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Blogging The New Yorker: Turf Wars

7-23-2008sprinkler.jpg

We've written plenty about lawns here recently. We've advocated losing them entirely in favor of drought-tolerant, bird- and bee-friendly plants. We've suggested starting no-dig gardens over a patches of grass.

But really .... What's so bad about lawns, anyway?

 
 

This is the best explanation we've found so far: "Turf Wars," an article in The New Yorker by Elizabeth Kolbert.

It's a bit lengthy, but if you've ever been curious about the history of the lawn and why having much of one is generally a pretty bad idea for the environment, then you should take a few minutes and read.

Via WorldChanging

image via woodsy; sxc.hu

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Blogging..., lawns, The New Yorker, Elizabeth Kolbert, Turf Wars

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Comments (1)

Well, gee... the fertilizers, the weed chemicals, the water, the machine to chop it... I didn't learn anything terribly new from this article but the history is facinating. I'm saving a copy because I forsee myself being in big trouble with homeowner's associations when I decide to settle.

In the meantime, I'm picking on Mom's lawn... by cajoling, providing her with alternative plants, and threatening to do guerilla succulent plantings.

posted by whytephoenix on 2008-07-22 10:00:33
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