Much has been said about the health benefits of eating food that is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. But what about our lawns and public fields? Are organic treatments that make them safer for children, pets and the environment worth the extra cost?

Just last month, New York Governor David Patterson signed into law the Child Safe Playing Act, which bans the use of pesticides on school playgrounds and playing fields.  Schools must comply with the regulation by next year.

This follows a recent study in the medical journal Pediatrics that supports the hypothesis that exposure to pesticides may be associated with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. These growing concerns along with the increasing awareness of the environmental impact of chemical use have school and town officials and some area homeowners making the switch to organic lawn care products.

"We've used the traditional lawn treatments recommended by our gardening service," said Kim Blachar, a Katonah homeowner. "But I would like to find out more about what I could be doing better. I obviously do not want my kids exposed to anything dangerous."

In the Katonah-Lewisboro School district, organic treatments of lawns and fields have been in use for about five years already. "We try to be ahead of the curve in this district and certainly have been in this area," says Thomas Psomas, the district Director of Operations and Maintenance.

"Alternatives are out there and using safe products for the kids is the responsible thing to do." He said the changeover was made without affecting the overall budget of his department.

Cost may be just be one factor that causes hesitation for some people to go green. Fully organic treatments can run up to 20 to 30 percent more than traditional ones, according to Sav-A-Tree, a large tree service and lawn care company in Bedford Hills.

Some customers also feel that the organic approach does not alleviate all of their weed problems. "To address this, in addition to an all natural lawn care program, we also offer a hybrid one that combines organic and some conventional methods as well," says Kristen Piccini, a marketing manager at the company.

Town of Bedford officials have also been concerned with the envirnmental impact of lawn chemicals on the groundwater supply. At a recent town forum, Supervisor Lee Roberts said that the conservation board promotes healthy lawn management through mailings. With new stormwater regulations requiring every homeowner to have their septic tank pumped and inspected within five years, the town will be talking about it more, she said.

"We have to understand how precious our resources are. We need clean water," she said.

Nationally, about ten to 15 percent of lawn care is done using all natural methods, says Paul Tukey, the founder of the non-for-profit organization Safelawns.org.  He notes that the shift back to "do-it-yourself" lawn care is fueling the interest in organic gardening. And he cautions those who are going the chemical route. "Those applying chemical fertilizers and pesticides at home generally use much more of the product than is safe. Most people do not read the directions and think that if a little works well, then more is better."

Instead, he recommends using a cultural approach that "enhances Mother Nature," by incorporating different mowing and watering techniques as well as treating the soil with products derived from plants, animals and mined minerals. Tips and how-to videos are available at Safelawns.org

Margi Corsello, a Katonah resident and landscape designer, has been thinking about a radical alternative to the suburban lawn for a while.  "I would love to see residents planting shrubs, perennials and ornamental grass instead of a lawn altogether," she said. "It is healthier for our residents and the environment. And in my opinion, a lot more beautiful."