It's time to hang out on the lawn and enjoy the spring. In my case, that means a public lawn at one of the city parks. I have many to choose from, but my favorites are those in Battery Park City. Not only do they offer incredible views of New York Harbor, they are comfy to lie on, lovely to look at and chemical-free.

For me, these lawns are firsthand proof that it is possible to grow a soft, green, inviting bed of grass without pesticides -- one that you, your children and your pets can safely flop down, stretch out, roll around and sleep on.

Did you think your own lawn already was safe? Not likely if it's chemically treated. According to the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns, of 30 pesticides commonly used in lawns and gardens:

• 13 are probable or possible carcinogens
• 14 are associated with birth defects
• 18 are associated with reproductive problems
• 20 are associated with liver or kidney damage
• 18 can cause neurotoxicity
• 11 are suspect or known endocrine disruptors
• 28 are sensitizers and/or irritants that can cause inflammation or an allergic reaction

The last in this list is the least of the problems, but also the most obvious because reactions are often visible and immediate. My own daughter seems to have suffered a reaction a few years ago when doing cartwheels at the park. Within minutes, she developed a severe rash on her hands and other body parts that had touched the grass. She was screaming from the pain and itch -- she wasn't sure which -- and we had to rush to the nearest pharmacy for something to alleviate her distress. The rash subsided over the next couple of days, and we quickly put the episode behind us. But I wonder what less visible, longer-term effects she might have had from what we assume was pesticide exposure.

It's a concern because children are at greater risk from pesticide exposure than adults. Not only do they absorb more pesticides per pound than adults, their developing organs are more vulnerable to toxins. And of course their exposure is higher because they tend to play on the ground and put their hands in their mouths.

Lawn pesticides are also dangerous to animals -- both pets and wildlife, including dogs, birds and bees. When the chemicals are washed by rain into storm sewers and waterways, they endanger fish -- and may end up in the water we drink, where they can threaten our health all over again.

If this way of cultivating a lawn strikes you as not only dangerous, but crazy, try the natural approach instead. The key is developing healthy soil that supports your grass; then, watering and mowing it properly to maintain the soil, encourage a good root system and crowd out the weeds. See below for an outline of what's required and look at the links for detailed information.

Of course, if your land is totally unfit for grass, you probably can't grow it naturally -- but then, maybe you shouldn't be growing grass at all. To paraphrase an old song from the 70s, if you can't have the yard you love, plant the one you can. You might find that you love it even more.

—Sheryl Eisenberg

ONLINE RESOURCES EPA Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment Brooklyn Botanic Garden The New American Lawn Organic Gardening Compost Buying Organic Gardening Organic Lawn Problem Solver Cornell The Organic Weed Management Database Garden Centers Soil Improver Beyond Pesticides Toxic Lawn Pesticides

Spread the word. Once you've converted your lawn, let the neighborhood know -- maybe you can persuade others. You can buy this sign to post and get tips on talking to neighbors from the Washington Toxics Coalition.

Go native. Native grasses require less watering and are more resistant to pests than conventional lawn grasses because they're suited to the local conditions and climate. They also make for prettier and more interesting lawns. Imagine lawn grass sprinkled with wildflowers and you'll see what I mean.

Dealing with those pesty weeds. Cultivating a thick, tallish bed of grass will control weeds but not eliminate them altogether. So be prepared to do some hand-weeding, either by digging weeds up (with a garden tool that gets the roots) or spraying them with vinegar, alcohol or liquid soap.

Less can be more. Think about whether you really need, or want, your whole yard devoted to grass. Sure, it's great to sit on the lawn and soak up the rays, but it's even nicer if you can look out on a patch of habitat -- with honest-to-goodness wildlife in it. To learn how to develop habitat in your own yard, see Backyard Wildlife Habitat.