What can I do about weeds in my lawn and garden, without using pesticides?
Many things! Grow your grass a little longer to deny weeds the light they need to grow. Keep your grass healthy by giving it about 2.5 cm (1 in) of water per week, in the morning so the water doesn’t evaporate. Use nematodes in the late summer to fight grubs. Get these and more gardening tips on our Tips for a Healthy Lawn page.
With all these "green" products, how do I know if a product is really environmentally friendly?
The words "green", "natural", "botanical" and "eco-friendly" have no legal meaning. And just because something is natural, doesn't mean it's safe-and vice versa. Always read the label and look for ingredient lists that don't include chlorine or bleach, ammonia, phosphates or lye. Look for an indication of how long something takes to biodegrade in days. The EcoLogo certification means that a product is environmentally friendly, but beware of other "certifications" that are not from a third party.
Often, ingredients you have around the house for cooking are great for cleaning too, like vinegar or baking soda. Get these and more cleaning tips.
How do I know my kids' toys and other items they play with are safe?
A few rules of thumb:
- Beware of cheap trinkets like keychain charms or jewelry imported from countries with poor health and safety regulation, as they may contain lead.
- Perform the "grey" line test: If an item can easily draw a grey line on paper, it may contain lead.
- Wash kids' hands thoroughly before they eat.
- Wash kids' hands after they handle pressure-treated wood.
- Don't allow young kids to chew on electronics like the remote control, cell phones, etc.
- Avoid soft vinyl toys for young children.
Get more tips in our printable Kids' Tip Sheet. These tips and much more detailed information can be found in Child Health and The Environment-A Primer.
Is my drinking water safe?
Yes. The Government of Ontario has implemented a drinking water safety net to ensure that our water, across the province, is safe and protected. You can learn more about the program at Drinking Water Ontario.
If your house was built before the mid 1950's, or if your plumbing was installed before 1990 and you have soft water, you can call your municipality to test the water for lead, or call a ministry-approved laboratory. Lead test kits from stores that sell drinking water are not considered accurate or reliable.
I want to help keep my lake clean. What can I do?
Thanks! You can volunteer as part of the Lake Partner Program.
You can also make changes at home and at the cottage to help protect and conserve our water. Learn more in our water section.
If global warming exists, how come the winters are so cold?
Just because our winters in Ontario are still cold, it doesn't mean that global warming doesn't exist. The fact is that the climate is changing; overall average temperatures are climbing steadily. Our winters are warmer, with fewer extreme cold days and less snow overall. Our summers are warmer, with more days over 30 degrees Celsius than ever before, and that's because of climate change. We'll still get cold winter days. In Ontario, we can expect average temperatures to rise as much as 2.7 to 3.7 degrees Celsius over the next fifty years.
Unfortunately, climate change also means we'll have more extreme weather events such as storms, floods and droughts, which will affect water levels, food production, and our health. But we can reduce the greenhouse gases that cause a changing climate and prepare for it.
