Take natural approach to landscaping

As members of a community, kindly respect others before using toxic herbicides and insecticides as spring brings life to full bloom.

Visit the library or go online and research prior to using nerve-damaging, soil-destroying methods available at many stores.

Just taking a walk down this aisle can cause symptoms of illness for some of us who have become “chemical sensitive” because of years of exposure through our own ignorance, the food we ate and big farming neighborhoods where chemicals float through the air.

We are the “canaries” in this cave of a planet, with permanently damaged nervous systems to show for decisions made in the name of a perfect lawn free from what we consider pests and weeds.

Wildflowers grow and many insects live where they are needed to attend to the betterment of our ecosystem.

For example, certain indigenous plants grow best where soil is depleted of nitrogen. Our world attempts symbiosis, just as our bodies attempt to maintain equilibrium and health.

Before you use a store-bought product, including perennials, bagged soils and chemicals, please stop at the library and ask for anything written by Lorrie Otto; visit the website “Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes” at www.wildones.org; call the OSU Extension in Lorain County at 440 326-5851, or visit the office at 42110 Russia Road in Elyria. Learn more about the use of all natural, nontoxic diatomaceous earth at www.diatomaceousearth.com.

Be careful using diatomaceous earth as it will kill bees if used around blossoming plants. Use it around door frames and spots where ants enter your home as it stops ants from returning. Lisa Kavanaugh Oberlin