B. Bea Sharper on Lawn Care

Pure Water Gazette columnist B. Bee Shaper writes only in the challenging numerical style of Harper’s Index.  While her unique style makes her fiction tedious at times, it lends itself well to hard-hitting factual pieces like the following expose of the follies of the American lawn.  B. B. writes frequently about water and is a regular contributor to our E-Zine edition, the Pure Water Occasional.

Percentage of the total water consumed on the East Coast that goes to water lawns: 30%.

Percentage of the total water consumed on the West Coast that goes to water lawns: 60%.

Pounds of pesticides used on the average suburban lawn for each pound of pesticides used on an equal area of farmland: 10.

Tons of fertilizers and pesticides applied annually to residential lawns and gardens: 70,000,000,

Amount of hydrocarbons emitted by a power lawn mower as compared to those emitted by the typical automobile: 10 to 12 times.

Amount of hydrocarbons emitted by a weed eater as compared to those emitted by the typical automobile: 21 times.

Amount of hydrocarbons emitted by a leaf blower as compared to those emitted by the typical automobile: 34 times.

Percentage of earthworms, vital to the health of the soil, that are killed where pesticides are used on lawns: 60% to 90%.