Is Cardboard Safe in Your Soil?
The popular "lasagna gardening" technique often uses cardboard as a weed‑blocking layer, but recent analysis shows the material can harbor PFAS, mineral‑oil aromatics, phthalates, and heavy metals from recycled fibers and inks. These contaminants are embedded within the paper matrix, making simple oil‑drop tests unreliable. As the chemicals can leach into soil, they pose a hidden risk to home‑grown produce. The article recommends safer organic mulches and cover‑crop strategies as alternatives.
A Monarch Butterfly Revival
Eastern monarch butterfly populations in Mexico surged 64% this year, occupying 7.24 acres—the highest extent since 2018, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The rebound stands in stark contrast to Western monarchs, which remain at historic lows at California’s coastal...
Fore! Chemicals on the Course.
A recent UCLA Health study links the re‑approved pesticide chlorpyrifos to a dramatically higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, finding a 2.5‑fold increase for residents near sprayed areas. The research also shows that living within one mile of a golf course...
All Roads Lead to Sysco.
Sysco Corp. completed a $29 billion acquisition of Restaurant Depot, merging the nation’s largest on‑site delivery distributor with the leading cash‑and‑carry wholesaler. The combined entity now serves roughly 750,000 foodservice establishments, effectively controlling the majority of both delivery and in‑store purchasing...
GMO Seeds Sold to Home Gardeners
Biotech startup backed by a former Syngenta executive began selling genetically modified purple tomato seeds to home gardeners in 2024. The product, marketed as a high‑yield, disease‑resistant heirloom alternative, is the first GMO seed line directly available to consumers. Distribution...
PFAS in Fruits & Vegetables
A new Environmental Working Group (EWG) report found PFAS in 37% of conventionally grown produce in California, identifying 17 distinct PFAS compounds across more than 40 fruit and vegetable varieties. Contamination was detected in common items such as nectarines, peaches,...