I can certainly attest that from what I've seen, the FOCP board was as surprised (actually probably more so) as you regarding the recent use of roundup. Given that the contractors are hired by the city, through the Park Dept., it's unsurprising that the FOCP wasn't aware of it.
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Glenn Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2011 8:02 AM To: Lewis Mellman Cc: UnivCity listserv Subject: Re: [UC] question for former FOCP was RoundUp burning is visible Dear Lewis Mellman, Many people need some cannonballs after listening to one of Tony West's brilliant explanations! Lew, you were a long term member of the FOCP Board. Do you believe that a chemical herbicide was ever used in Clark Park before the redesign? Can you confirm or deny that the only substance that you ever saw used in all of Clark Park A, B,C during your tenure on the Board was an"organic fertilizer?" Some of us remember that FOCP Board members were told that a certain product was "safe enough to drink." I think people would welcome and accept an honest recounting of this history in Clark Park. Thanks in advance for helping to clear up some important misinformation. Speaking up for the truth in the midst of oppression and deception is one of the greatest acts of volunteerism for one's community. Glenn Moyer, citizen journalist and former Clark Park volunteer On 6/18/2011 11:51 PM, Lewis Mellman wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmxcmpR1GQA&feature=related On Jun 18, 2011, at 5:42 PM, Anthony West wrote: the sod is not a monoculture. It contains a mix of different species, which may react differently in specific locations. Hanes is the professional in charge, and he doesn't think Roundup is causing this phenomenon. For us laymen, this makes sense as well. Roundup was applied evenly across the park, so it shouldn't cause patchy damage. Hanes emphasized that newly-aid sod is still fragile. It needs to be babied during its first year. Park-lovers will be working to spread that word. Ray (that's "University Citoyen's" real name, for newcomers), if you want to organize an organic-compost movement for the park, that would be wonderful! Please coordinate with Friends of Clark Park and we'll explore if this is workable. Dandelions or clover were not included in the new sod which was laid down, so it's unlikely you'd expect to see them this soon. Don't worry, all you weed-lovers, they'll enter soon enough by themselves; you don't need to spend half a mill to plant them. You repeat a foolish error, Ray, when you babble about "Penn's UCD". Hanes was paid entirely by Friends of Clark Park, which has run a multi-year campaign to come up with the $75,000 needed just for his blueprint. The work was approved and contracted by the City of Philadelphia. While UCD is one of maybe 10 helpful partners on the Clark Park Committee, it played a minor role at best in the Park A Revitalization Campaign; your employer Penn's role was, if anything, smaller. In the meantime, Roundup foes should quit focusing on Clark Park, where its use has ceased. They should turn instead to Woodland Building Supply at 47th & Woodland, which sells the same stuff to some of your neighbors, day in and day out. So if you believe Clark Park poses a "Roundup hazard" from a one-time use during construction, your neighbors pose an even-greater hazard, no? You should ferret them all out and organize a campaign against them. Looking forward to that tea, though -- seriously. -- Tony West On 6/18/2011 11:36 AM, UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN wrote: yes! I noticed this recently and wondered about that strange yellowing, because that sod had been recently laid and everything was green, and then suddenly the weird swaths of perfectly uniform yellow appeared, that didn't follow the pattern of the sod pieces -- and this dead yellow appeared after plenty of rain had just fallen. and what's so odd is that when you look at it from above, you see perfectly green patches of grass right next to patches of completely dead yellow grass -- it's not even a gradual shift... also, no dandelions or clover, from what I can see from the bridge... so roundup is causing that? seems consistent with the practice of applying roundup at the beginning of new landscaping operations; the stouffer triangle on woodland walk is also relatively recent (just last year?) - - - - - if penn's ucd is indeed resorting to poisons, that is inconsistent with penn's stated commitment to sustainability: http://www.upenn.edu/sustainability/ perhaps neighbors can investigate whether or not penn's ucd is aware of harvard, and look into organic compost teas for our clark park -- I haven't heard mention of this compost tea in this discussion, I first heard about it on this old house: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/garden/24garden.html .................. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html><http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html><http://www.purple.com/list.html>. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com<http://www.avg.com> Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3712 - Release Date: 06/18/11 14:34:00
