Detoxing Green Velvet

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Use organic compost instead of fertilizer, says Duesing. Use NOFA-approved Intervale ($15/20 qts.; www.gardeners.com, 888-833-1412) or Vermont Compost Plus ($10/20 qts.; www.fedcoseeds.com, 207-873-7333). Or make your own (see Product Report, above).

Choose an alternative lawn cover, like fine-blade fescue, which requires less fertilizer and water than traditional bluegrass or ryegrass, or plants native to your area (see your local USDA extension, www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension).

Grow your lawn at least three inches tall for a deeper, stronger root system; any weeds that do sprout will be blocked from the sun.

Choose tools made from sustainable wood or recycled plastic and rubber, not PVC (see "Picnic Perfect Plastics"). See rain buckets, composters and hose at groworganic. com and Wolf-Garten's 10-piece garden set ($124; www.omygarden.com, 800-692-9501).

Buy garden and lawn furniture made with FSC-certified wood from well managed forests (www.earthsourcewood.com).

Retire your gas-powered lawn mower for a non-polluting hand-powered version ($99.95; www.omygarden.com, 800-692-9501).

Resources

Straight-Ahead Organic, by Shepard Ogden ($24.95, Chelsea Green Publishing, 1999)

Maria Rodale's Organic Gardening ($35, Rodale Press, 1998)

Redesigning the American Lawn, by Bormann, Balmori and Geballe ($18, Yale University Press, 2001)

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