Pesticides

Exposure to pesticides can lead to health problems for those working and playing in your yard, especially small children and pets who are more likely to get dirt and other contaminated materials in their mouths. Designing a pesticide-free garden will protect backyard biodiversity and the health of your loved ones.   

Essential Facts

• Gardens and lawns which flourish without chemical pesticides are healthier for nature and the people who enjoy them.

• Concerns about the impacts of pesticides have led a number of Canadian cities to ban the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes.
  
  
• An Alberta study found that in terms of kilograms per hectare, residential pesticide use in Calgary and Edmonton was three times higher than in agriculture, and six times higher than in city parks.
  
  
• For tips on getting your garden off chemicals check out the Nature Challenge newsletter.

Download the Green Guide (PDF)
Download the Science of the Challenge. (PDF)