Here are some things you can do to help rid your community of the unnecessary noise and particulate pollution that endanger and annoy your neighbors (they are just too polite to say).
Take action at home, take action politically, take action in your community or home association. For more on advocacy opportunities, please check out our friends at Quiet Clean Northern Virginia
1. Model sustainable garden care. If you maintain a lawn, mulch the leaves and leave them in place. Fine mulched leaves nourish the soil and help suppress weeds. Consider turning over a greater portion of your lawn to a native-plant filled, pollinator-friendly garden (see our Resources page for tips). If you want to remove leaves, use a rake or an electric blower.
2. If you use a lawn-care service, demand a quieter, greener model: Ask them to rake or mulch your leaves. If they want to use a blower to remove leaves, ask them to go electric. At a minimum, discourage the model of blowing your lawn every week from September to December. It’s just “extra” and not good for your neighbors or the environment. A generation ago we picked up the leaves once or twice per season. That’s enough. You are the customer, ask for change. Do the same through your HOA or condo board for an even bigger impact!
3. Get Involved! Support the education and outreach work of the Quiet Clean Virginia Foundation by joining and participate in community outreach events or distribute flyers. Email us at info@quietcleanvafoundation.org. Also, check out the additional actions supported by our sibling organization Quiet Clean NOVA (at https:/quietcleannova.wordpress/com)
4. Leverage your community! Ask your church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other house of worship to lead by example and switch from gas-powered lawn and garden tools (mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers and hedge trimmers) to battery tools on their own property. You can download a sample letter here. Belong to a book group, poker night, or pickle ball team? Spread the good news of quieter, cleaner neighborhoods with your friends and family.
5. Press the Virginia government for action: Tired of crossing to the other side of the street every block during a walk to avoid the fumes of that 2-stroke gas-powered leaf blower? Tired of noise penetrating your home, raising your blood pressure, and disrupting work, study, and relaxation? Send your state senator or state delegate an email asking them to support legislation to empower local governments to ban or restrict gas-powered leaf blowers. Find your state lawmakers and their email addresses here
6. Contact your local government. Some counties have taken important first steps to transition toward electric equipment for the care of parks, fields, schools, and public spaces. Encourage new or continuing investment in more sustainable care of our shared public environement, including more space for native plants and pollinators. Ask that noise ordinances be enforced. For specific steps in Northern Virginia, see https://quietcleannova.wordpress.com.
Want to support our door hanger campaign? Donate through PayPal If you would like to avoid the processing fee and donate by check, please contact us at info@quietleanvafoundation.org
