**Weeding Party at Lowell Park This Wednesday!!***
Pull weeds and help keep Lowell Neighborhood Park Pesticide Free! Wednesday, May 26th from 10-1. Lunch and refreshments provided. Meet inspiring women from the Everett Gospel Mission and meet your neighbors!
Email PesticideFreeEverett@gmail.com or call Megan 425.252.6265 if you have questions. Park address is 4605 S. 3rd, Everett, WA.
Hope to see you there!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
First Weed Party of 2010 and 12 Most Pesticide Laden Fruits and Veggies!
We've got our first weed pulling party of the year, this friday, March 26th from 10-2, stop and by and get the year started off right!
Also, I saw this article in Mother Jones online and thought I'd repost it here.
Econundrum: 12 Most Pesticide-Laden Fruits and Veggies
— By Kiera Butler
Mon Mar. 22, 2010 2:30 AM PDT
At my local farmer's market, organic avocados cost as much as $2 a pop. Yet I can sometimes find the conventional version at the supermarket for half that (and some of the cheap ones are even grown right here in California). Considering my homemade guacamole addiction, I'd quickly bankrupt myself buying only organic avocadoes, so I usually go for the cheapos at the grocery store. My reasoning: You don't even eat the skin of the avocado, so presumably, for avocados and other peeled produce, pesticides aren't a problem. Right?
Not always. Some fruits' and vegetables' thick skins do protect the edible part from chemicals. But not all. The Environmental Working Group recently analyzed samples of 47 common produce items in the state that they're usually eaten (i.e., avocados were peeled, apples washed with water, etc.) then ranked them according to the amount and variety of pesticides the researchers found. Good news for my guac addiction: As I suspected, peeled avocadoes contain a small amount of pesticides, ranking 46th on the list. But bananas come in at a surprisingly high 27, and cucumbers at 19. "It’s really hard to use your intuition to figure out what’s going to have high pesticide loads," says EWG spokesperson Amy Rosenthal. "Skin is something to take into account, but it doesn’t always make a huge difference."
More findings: Peaches, apples, and sweet bell peppers were the three most pesticide-laden crops tested, while frozen sweet corn, avocado, and onion were least contaminated. The EWG team estimates you can lower your pesticide intake by as much as 80 percent if you steer clear of the top 12.
In descending order, the EWG's 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet bell peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrots
12. Pears
For the full list of all 47 fruits and veggies, go here.
Kiera Butler is an associate editor at Mother Jones. For more of her stories, click here.
Also, I saw this article in Mother Jones online and thought I'd repost it here.
Econundrum: 12 Most Pesticide-Laden Fruits and Veggies
— By Kiera Butler
Mon Mar. 22, 2010 2:30 AM PDT
At my local farmer's market, organic avocados cost as much as $2 a pop. Yet I can sometimes find the conventional version at the supermarket for half that (and some of the cheap ones are even grown right here in California). Considering my homemade guacamole addiction, I'd quickly bankrupt myself buying only organic avocadoes, so I usually go for the cheapos at the grocery store. My reasoning: You don't even eat the skin of the avocado, so presumably, for avocados and other peeled produce, pesticides aren't a problem. Right?
Not always. Some fruits' and vegetables' thick skins do protect the edible part from chemicals. But not all. The Environmental Working Group recently analyzed samples of 47 common produce items in the state that they're usually eaten (i.e., avocados were peeled, apples washed with water, etc.) then ranked them according to the amount and variety of pesticides the researchers found. Good news for my guac addiction: As I suspected, peeled avocadoes contain a small amount of pesticides, ranking 46th on the list. But bananas come in at a surprisingly high 27, and cucumbers at 19. "It’s really hard to use your intuition to figure out what’s going to have high pesticide loads," says EWG spokesperson Amy Rosenthal. "Skin is something to take into account, but it doesn’t always make a huge difference."
More findings: Peaches, apples, and sweet bell peppers were the three most pesticide-laden crops tested, while frozen sweet corn, avocado, and onion were least contaminated. The EWG team estimates you can lower your pesticide intake by as much as 80 percent if you steer clear of the top 12.
In descending order, the EWG's 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet bell peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrots
12. Pears
For the full list of all 47 fruits and veggies, go here.
Kiera Butler is an associate editor at Mother Jones. For more of her stories, click here.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Survey Extended and MOU Signed
City Council unanimously agreed to have the Mayor of Everett sign our Memo of Understanding (MOU) for the Pesticide Free Park! This is an understanding for a one year term between Everett and Lowell Civic Association. Although the city did not spray any pesticides this past year, we are now officially an official pesticide free park! Click here for council agenda and a link to a copy of the MOU. The council meeting was November 25th, they haven't posted the minutes yet but should soon.
Also, I've expended the survey deadline to December 30th. You will not be eligible for the awesome incentive prizes, but we value your input, so if you haven't filled out the quick 10 question survey, click on the right side bar and fill it out!
Also, I've expended the survey deadline to December 30th. You will not be eligible for the awesome incentive prizes, but we value your input, so if you haven't filled out the quick 10 question survey, click on the right side bar and fill it out!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Fall Colors at the Park
Lowell park has been amazing this fall, completely ablaze with color! They are falling fast so enjoy them while you can!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Take Our Survey You Could Win!
This year, we have maintained Lowell park without the use of pesticides! The increased manual labor was offset by hardworking volunteers. The City has asked that we survey the neighborhood and find out what you think about the appearance and usability of Lowell Neighborhood Park!
Click here to access an online survey via the site survey monkey. Lowell neighbors were mailed a paper survey and can complete and turn in those OR complete this online survey. This is quick, only 10 questions to answer and you are eligible to win prizes!
Three completed surveys will be picked at random to win one of the following prizes. Please include your phone number (on the survey) if you would like to be entered into this drawing!
½ hour massage certificate (worth $35)
2 Silvertips tickets (game of choice-about $30 value)
2 Tickets for one performance of Everett Symphony Family Series ($24 value)
Deadline to drop off surveys or to complete online is November 20th, 2009.
Thank you for being involved in your neighborhood!
Click here to access an online survey via the site survey monkey. Lowell neighbors were mailed a paper survey and can complete and turn in those OR complete this online survey. This is quick, only 10 questions to answer and you are eligible to win prizes!
Three completed surveys will be picked at random to win one of the following prizes. Please include your phone number (on the survey) if you would like to be entered into this drawing!
½ hour massage certificate (worth $35)
2 Silvertips tickets (game of choice-about $30 value)
2 Tickets for one performance of Everett Symphony Family Series ($24 value)
Deadline to drop off surveys or to complete online is November 20th, 2009.
Thank you for being involved in your neighborhood!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Lowell's Community Garden Grew
In addition to our pesticide free park, Lowell neighborhood also has a pesticide free community garden!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sept. 11th Clean Up and Weeding
Remember Sept. 11th by giving back to your community. Volunteer at Lowell Park in Everett, WA for litter clean up and light weeding.
Lowell Park from 11-12 weeding and clean up. Stay and play, bring a picnic for after. Very family friendly!
Registered with Serve.gov as part of National Day of Service and Remembrance:
http://myproject.serve.gov/public/OpportunityDetail.aspx?projectId=14748&subProjectId=4839828
Hope you can make it!
Lowell Park from 11-12 weeding and clean up. Stay and play, bring a picnic for after. Very family friendly!
Registered with Serve.gov as part of National Day of Service and Remembrance:
http://myproject.serve.gov/public/OpportunityDetail.aspx?projectId=14748&subProjectId=4839828
Hope you can make it!
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