I have a problem with lawns. Topsoil is quickly becoming a scare resource. We are running out of the material which we use to grow our food. Yet in North America, we have been conditioned to waste our topsoil growing lawns.
The average home owner sits on a very generous portion of land, which could be used to grow food. But instead of growing food, people put down sod, drench it with chemicals, and use it to grow grass.
The lawn has become the ultimate status symbol. If you have a perfectly manicured lawn, it is a sign of affluence. People who let their lawns get overgrown are a source of scorn by the other law-abiding citizens who 'put in the effort' to maintain their yard.
In the most extreme cases, we hire low-wage workers to mow and fertalize the lawn. The low-paid workers are exposed to the carcinogenic chemicals, while we sit in our houses and sip chardonnay or go to Choices to buy ridiculously over-priced organic produce.
Am I the only one who finds this bizzare? Why don't people grow their own food on some of their land?
My parents are a prime example of this. They have both a front and back yard, which they painstakingly maintain every weekend. They love to garden. But they don't grow any food. I recall growing up as a child and not being able to play on the lawn because it was covered in lime, or fertalizer, or it was being airated, or the new grass seed needed a chance to grow.
Why the hell bother having a lawn if your children can't even play on it?
I raised this topic with my parents, and asked them to plant a dwarf fig tree in their yard. They weren't warm to the idea. I pointed out that they could save money on food if they grew some of their own. They still weren't convinced. I argued that they should at least try to grow some of the more expensive food items, like spring mix or figs or asparagus.
After a few weeks of badgering, they have now planted some asparagus. Not a complete victory, but it's a start.
They have recently put up a huge fence around their back lawn, so that their dog can't go in it. So, now the lawn is really just used for:
1) Looking at
2) Walking across
Somehow I feel the land could be put to better use. Especially given the rising food costs coming our way this year.
What do you think? Should more people set aside some of their lawns to grow food? Is the lawn losing its foothold as a status symbol and quickly becoming a sign of stupidity and vanity?
Leave your comments below!
The average home owner sits on a very generous portion of land, which could be used to grow food. But instead of growing food, people put down sod, drench it with chemicals, and use it to grow grass.
The lawn has become the ultimate status symbol. If you have a perfectly manicured lawn, it is a sign of affluence. People who let their lawns get overgrown are a source of scorn by the other law-abiding citizens who 'put in the effort' to maintain their yard.
In the most extreme cases, we hire low-wage workers to mow and fertalize the lawn. The low-paid workers are exposed to the carcinogenic chemicals, while we sit in our houses and sip chardonnay or go to Choices to buy ridiculously over-priced organic produce.
Am I the only one who finds this bizzare? Why don't people grow their own food on some of their land?
Organic swiss chard, grown on my patio in garden boxes
My parents are a prime example of this. They have both a front and back yard, which they painstakingly maintain every weekend. They love to garden. But they don't grow any food. I recall growing up as a child and not being able to play on the lawn because it was covered in lime, or fertalizer, or it was being airated, or the new grass seed needed a chance to grow.
Why the hell bother having a lawn if your children can't even play on it?
I raised this topic with my parents, and asked them to plant a dwarf fig tree in their yard. They weren't warm to the idea. I pointed out that they could save money on food if they grew some of their own. They still weren't convinced. I argued that they should at least try to grow some of the more expensive food items, like spring mix or figs or asparagus.
After a few weeks of badgering, they have now planted some asparagus. Not a complete victory, but it's a start.
They have recently put up a huge fence around their back lawn, so that their dog can't go in it. So, now the lawn is really just used for:
1) Looking at
2) Walking across
Somehow I feel the land could be put to better use. Especially given the rising food costs coming our way this year.
What do you think? Should more people set aside some of their lawns to grow food? Is the lawn losing its foothold as a status symbol and quickly becoming a sign of stupidity and vanity?
Leave your comments below!
