Adolescent humpback whale, satisfied on pogies, sleeping off of Plymouth Massachusetts, July 2022. Photo P Lamdin.

Need More Ocean-based Climate Solutions

Our precious ocean is under threat from toxic pollution, acidification, harmful algal blooms, and climate change. And the fight to protect our oceans is critical.

The ocean not only supplies humans with food and clean energy potential but also protects the air we breathe by absorbing an estimated 30% of the world’s carbon dioxide.

Will you join in and make a donation to help us keep up the fight to protect our ocean and fight climate change before our end-of-August deadline?

There are so many marvelous, majestic species, the right whale, the humpback whale, and the Florida manatee. And every single population of animals has a role to play. If we take one out of the realm – it’s like removing a piece of the puzzle or perhaps a keystone in an arch. We must protect ocean habitats!

We’re working to pass Congress's Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act. Last week Ocean River Institute summer interns Anand Fedele (U Mass Amherst), Ken Stephens (Tufts U), Sophia DiPietro (Barnard College), Zeke Cochin (U Mass Amherst), and I met with Knaus Marine Policy Fellow Violet Doucette in Senator Markey’s office to broaden support for the bill.

The Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act will put us on track to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Currently, we’re on many paths of destruction. That’s why we must get this comprehensive bill passed!

We depend on grassroots supporters like YOU to help us keep up the fight to protect our ocean and fight climate change. Will you chip in for our critical fundraising deadline?

The ocean is our lifeblood.

We must do everything we can to protect it.

A Lawn Grass that Sequesters 8 to 10 Times More Carbon To Store More Water

Did you know climate change can be fought simply by walking on the grass? First, once established, the lawn should not be fertilized because that will encourage grassroots to go down and open the soil to hold more moisture. Second, use a sharp blade with the mower height set to 3.5 to 4 inches, and leave the clippings on the lawn. 

Walking on the grass damages plant cells that stimulates them to repair and grow. Grasses will take in eight tons of carbon dioxide, through photosynthesis manufacture one ton of plant fiber and one ton of carbohydrates that is pushed out as root exudate to build soil. A natural lawn can build an inch of soil in a year. With four inches of soil your lawn will be able to hold seven inches of rainwater to better protect your home from extreme weather events. When organic carbon and minerals in the soil go through a chemical transformation to become humus, the carbon will be stored for thousands of years.

However, not all lawn grasses are the same. Jackson Madnick lost his outdoor cat to tumorous growths after two months of living in a house on the edge of a golf course drenched in chemicals. He then consulted with four of the nation’s best PhD turfgrass scientists to develop an all-natural, low-maintenance grass that needed far less water and no lawn chemicals. The agronomists were surprised, having never been asked to find and develop a low maintenance, more environmental grass. Chemical, irrigation, seed and lawn mower companies wanted instead shallow root, higher maintenance grasses to use up the water and fertilizer faster, to then be reapplied more often and employ more lawn care.

Over 10,000 scientific experiments later, the result became “Pearls Premium Ultra Low Maintenance Lawn Seed.” Worth the wait, after 22 years of product research and improvements, FAC66 approved. It is the only grass in the world to get LEED Credits under the US Green Building Council. Pearl's Premium grass is now in its seventh generation with even deeper roots, up to six feet deep to hold more water, look better during a drought, naturally outcompete most weeds without chemicals, survive urine, and build soil.

Pearls Premium grass sequesters 8 to 10 times more carbon than shallow root traditional grass. Produces 24 times more oxygen compared to ordinary grass, during photosynthesis to improve air quality. When most grasses require bi-monthly cuts, this grass grows more slowly, so needs only monthly mowing! Or, you have the option to never mow it. Left uncut, this special grass bends over to become a 3-4 inch high “no mow” type of meadow.

Pearls Premium grass seed has been installed in more than 500,000 lawns, and in all climates of the world, including high-foot-traffic areas outside of Boston’s Museum of Science. You may be sure there’s lots of carbon sequestered and water storage happening beneath Pearl’s Premium grass.

For a truly grassroots effort to fight climate change, take a gander at Pearls Premium Lawn Seed. https://www.pearlspremium.com/

Getting it right at the Boston GreenFest. After much talk, the Top 10 Reasons for Letting a Lawn Go Natural without fertilizer had to be 15 reasons with a three way tie for second place as well as 4a & 4b. "I do care about the nematodes, but the rabbits are more important." The reason that spreading fertilizer kills beneficial nematodes did not make it on this board.  Photo R. Moir

If you like what we're doing, consider a donation to the Ocean River Institute.

You too, may join us in displaying with pride Natural Lawns with Healthy Soils Challenge stickers. For a contribution of $10, we'll send you 5 stickers, 2 Natural Lawns with Healthy Soils Challenge stickers, both large (4.5 inch) and small (2 inch), the 4 by 7.5 inch Swim Free and Prosper Right Whale sticker, and 2 sizes of mother right whale with calf sticker. Please indicate your sticker preferences when making a gift.

Donate

Here at the Ocean River Institute, we don’t just talk about the need to fight climate change. We’re using all of our knowledge about the threats we face to develop solutions and press others to take bold actions. 

And bold action is exactly what the world needs in the fight against climate change. Who's in your corner?

Publications:

"Revival Coffee in Somerville takes up the Natural Lawn Challenge." The Somerville Times, August 27, 2022

"For eco groups, less lawn fertilizer is key to water crisis." By Dustin Luca, Salem News August 12, 2022

“More carbon capture, better water retention and greener emerald bracelets for Dedham.” The Dedham Times, August 12, 2022.

"Emerald Bracelets to Solve Three of the World’s Greatest Environmental Problems." Seven Seas, July 1, 2022

“Emerald Bracelets to Solve Three Of The World’s Greatest Environmental Problems.” by Rob Moir, The Environmental Magazine, June 21, 2022

"Of Mousy and Elephantine Cycles, Managing the CLIMATE CRISIS after Glasgow COP26." The Eden, March 2022



“Lincoln resident promotes natural lawn care,” Concord Journal, Aug 3, 2021

“Zumi’s host Natural Lawn Care for Healthy Soils Challenge,” Ipswich Chronicle Transcript, Aug 10, 2021

“Peabody peak capacity generator need not burn fossil fuels,” The Salem News, Aug 5, 2021 

“30% preserved or restored by 2030,” The Salem News, Sep 29, 2021

“Pogie deaths, a Mystic River mystery,” Boston Herald, Oct 4, 2021

“Remember the right whales with a special day,” CommonWealth, Oct 29, 2021

“Retreating Arctic Sea Ice, Sea Ice Formation, and the Stronger Flow of the Gulf Stream” Seven Seas November 2021

"Rob Moir, PhD, Science Advocate," Forbes, Oct/Nov 2021