Kathe is certainly an inspiration.
Who said one person could not make a difference? I hope all of you with kids in school will jump on this bandwagon. But hey, it does not have to stop there. What about your church, synagogue or other place of worship? The place where you work? Anywhere you go on a regular basis.
The main thing here is to not go in verbally bashing chemicals, but to present the facts in a caring, thoughtful manner. First, I would suggest asking what kind of program they use for pest control.
If their answer is not earth kind, ask them if they would be willing to let you offer some safer alternatives. The same gentle techniques should be used on the subject of fertilizer use. Inquire about the products they use for grounds keeping. Again, if the answer is not earth kind, ask if they would be interested in lowering their water bills and have fewer problems with pest and disease. If they resist, just smile and politely thank them for their time. This does not mean that you must give up, you may just need to find a different approach. Keep your eyes and ears open to any difficulties they may have.
When I worked for JCPenney as a custom decorator, there was a trail of ants in our department going to some cookies we kept in the desk. The next day, I brought in some orange oil and water in a spray bottle. I used it on the ants and they soon died. People would come by and ask “What is that smell? It smells good.†I would explain what I had done and why. The reactions I got were interesting, all of them positive.
I am sure Kathe would be happy to share her experiences with you. Most likely, she could tell you more about getting through to people.