Pesticide Blunder Irritates Gardener

Subject: Pesticide Blunder Irritates Gardener
Date:     Fri, 24 May 2002 10:52:56 -0400
From:      Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation

A severe allergy sufferer is upset a lawn care company's mix-up left part of her backyard covered in pesticide yesterday. Stittsville resident Kathy Wilson was shocked when she woke up at 7:45 a.m. and found a pair of Green Lawn Care employees spraying with pesticides.

"I'm one of those unfortunate people who are allergic to just about everything," said Wilson, who breaks out in a rash and suffers a sore throat when she comes in contact with nearly all scents and chemicals. "I would never have anything like this on the lawn," she said, adding she never authorized the company to spray her lawn.

Representatives from the Toronto-based company did not return calls yesterday, but Wilson said a Green Lawn Care manager told her the crew went to the house thinking it still belonged to a former owner.

ADVISED TO CALL POLICE
The former owner, who still lives in Stittsville, moved seven years ago and his new address wasn't properly recorded. The company offered to reseed the sprayed area and aerate the lawn for free, but Wilson passed on their offer.

Wilson, who grows herbs and a few vegetables in a small organic garden, is outraged lawn companies can spray chemicals without being certain it's the right house.

Wilson called the city's environmental health department to ask for advice, but they said there is little they can do.

"Their advice was to go to the police because they trespassed on my property and damaged it," said Wilson. "I don't think it's the police's problem. I think it's the city's problem."

Ottawa bans pesticides on public property and is currently pursuing a ban on pesticide use on private property as well.

"It's worse than simply thinking of it as a business mix-up," said Ottawa Coun. Alex Cullen. "We are dealing with issues that involve people's health."

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