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| Vedanta under scrutiny for 2-4,d |
Samantha Gilweit
2007-06-28 |
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The Vedanta Society, a Hindu based religious group that owns a 2,200-acre meditation retreat in Olema, sprays 2,4-D, the potentially cancerous herbicide in order to control thistles on their property. MOW and SOW, a non-profit that works to abolish all pesticide use in Marin, asked for a meeting last Tuesday at the Station House Café in order to urge Vedanta to stop spraying 2,4-D.
Developed during the Second World War, 2,4-D is a selective herbicide that can target and kill weeds without damaging the crop. Even though long term exposure to 2,4-D has been found to cause cancer, kidney and liver damage, and is toxic to many species including earthworms, birds, and fish, is still used in over 1,500 products.
“The use of pesticides is one of the most difficult issues on the planet. It’s insidious. I call it chemical terrorism,” said Donna Sheehan, the seventy-seven-year-old Marshall artist and activist who founded MOW and SOW in 1985 in order to stop pesticide praying along Highway One.
The group of 15 that gathered in the back of the Station House Café was comprised of three representatives from the Vedanta Society, including Vedanta President Dr. Estol Carte; Warner Hirsch, director of the Olema retreat; EAC Executive Director Fred Smith; Dr. Marion Moses, a physician and toxicologist who worked with César Chávez; Stacy Carlson, Agricultural Commissioner of Marin; Paola Bouley of SPAWN, biologist Barbara Deutsch and several concerned citizens. Carlos Porrata, a retired state park ranger, a trustee of the Marin Community Foundation, and Chair of Tomales Bay Watershed Council, was asked to facilitate the discussion by Sadja Greenwood of the Community Mediation Board of West Marin.
Vedanta gave a detailed outline about their land management program.
“Our major method of control is manual control. We systematically cover our meadows and fields and we used a double edged mattock to do this,” said Linda Winé, the land manager for the Olema retreat. “Because I have studied the plant cycles of these thistles, I know where they are on the property. We concentrate on those areas and we try to remove them, roots and all.”
Vedanta uses 2,4- D, but Winé said that the use of the herbicide is the secondary form of pest management, and is used only four to five non-consecutive days of the year and on select sections of the property.
“I don’t want you to think that we’re just out there madly spraying,” Winé, a small framed woman with closely cropped hair, said. “Probably many of you don’t have any idea what the Vedanta retreat property looks like. We’re not talking about an open flat pasture. It’s pretty diversified,” said Winé. “I’ve studied the property. I know where the water flows. I know the prevailing winds. We don’t spray anywhere near water.”
Vedanta has looked into alternative methods such as the introduction of thistle eating weevils, mowing and spraying vinegar. They’ve also explored a technique developed by Kathy Voth in Colorado where cattle were trained to eat thistles.
For Winé, each of these alternatives has their own set of problems. She noted that weevils are hard to monitor and mowing can distribute seed heads and can create an even bigger problem. Vinegar is less effective on thistles and its acidity can damage the eyes and burn the skin of volunteers. Because Vedanta is a religious retreat and does not use their land for ranching, it feels that Voth’s solution might not be practical.
Vedanta needs more people to help pull the thistle, Aurora Mahassine, a concerned citizen, said. Mahassine suggested making the removal of thistles a celebration by hosting a “thistle week,” during which attendees could assist with the thistle removal.
Butterfly biologist Barbara Deutsch said releasing butterflies that enjoy eating thistle nectars would be a beautiful alternative that would appeal to Vedanta members.
Dr. Marion Moses said mixing the vinegar with hot water would be more effective and warned against trying to find a chemical alternative.
Offering a more moderate approach, Carlson noted how changes of this magnitude can’t happen overnight. “An organic farmer cannot become organic without a three year transition,” Carlson said. “There has to be a recognition that it requires time to find effective alternatives.”
Sheehan was unsatisfied with this approach and felt that action needed to be taken sooner.
“If you continue using pesticides, then everyone can use them. You are a role model,” Sheehan said. “You are not isolated. You are part of this community.”
The meeting ended with an exchange of phone numbers and email addresses between Vedanta and the attendees who offered alternatives. The Vedanta representatives said they would discuss 2,4-D policy with their board of directors at an upcoming meeting.
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