Child's Play Organic Lawns services South Bend, Elkhart, Granger and Mishawaka, Indiana. We also work in Southwest Michigan. We specialize in organic fertilizers and lawn care programs. Organic lawns are maintained using natural, non-toxic lawn products wherever possible. Organic lawncare emphasizes fertilization and proper maintenance techniques to minimize weeds, fungus, and insect damage. Natural, organic lawn care leads to a yard that is safe for kids and pets. Organic fertilizers help protect our environment and promote ecological sustainability. 12871 Industrial Park Drive, #16 • Granger, IN 46530 • 574.277.LAWN Office hours: M-F 8-5, Weekends by appointment. Voice mail is checked routinely. Please call ahead if you want to pick up products.

Birth Of An Industry

There are over 30 million acres of cultivated turf grass in the United States. The average lawn size is about 8,700 square feet, and the average homeowner spends 40 hours per year mowing the lawn. In 2004, Americans spent about $38 billion on turf, tree and garden management products and services.

The desire for a perfect lawn is a fire that has been fueled by millions of dollars in advertising and marketing by the lawn care and pesticide industry. Homeowners have been convinced a nice, green lawn requires the routine use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. As a result, an estimated 70 to 80 million pounds of pesticides are annually sprayed on home lawns, trees, and shrubs. That is a rate, on average, of ten times more per acre than is used on agricultural land!

The modern pesticide industry began after World War II. Companies that produced chemical and biological weapons for the military needed a new market for their products. The chemical industry saw moneymaking possibilities in the lawns of the growing postwar suburban communities (a problem looking for a solution). Many of today’s pesticides include components of wartime defoliants like Agent Orange, nerve-gas type insecticides, and artificial hormones.