It seems that the iconic American wide, grassy lawn, which has lately been encroached upon by rock beds and strips of native flowers designed to cut down on watering, is undergoing more surgery. It is now giving up real estate to another pursuit: Homeowners are claiming portions of their lawns for produce production.

Landscapers have noted the emergence of these small scale agricultural endeavors, with a new survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) finding that about 20 percent of residential landscape architects report they are replacing part or all of traditional grass lawns with food/vegetable gardens.

“Not only do you benefit from fresh produce, but these gardens offer lower maintenance time and utility costs compared to turf grass while substantially increasing the sustainability of a home,” said ASLA President Angela Dye in a news release. “Plus, there’s nothing more convenient or sustainable than home-grown food.”

Actually, it’s not so sustainable once it gets inside. Munchkins and others gobble it up.

Thinking of digging in? The ASLA advises that you “don’t spend a dime on mulch when you can reuse your leftover leaves from the fall” and suggests using nitrogen-rich grass clippings as a mulch and weed suppressant atop the veggie bed.

The trend tracks with earlier findings by the National Gardening Association that growing food is a growing enterprise.

For more info on sustainable garden design see the ASLA website.
Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

The smell of autumn permeates the air. The cool, crisp weather signals fall’s annual crimson-colored foliage. For many an avid lawn keeper, the harvest season often means returning to the never-ending chore of raking and bagging leaves, then setting them at curbside for the weekly garbage haul-off. But stop right there.

Leaves are packed full of nutrients! Under normal growing conditions — with varied values, based on the source and condition of each tree — leaves are jam-packed with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, chloride, boron, iron, sodium, copper, and zinc. To simply rake and bag them up, only to be hauled off to the garbage landfill is a total waste of nature’s vast supply of rich nutrients, perfect for replenishing the soil.

So how do you go green in the fall? Start the process by not throwing away your leaves. There are alternatives. Mowing leaves, then mulching, and composting are the most effective way to reuse and recycle leaf mixtures. In addition, leaves can be used for overall soil improvement, directly working them into garden and flowerbed soils by tilling them in.

Master Gardener Beth Finlay, of Berks County, Pa., educated through the Penn State University Master Gardener Program, is an avid-promoter of mulching and composting autumn’s treasures.

“Rake to get the leaves off of the perennial beds; rake them onto the lawn, then mow both the leaves and the lawn together, which results in a perfect compost mix. This is an ideal mix; ready to place into the compost bin,” Finlay says.

Recycling leaves may seem like additional work, but Finlay drives the point home about these techniques: “Look, (before going green) you’re already doing all the work; you’re raking, bagging and hauling the bags to curbside. All you’re really doing differently is placing the mulched mixtures into a compost pile or taking them to a facility, it’s just a different process, and it’s extremely simple. After a while, it becomes automatic. It just makes more sense.”

“For lighter leaf fall, fine leaves are a good source of nitrogen and great for placing back into the soil,” Finlay explains. “But in Pennsylvania, we suggest using only a finer mixture of leaf mulch, because heavy leaves are too much, and can smother the ground. If your leaf fall is heavy, the fall rains and then snow, will compact the leaves and kill the grass beneath it. So mulch in the fall.”

For those who do have really light leaf fall, recycling is much easier. “In fine form, a leaf and lawn mixture that’s just been mowed, can be left on the lawn,” Finlay says. “If it’s in fine form, it will get down in between the blades of grass and incorporate into the soil; feeding it and supplying it with nutrition.”

This type of fine mixture can additionally be applied in a 3 to 6 inch layer around the base of trees and shrubs, and a 2 to 3 inch mulch mixture can be placed in annual perennial flowerbeds, for a beneficial source of nutrients.

While some Americans insist on pampering thirsty lawns and water-greedy flora – and engage in other water-siphoning practices – innovative means of conservation are cropping up all over the United States, out of necessity or sheer eco-sense. Some can be easily applied by individuals; others require input, or even a policy change, from water-service providers.

“In Marin County (CA), where I live, they take a fairly clever approach that’s driving behavior change. They tell you on your water bill how your water usage compares to last year’s,” says Jason Morrison, a water expert at the eco-driven Pacific Institute in Oakland, CA. “It’s information that’s very easy to read. You can also compare your usage to the county average and to the town average. That kind of information motivates people. Those kinds of policies allow people to become actively involved in utilities issues.”

Something else that’s helped California, as it fights to stay afloat during a drought, is the tightening of specs on new construction, for instance, requiring low-flow plumbing for all new homes. (Old-fashioned toilets use 6 gallons per flush, while the smart and modern ones only take 1.6 gallons or less.)

Water utitilies around the country are finding similar opportunities in conservation.

“Water utilities, in some cases, will subsidize the installation of low-flow toilets and shower heads. And they have good reason,” says Morrison, who specializes in global water issues. “In Southern California, they did that. At first they said, ‘we’ll give you the thing for free,’ and it was so popular, they said, ‘we’ll give you the toilet and install it for you.’… It’s still cheaper than them having to go build a dam, and then piping the water to cities hundreds of miles away.”

Another method that’s helping individuals: free water audits offered by local utilities. In Denton, Texas, for instance, the City offers “voluntary surveys to help customers find ways to conserve water. …”

When requested, the utility will send a trained auditor to not only read the customer’s meter but evaluate irrigation systems, types of landscaping and even install water-saving devices – at no extra charge.

Check your city utility, they may offer more help than you realize. Then consider these tips for turning down the water spigot:

• Plant native: Use indigenous species in your garden and landscape, period. In arid and desert regions, go for drought-tolerant plants, such as succulents, sun-hardy shrubs and wildflowers.

• Irrigate wisely: Use the most efficient ways you know how – and traditional a sprinkler system isn’t one of them; an unregulated hose can crank out 12 gallons per minute!

• Buy water-saving accessories: The AM Conservation Group sells bulk orders of useful items like an adjustable nozzle on your hose, so you can use different settings (from “mist” to “jet”) according to needs and an activator/timer for your water irrigation system, so you can better control when (early mornings or late evenings are best) and how long you water. Many green online retailers are offering innovations like the RoadRunner “smart” shower head that tells you when the water’s warm by slowing water to a trickle until you jump in, at Greenfeet.com.

• Use your garden hose sparingly: Water only the plants that need it most.

• Modify your behavior indoors: Only flush the toilet when it has solid waste or when sanitation dictates. Don’t do major water-guzzling chores in the heat of the day – such as laundry and dish washing. Be sure your dishwasher and washing machines are full before running them. (Purchase water-efficient appliances when possible.)

• Be a water activist: Find groups in your community that aggressively promote water conservation. Even your water utilities probably have educational and volunteer programs that reach into the community. Write to your state congressional representatives to air your concerns about water waste. Contact national or international Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) to see what you can do to help on a broader level.

Copyright © 2008 | Distributed by Noofangle Media