Get Off Your Grass and Create an Edible Lawn

Americans currently spend more than thirty billion dollars, millions of gallons of gasoline, and countless hours to maintain the dream of the well kept thirty- one million acres of lawns. An estimated sixty-seven million pounds of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides are applied around homes and gardens yearly. Commercial areas such as parks, schools, playing fields, cemeteries, industrial, commercial and government landscapes, apply another 165 million pounds.

Lawn grasses are not native to the North American continent. A century ago, people would actually pull the grass out of their lawns to make room for the more useful weeds that were often incorporated into the family salad or herbal tea. It was the British aristocracy in the 1860′s and 70′s, to show off their affluence that encouraged the trend of weed-free lawns, indicating one had no need of the more common, yet useful plants. Homeowners were encouraged to cultivate lawns that would serve as examples to passersby. These types of lawns also lent themselves to the popular lawn sports, croquet and lawn tennis. From the 1880′s through 1920′s in America, front lawns ceased to produce fodder for animals, and garden space was less cultivated, promoting canned food as the “wholesome choice.” Cars replaced the family horse and chemical fertilizers replaced manure.

It has been estimated that about thirty percent of our Nation’s water supply goes to water lawns. In Dallas, Texas, watering lawns in the summer uses as much as sixty percent of the city water’s supply.

On weekends, we increase noise and gasoline consumption to mow down the grass we have worked so hard to grow. Lawn clippings are put into plastic bags and have been estimated to comprise between twenty to fifty percent of our country’s overcrowded landfills. Running a power mower for one half hour can produce as much smog as driving a car for 172 miles (E – The Environmental magazine, May/June 1992.) Bizarre customs, are they not?

The definition of a “good” lawn has come to mean, a plot of land growing a singular type of grass, kept mowed, maintaining a smooth even surface, uniform in color, with no intruding weeds. The United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Golf Association and The Garden Club of America have promoted this type of lawn. Lest a weed appear, it was to be destroyed at once. Manicured lawns have become an opportunity for rivalry between neighbors and an example of man’s domination over nature.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jennifer C.

6:00PM PDT on Jul 5, 2011

Good article. Thanks for sharing these great ideas.

send a green star

Howard C.

10:15AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Where I live in the UK all garden waste has to be composted, a special bin is provided and the waste is collected from those who cannot compost at home. This year though it has been so dry, we have had 10% of our normal amount of rain (we live in the semi arid East Anglia part of the UK) that the grass is pretty much dying and not growing. Our water is metered and watering the lawn is simply that we don't tend to do, it is simply too expensive.

Arifiana W.

4:01AM PDT on May 22, 2011

people in countryside in Javaness society where i was born always plant edible plants in their yarn, so if they don't have money to buy vegetables or something to eat that day, they just simply go to their lawn and pick vegetables, chili, and others to cook, cassava leaf, papaya leaf and flowers,spinach, and others. not to mention many kind of fruit trees (children always love to climb it) and herbs to make traditional medicine.
of course it's not that easy in urban areas nowadays, but here in Indonesia, it's just common

Beth M.

11:43AM PDT on May 20, 2011

Already have violets in the yard and garden. They're pretty.

Dallas E.

12:19AM PDT on May 20, 2011

The lawn is as useful as 'keeping up with the Jones'". When something as this is so destructivel to the environment and all living things, including our own health, society's and people's values have to change. Why should we care that our lawn is nicer then our neighbours????????? BS. Don't we have anything better to do or contribute to?. How sad that there are so many unsolveable problems in the world as we speak, and people are worried about a dandelion in their precious lawn, or how 'beautiful' the golf course looks??????? There are different and more important values we should teach our children, and if the lawn gets above an inch and has a dandelion or two, life goes on. This is ridiculous. How petty and selfish people are to put this value of their front lawn over poisoning all plants and animals, just to impress the neighbour??????? Ha ha to you fools wasting your life and money to impress the neighbour. FOOLS YOU ARE.

Cheryl B.

1:48PM PST on Feb 6, 2011

thanks

Bo T.

1:56PM PST on Feb 2, 2011

Very sensible advice that is not only healthy but saves money.

Christine A.

5:55AM PDT on Sep 5, 2010

Cannot agree more with all these comments re lawns. With the advent of lawn tractors, people are making more and more lawn space when we should be cutting back drastically. I have a small yard and when I moved here two years ago it was bare except for dried out grass. Now it looks like a jungle with lots of cultivated flowers and wild flowers. It hasn't been cut once this year and now what grass there is is thick and green. Lots of birds and bees here. Most folks probably think it looks messy (brainwashed into 'neat' lawns), but I love it as it is natural and vibrant.

People talk about the pollution cars cause, but one hour on a tractor lawnmower causes as much pollution as 45 cars!

Let's go 'really green' and go natural.

Leah D.

7:43AM PDT on Jul 26, 2010

We don't need to use pesticides on our lawn and never have. If there is a weed we don't like, we pluck it out! Done and done.

If they are stubborn, pour some vinegar on them. Au natural!

Mari '.

2:11AM PDT on Jul 26, 2010

I have been doing this now for years. My neighbors think I'm insane! Awesome that this is now on care2!!:)