Tactic A4.7
Encourage businesses and residents to eliminate the use of pesticides (long-term goal)
Encourage businesses and residents to eliminate the use of pesticides and other chemical products that may negatively impact the environment.
Minimizing use of potentially damaging pesticides and other household chemicals represents a sustainability opportunity for Sedona. Developing a thematic message and educational materials in collaboration with nonprofits in the area, Sedona could communicate a consistent message, increasing the potential for positive impacts.
IMPACTED PILLARS
TIMEFRAME Long-term (3-5 years)
LEAD PARTNER Keep Sedona Beautiful
SUPPORTING PARTNERS SCC&TB, Keep Sedona Beautiful, Sustainability Alliance, Oak Creek Watershed Council
ALIGNING RESEARCH Public Input
TARGET / STATUS TO DATE
1. Completed - City stopped using glyphosate in winter 2019.
2. Benchmark through resident surveys
PROGRESS TO DATE
Eliminate pesticides and herbicides (long-term goal)
Encourage businesses and residents to eliminate the use of pesticides and other chemical products that may negatively impact the environment.
FY22:
This is a long-term goal with no action called for in the first two years of the Sustainable Tourism Plan. Nevertheless, Keep Sedona Beautiful has made significant progress.
In the fourth quarter of FY22, KSB helped advertise and recruit for candidates to fill positions on the Red Rock Road Enhancement Maintenance District, the agency that can determine the kinds of pesticides used for weed control. The recruitment sough candidates committed to non-toxic pesticide use.
In the second quarter of FY22, the following info was published in KSB Quarterly newsletter to members and friends.
“To help promote the use of non-toxic herbicides, Keep Sedona Beautiful conducted a pilot program, providing participants a free gallon of Natural Armor Weed and Grass Killer. We chose this product for the pilot program because it was the most promising commercially available option. Participants were asked to use the Natural Armor product on a portion of their property so they could compare the results to the rest of their yard that they weeded as normal.
Participants were also asked to supply the following information:
1. Did you feel this product was effective? 85% felt it was effective, with some feeling it worked only on broadleaf weeds and/or thin grasses.
2. If so, were you happy with how fast it worked? 85% were happy with how fast it worked.
3. What weed removal product or technique were you using prior to this test product?
Responses included: weeding by hand shovel or with a hula hoe; used the sun; vinegar or a vinegar mixture; Roundup, KillzAll.
4. How do you think this product compares to your previous removal product or technique on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being not as effective and 5 having the same effectiveness?
The average rating was 3.7.
5. Would you recommend it to others? 85% said “Yes”.
Other comments such as, what type of weeds does the product seem to work on, ease of use, time it took for the elimination of the weed, overall satisfaction included: •
I would recommend to all. Quite easy to apply. Very satisfied.
Happy to not use glyphosate.
Impacted plants within 24 hours.
Nice smell.
Strong smell not too bad.
Worked as directions said.
I found the product to be very effective for broad leaf weeds. It was not effective on grasses, and only moderately effective on narrow leaf weeds.
Didn’t work; will try homemade recipe. Does not work on roots of the weeds.
The spray mechanism provided did not work on either of two containers that I tried; I used a spray applicator that I purchased instead.
Will buy and encourage landscaper to use.
I have ordered the product.
KSB’s Office Manager Jan Wind offered her 5-step procedure for maintaining a non-toxic yard:
Step 1: Monitor your property for early removal when its easiest to pull by hand or with a weed popper or shuffle hoe. Areas without gravel are easier to maintain. Gravel creates a bazillion tiny little flowerpots. As the wind blows these are filled with soil and seeds. Leave natural soil and keep it undisturbed. Know your natives and allow them to help you landscape your property.
Step 2: Monitor your irrigation so you are not encouraging weed growth.
Step 3: Work with the sun. Some weeds are short lived. Can you live with a few temporary weeds in your gravel?
Step 4: Use a non-toxic weed spray in tough to maintain areas.
Step 5: Feel good about having a few weeds, beautiful native plants and no toxic chemicals on your property.
On Aug 11, 2021 KSB sent out enews to KSB members and friends re: Bayer Global discontinuance of sales of RoundUp to residential customers and KSB is also providing non-toxic herbicide to those who wish to try alternative weed removers. https://conta.cc/3yBZsWf.
In June 2021, KSB began a "Heat of Summer" test program for non-toxic weed killer and had completed compilation of results of the first test program for non-toxic herbicide use by individuals. Publication is expected soon.