Comments on: Lawn Order: Spatial Victims

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:00:10 +0000

This is a great article– I am raising a little boy who as it turns out *LOVES* dandelions and is personally offended that others may consider his favorite a weed and want to get rid of any. He has a secondary interest in edible flowers and at four years old is far more well versed in which flowers are edible than most suburbanites several times his age. (to wit, he has been told by his suburbanite relatives that eating flowers is “gross” and “weird” and “why would you want to do that, thats so silly and strange!” But at home, we keep on, because it may be silly and strange to some but its rather fun to us!) (P.S. I am loving your piece’s title)

By: Lev

Lev — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:51:22 +0000

Thank you for the article. I enjoyed the historical and evolutionary perspective. Someone should leave this article in my neighbors’ mailboxes. It is amazing how many now useless rituals we take for granted. It is time to evolve.

By: Callie Wheeler

Callie Wheeler — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:36:21 +0000

Lawns with no dandelions, lawns that are weed free… they are so sad.. I love the little lilies that pop up here in MObile they are spider lilies and they are very where. And people hate them.. One mans weed is another mans flower.. I love this article.. sometimes enough is enough and if your going to put all that effort into anything make it work for you. Compost, garden and enjoy. I think in search of being able to control our universe we stop enjoying what we have built for ourselves and depleating what God has given us. Great article and well said on the ugle b word.. Keep them coming.

And All Dandelion Protectors Arise.. Callie

By: Biotunes

Biotunes — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:55:15 +0000

Imagine what people subsistence farming in developing nations would think to see us throw away our biggest national crop:

http://bioblog.biotunes.org/bioblog/2009/06/23/a-cash-crop-of-insanity/

By: Wendy R

Wendy R — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:51:17 +0000

One of our neighbors has a radioactive lawn–it’s the deepest emerald green I’ve ever seen and perfectly manicured. Some may find it attractive–I think it’s hideous. It makes me sick to see all the chemicals they spread across their lawn. Our lawn is full of clover, dandelions and squash, cukes and watermelon. I love it. Our neighbors probably think we’re hicks, but I don’t really care! Great blog!

By: Kris Carr

Kris Carr — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:56:17 +0000

Well said, as always Joshua. Great blog! xo Kris

By: Joshua Katcher

Joshua Katcher — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:38:46 +0000

Nancy! I totally agree. I would never call a woman a bitch.

I am simply expressing a grievance I have with mainstream male identity – that list is from the mainstream male perspective, not mine, and unfortunately, part of that identity is objectifying women and nature and animals.

Joshua

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:03:21 +0000

Thanks for this timely & witty article but I have to make the comment that I find it inappropriate and sexist to call women “bitches” in an article as if it’s funny–it’s not; it’s derogatory. That being said, we’ve had an organic yard for the past 3 or 4 years, and while it’s a little more expensive, find that it does quite well. We use organic fertilizer in the summer/fall, and corn gluten in the spring to help with weeds. It’s more expensive than non-organic, but when you think that all that toxic stuff is going into our water systems and we drink it, it’s worth it!

By: Jill Pentoney

Jill Pentoney — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:34:22 +0000

We just had our front lawn replaced with bark and native plants. It is much more beautiful than the lawn, and the water company came out to measure it for our rebate because of the water we’ll save! Taking care of the lawn was stressful for us, and it aggravated my fiance’s allergies to boot. We are so happy with our beautiful front yard now!!

By: Glenda

Glenda — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:19:47 +0000

God & lawns
(An amusing story of unknown authorship that would perhaps be even funnier if it weren’t so heartbreakingly true.)

GOD: “St. Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the USA? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.”

ST. FRANCIS: “It’s the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers weeds and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.”

GOD: “Grass? But it’s so boring. It’s not colorful. It doesn’t attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It’s temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?”

ST. FRANCIS: “Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.”

GOD: “The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.”

ST. FRANCIS: “Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week.”

GOD: “They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?”

ST. FRANCIS: “Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.”

GOD: “They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?”

ST. FRANCIS: “No, sir — just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.”

GOD: “Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?”

ST. FRANCIS: “Yes, sir.”

GOD: “These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.”

ST. FRANCIS: “You aren’t going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.”

GOD: “What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stoke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It’s a natural circle of life.”

ST. FRANCIS: “You’d better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.”

GOD: “No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?”

ST. FRANCIS: “After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.”

GOD: “And where do they get this mulch?”

ST. FRANCIS: “They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.”

GOD: “Enough! I don’t want to think about this any more. St. Catherine, you’re in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?”

ST. CATHERINE: “Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It’s a real stupid movie about …”

GOD: “Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.”