How do I persuade my community to adopt natural landscaping instead of lawns and plants that need watering?
Question:I've heard that Las Vegas, and other cities around the country, are encouraging people to return their yards to natural environments - not lawns that need to be watered? How best to do this within a "community association?"
Answers:
To convince an association interested in the financial and social health of the community, add up the costs / benefits of maintaining the status-quo green lawns, then compare that to costs / benefits of natural landscaping.
The results are shocking: the costs involved in supporting grass---mowing, gasoline, seed, maintenance, etc., compared to a natural environment.
Also highlight the benefits of each. Sure--most people like a nice green lawn. But, wouldn't it be nice to pluck cherry tomatoes and cut fresh lettuce leaves, while taking strolls down rows of grape vines from a home vineyard? Even if you're not into veggies & fruits, a simple forest or meadow landscape is less expensive and often more beautiful.
Agree with the others--become a natural landscaper first, then convince others.
By being a good example, and being friendly and free with the information about how much water you aren't using when people ask. You might mention that gas powered mowers, being unfiltered, produce as much pollutants in an hour as driving a car 1500 miles. And how you don't have to mow (or as much). As far as I know - NO ONE is a fan of mowing.
Those who are paying attention will realize that your place still looks interesting and good after a drought, when everyone else's grass is either dead, or they have endured a $250 water bill trying to keep it alive.
Cat's right, you need to lead by example.
What you don't want to do is preach. People will do what they want to do, not what you tell them they should be doing.
We live in a fairly affluent suburb and walking through the nearby developments, it boggles the mind on how much is spent to have that perfect green lawn.
My lawn hasn't had any attention other that mowing for 25 years. It looks just as good as theirs from the street. If you look at it close up, you will see clover, dandelions, ajuga, violets and mosses. All of these combine to give me a low maintenance lawn that doesn't need any watering and doesn't brown out in August without lots of water.
Check out our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.c...
Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
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