To the editor:

A small story in Thursday’s Journal-World announced the fact that compost would not be distributed to Lawrence residents as it had been in the past. “Unacceptable levels of Clopyralid” had been detected. This chemical, an ingredient in many lawn herbicides, is inimical to many plant species, including tomatoes, peppers and sunflowers. It doesn’t harm grass, however.

Are we so myopic that we will poison our environment for aesthetics? This issue, of course, goes far beyond the toxicity of our city’s compost. As a species, we seem to be bent on beating our environment into submission, with little regard for the repercussions. We foul our collective nest with impunity. Remember DDT?

Our existence here depends on a complex relationship of forces that we have yet to understand, much less dominate. Might it not be better to change the aesthetics? I would rather my neighbor had dandelions and wildflowers waving in her yard than those little flags signaling a chemical danger zone. Stewardship of this (our only) planet must start at our own front door.

Toni Tyson,

Lawrence