Re: Grassland versus lawns; was Re: Now's the Time to Say Good-bye to Your Lawn

Dan Hook (guldann@ix.netcom.com)
Mon, 9 Aug 1999 11:15:57 -0400

John Thanks for writing this I have to agree with you. Our lawn is
basically a patch of grass and weeds that gets mowed. We pretty much ignore
it. This year trying to run a CSA and having a drought its really ignored.
We live on a farm so we are also surrounded by pasture and wooded areas.
All "maintained" by the cattle and horses. I like the way lawn and pasture
look. But I do agree it should be chemical free, and precious water should
never be used on it in times of drought. Actually we never water our lawn.
John if you are every harping through the Northeast and want a roof over
your head in Massachusetts zap me a note. Give me two weeks notice.
Housework in on the bottom of my chores list! Beth

>Bill, I think you are a bit harsh with lawns. My own lawn, which hasn't
>been fertilized in 30 years, is a diverse ecosystem of clovers, dandelions,
>mosses, and other things besides grass. Now under drought it is patchy
>brown and green, still nice to have. At times of normal moisture it is a
>beautiful mini-jungle, under an intermittent mowing management.
>
>I especially love to see clovers rampant in a lawn. A couple of years ago
>I had an early morning paper route and there was a new development where
>the contractor installed a uniform sod. Somehow, one of those places got
>infested with clover and it seemed like a miracle to me. I even
>contemplated the radical action of spreading clover seed as I made my early
>morning rounds. I didn't do it, though.
>
>On the lower-budget side of the development the contractor used sod that
>had been stored on a pallet for too long, so most of it was dead. He
>spread it anyway, relying upon the adaptability of grass to fill in the
>spaces. That would have been the best place to establish an alternative
>sward.
>
>Grassland is a beautiful thing. I caught the spell of grassland in the
>plains of Venezuela. But grassland in the proper sense is not a
>monoculture, it is a complex ecosystem akin to a miniature rain forest.
>
>Instead of dissing lawns, why not promote the beauty of a domestic
grassland.
>
>Sincerely, John Lozier
>harper for harmony
>
>At 05:01 PM 8/7/99 -0400, BILL DUESING wrote:
>>Living on the Earth, July 30, 1999: Now's the Time to Say Good-bye to Your
>>Lawn
>>
>>This drought and heat wave are just the impetus you need to finally get
rid
>>of your lawn. While most trees and shrubs are still fairly green, lawns
>>everywhere are brown and unsightly. We are at a turning point in the
>>reputation of an American icon.
>>
>snip
>
>
>
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