First, let me assure you that the grass I am talking about is not medical or recreational marijuana, although that might also fall under the crop designation. Second, I have a predisposition against cutting my ‘lawn’ or digging out those pretty yellow flowering weeds from my front yard space in early spring like my neighbours do with great vigor and determination. (That comes from struggling with and Briggs & Stratton mower when I was a kid trying to cut half an acre of weedy grass.) If the City didn’t enforce a weed height limit, I would just let nature grow whatever on my front yard space.
What started me thinking about lawns and grass was reading a piece about how lawns became fashionable about 4 centuries ago and in fact, became de rigueur. It seems this passion for growing grass began with some French feudal lord who owned a castle, perhaps not unlike the one in the photo, who, to show off his wealth, created an area of grass in front of his residence. This grass was not for his goats or cows to munch on; indeed one was discouraged from even riding your steed across it or walking on the trimmed green weeds. This pompous waste of good grazing land was epitomized by the expansive Gardens at Versailles by King Louie and things went downhill from there. Nobles all around Europe suddenly needed a lawn.
The idea of having a lawn in front of your residence soon spread to the lower classes who boldly tried to emulate the rich and grassy upper classes. Now, every Tom, Dick and Mary has a green patch of land in front of their dwelling. Why? If not to show off our wealth, is it to demonstrate that we have conquered nature once more - taken away the natural, life-sustaining environment of bees, butterflies and other little bugs both above and below the ground?
Did you know that in the United States, for instance, that lawns are the third largest crop after maize (corn) and wheat? And unlike the other two crops, we usually just cut it, throw it away or at best, compost it so we can grow more useless grass.
It is bad enough that you cannot graze goats, cows or sheep in your front lawn (City ordnance) and that your cat or dog only eat enough to aid their digestion, but think about the cost of your lawn. You can discount your time as a cost because it is a hobby if you have riding mower, otherwise that weekly chore uses up valuable time - unless you are paying professionals to cut your grass / lawn. Think of the pollution from your gas mower or if that doesn’t tweak your sensibilities, consider the cost of Wynne’s electricity to run the electric mower and whipper snipper. Add in the cost of fertilizer, grass seed, organic weed killer, top-dressing for the area where the dog pees, irrigation system, mole repairs and chipmunk excavations back-filling.
However, the final insult is the excessive use of water to keep these lawns green. That is not too much of a consideration here in the north where we have lots of water, although it is metered and requires much infrastructure to deliver and then remove excess amounts when your watering device waters the driveway or street. But in countries where water is scarce, say in Dubai, it is almost criminal to use water for lawn grass.
All over the world, where it is warm enough to grow grass, people have lawns. It seems to be such a waste of resources. However, that is what we are good at, isn’t it.
Maybe we should try planting a different crop. You know, that other GRASS. Those plants in the garden that you are hiding among the foxgloves - move them and the flowers to the front of the house. You might even find some of your neighbours will help you WEED the lawn. The bees will love you. Just Saying.
