Every year Americans use 1,000 gallons of water, 70 million pounds of pesticides, and over 5 billion dollars worth of fertilizers in an effort to create natural looking lawns. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, homeowners use up to ten times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than farmers use on their crops. These chemicals wreak havoc on the environment and leave a chemical residue on your lawn that is anything but safe for children.

And kids don't even have to play outside to be affected. Lawn-care chemicals that are tracked indoors on people's shoes and pet's paws can migrate all around the house. In a 2001 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers tested indoor surfaces after the popular herbicide 2,4-D (a known hormone disruptor) was applied to lawns. Their study found the pesticide “in indoor air and on all surfaces throughout all homes,” including kitchen tables, windowsills, and floors.

Making your yard more eco-friendly will have a bigger impact than you might think. Yes, your yard may only be one small chunk of land, but all across the country, American yards make up a good portion of the environment. Make a difference by going green, starting in your own backyard.