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Sometimes we become so accustomed to seeing the world in conventional ways, that we don't take the time to consider the consequences of that accepted vision, or the viewpoint of the influential people and enterprises that shape our world.

This thought occurred to me one afternoon at my in-laws' lake cabin, as I was bouncing along on the seat of Big Mow, a long-out-of-production riding lawn mower that some of their neighbors have suggested we donate to a lawn mower museum, if there is such a place.

It's easy for the mind to wander when all you have to do is follow the edge of your last cut, and in that wandering I recalled a commercial for a lawn care product, one designed to kill lawn insects. The part of the advertising pitch that stuck in my head touted the idea that homeowners can create a "bug-free zone," and eliminate "insect invaders."



I will confess that over the years I've made my share of weed control applications to our own lawn. I cringe, too, whenever I discover insect damage to trees, shrubs or flowers. I've also made a number of usually-futile attempts to capture and remove the rabbits that dine on the tender leaves and shoots of the ornamental plants in our yard. So I guess I share the guilt, too. But I had never quite envisioned a pest-free environment, or what it might take to have one.

As the words of the ad continued to replay in my brain, like a catchy tune you can't rid yourself of, I couldn't help consider its implications. The idea bore a striking resemblance to at least one previous crusade-like attempt to control nature in our not-too-distant past.

Having come of age during the Viet Nam war era, I immediately thought of Agent Orange. This was the defoliant that was sprayed on jungles in Southeast Asia to totally denude them of plant life. The theory was that removing all vegetation would make it more difficult to conceal enemy troops. The chemical harmed many people, friend and foe alike. It also planted in our minds the idea of overwhelming an ecosystem when we thought some other objective warrants it.[[In-content Ad]]

I tried to envision what a "bug-free zone" would be like. Watching birds as I so often do from my kitchen window, or when in the yard, I realized that it is "bugs" that many birds live on, from insects to spiders to earthworms; crawly things of every kind and description. What will they live on in a "bug-free zone?" And other creatures, too?

I also thought of Rachel Carson, and her book Silent Spring. She wrote decades ago of the (then) almost unrestricted use of pesticides, like the deadly DDT, which not only killed insect pests, but wreaked havoc up and down the wildlife food chain.

Because DDT lingered in the environment, and concentrated in the tissues of creatures at every level of consumption, the top consumers often suffered without ever having direct contact with the pesticide. It threatened our national symbol, the bald eagle, by weakening their egg shells and preventing successful nesting. Fortunately, we got the message, and banned many of the worst chemicals.

I'm not suggesting that today's insect control products are anywhere near the deadliness of DDT. But I am struck by how easy it is for us, me included, to think of our manicured lawns and our beautiful ornamental plants and flowers, or vegetable gardens, as being of paramount importance. More important, in fact, than other living things that share our space.

I, for one, don't need to have a lawn and gardens so perfect that my wildlife neighbors need to be sacrificed for that objective. Besides, some of those "bugs" we're being encouraged to free ourselves of, are just as interesting as the most beautiful rose, or the most delicious strawberry.

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