=> home => ruminations
Categories:
August 08, 2006
During this time of the year, I often lament about what I call the "sounds of summer". Nostalgia might lead you to think of birds singing, bees buzzing and children laughing. Unfortunately, the sounds of summer are now the droning of lawnmowers, buzzing of string trimmers, chatter of hedge trimmers, and roaring of leaf blowers, occasionally punctuated by the maddening repetition of "Turkey In The Straw" from the ice cream truck. Who in the world actually buys that overpriced garbage? Please stop so that I can retain my sanity.
It is frustrating to hear the constant sound of machines related to lawn maintenance all weekend long when I would like to enjoy being outdoors. If it is not the neighbor next to me, then it is the one behind me, or the one on the other side of the street, or even down the block. Those things are LOUD! On the rare occasion that everyone is taking a break at the same time, it is so nice to hear the birds and insects chittering and chattering as they go about the business of living. It is almost startling to realize that you are hearing something that is not the result of an engine running or a speaker moving. Benia plays a version of "Name That Tune" by trying to name the bird or bug that happens to be on stage at that moment. Not having an ear for such things, I am content to just sit and let the symphony of nature play for me.
Even if someone doesn't truly appreciate the natural sounds of summer, I find it hard it to believe that anyone prefers the roar of a lawnmower. I have seen confusing evidence to the contrary though. There are those who mow twice in one week, but more astounding is the double mow. This is where the same patch of lawn is mowed twice in a single day. This creates that "perfect" green carpet look with not a blade of grass out of place. I suppose they consider this quite an achievement, but I see it as a complete waste of time and resources.
I wish that more people would consider transforming their yards into native suburbia. It is a lot of work, but it is quiet work. Benia and I enjoy conversing while we spend time together in the yard. The isolation chamber that one steps into when operating a lawnmower is lonely and unpleasant. Avoidance of that torture was the catalyst for creation of Native Suburbia. Now we often lose track of time as we identify plants and pull weeds, while talking of future plans for the yard, trying to imagine what wonders nature will provide in the coming years. And of course enjoying those rare moments when we can hear the true sounds of summer.
/ruminations | Permalink (0 comments)
July 24, 2006While flipping through a magazine, a cute picture of a squirrel eating caught my eye. But something was wrong, there was also a man looking angrily at the squirrel. What could the squirrel have done to provoke the ire of this man? Closer inspection made it all clear. In its quest to survive the squirrel had foolishly decided to eat a plant that the man purchased. Now this advertisement from True Value was implying that we must defend ourselves against this creature. It also reinforces the idea that a good lawn is a "perfectly green lawn". I wish people would consider the broader implications of their actions. The mindset that produced this ad, keeps people shackled to their lawnmowers and puts them at odds with nature. I hate to think about what advice the helpful True Value worker would give to someone looking to solve their squirrel "problem".
In Native Suburbia, we are trying to work with nature. The squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and insects are welcome to eat anything they like. Food and habitat for the animals is part of the reason for establishing native plants in the yard. I won't say that they don't sometimes eat a little more than I would like them to. But it is hard to blame them for liking tender young plants. Isn't that exactly what we like to eat? In general, native perennials are very resilient and I have seen many a plant come back after what appeared to be a massacre by bunnies. Even if I lose a few plants, it is not a crippling blow to the project. We should all accept the fact that we cannot completely control nature. Besides, in the absence of a perfect person, we would mess things up anyway... Just like what we are doing to the planet right now. So I am going to continue letting the animals eat my yard.
Some people are even going a step further and actually planting fruits and vegetables that humans like to eat. I read an article today that said instead of growing grass, they are growing something that gives a real return for their labor. Edible Estates is an ongoing series of projects to replace the American front lawn with edible garden landscapes responsive to culture, climate, context and people. It is just starting out, but I like the idea. I would much rather see my neighbors slaving over some squash and tomatoes rather than cutting their lawn twice every week.
/ruminations | Permalink (2 comments)
February 18, 2006Many people believe that glyphosate based herbicides are harmless, but the world is a complex system and it is arrogant to believe that we can understand every detail.
I like to avoid spreading man-made chemicals into the environment if I can. Before anyone points out the obvious, I do drive a car, wear synthetic clothing and take medicinal drugs. I do not claim to be perfect, but when it comes to killing invasive plants in my yard, I am quite capable of accomplishing it without herbicides. I would like to encourage everyone to consider the alternatives. Plants can be controlled by taking away their ability to nourish themselves and reproduce. In Native Suburbia we killed the lawn by depriving it of light. We chopped down the buckthorn. No branches with leaves means no photosynthesis. Any unwanted seedlings that sprout from the remaining roots are pulled and added to our compost pile. Other invasives such as garlic mustard and bitter nightshade are also controlled by hand pulling. These techniques may be a little more work, but they also give us an excuse to have a close relationship with our environment. Our weeding excursions give us the opportunity to become familiar with every part of Native Suburbia.
So if you are trying to control 10 acres of buckthorn, then pull out the big guns, but if you are restoring less than a quarter of a acre in your suburban yard, then please try the hands-on approach.