19 Jun 2009

Urban Permaculture….taking the neighborhoods back!

Posted by Jake

As a kid…and even in my adult years… I loved mowing the grass every Saturday.

Carefully concentrating….I would mow perfectly straight lines into the lawn.  Sometimes getting creative…I would mow a zig zag pattern …like a baseball infield….taking great pride in keeping my grass nicer than my Senior Citizen neighbors.

This was my understanding of a nice yard in America….just kinda grew up doing it!  Have you ever wondered why so many people grow lawns?

Check out this great summary on the “History of Lawns” and their impact.

This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a grassy patch in your garden or yard….but…. there’s other options than just growing a HUGE patch of grass!!  Especially if you’re interested in growing your own food!

In my opinion that answer is….

URBAN PERMACULTURE

This method provides food to “generations” of people…whether you still own the property or not.  There’s a movement afoot…check it out!!

The two videos above…seem like a great time to me!  What an idea to get going in every city and town!!  We should get “Grow Food Party Crews” going in everywhere!!  Wouldn’t it be a blast to do homeless shelters, drug rehab centers or maybe senior centers….they might be into it!!

For those just getting into permaculture….check out the above video…it’s full of insights into getting your own yard going and then branching out from there.

…..and for those with no land, lot, or soil nearby…check into community gardening…the above video shows how people are finding unwanted areas everywhere and working together to create abundance!

For backyard permaculture designers…check out ….”Gaia’s Garden, Second Edition: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture“ by Toby Hemenway.

Gaia's Garden, Second Edition: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture

GROW YOUR OWN…or help others LEARN TO GROW THEIRS!!

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  • Morta..

    Hello..thanks for checking out the blog and thanks for the kind words!!

    Yah... I hear you on the primal urge to "grow"...it's just in there for some of us...a lot of us! Happy Growing!
  • In Omnivore's Dilemma, while working on a "good" farm, the author realized the significance of the "lawn" to be the place where we cultivated the wild. Wild buffalo roamed in the plains, and in order to be able to hunt them, we needed to create a yummy grassy place for them to roam. I myself had the tiniest 3X7 ft space and something primal inside me yearned for a lawn. I grew it from seed and was so proud when it grew thick and gorgeous. I will definitely check out the History of the Lawn link. What you're doing is awesome! My Utah friend who lives in NY recommended me to your blog.
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