrates at least once a year and for chemicals every three years. If gastrointestinal
illness develops among well water users, the supply should be tested immediately and the local health department consulted. The
department will have the names of local water testing laboratories. The National Testing Laboratories can be reached at 1-800-458-
3330 or on the Internet at www.watercheck.com.
Well owners should be aware of the aquifer that supplies their water. Is there new development in the neighborhood that would
threaten draw down? Could there be contamination in the area?
Public Water
Public water systems are required by the Safe Drinking Water Act to test their water on a regular basis and report the results to the
state and the EPA. You can get these results by calling your water company. If you want to have your own tap water tested, use a
laboratory certified by the EPA. Your state water agency can give you the name and number of your water company and the name
and number of testing laboratories in your area.
In the Garden
Water is a resource that needs conserving. Gardeners can set a good example by determining when to water, how to water and
how much to apply.
Maintain a small lawn and keep the rest of your yard with trees, shrubs and native plantings that require little water.
Collect rain runoff (rain barrels under gutter downspouts), use rain gauges, water timers and water only when necessary. Water
deeply, not often.
Do not water during the heat of the day, between 10 am and 4 pm, because of high evaporation loss. The best time is early morning
to prevent diseases.
Soaker or drip hoses provide water without the evaporation caused by sprinklers and prevent erosion and runoff.
Water systems with moisture sensors can greatly reduce water usage.
2-4” of mulch reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil. Pine bark mulch is preferred – it is a byproduct of the timber/paper
industries. When it breaks down, it adds organic matter to the soil. Ground up leaves, such as oak, and pine straw are also good
choices.
Avoid applying toxic chemicals to lawn and garden that will leach into our ground water.
Information Resource:
The Garden Club of America
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