Grass

Grass, other than pasturing cattle, horses, sheep, other domesticated and wild animals, why grow it?

Each day when I look out on my lawn, I can't help but think what a dumb place to put money. Sure it is green. It adds some decorative, aesthetic pleasure, but is it a wise place to spend money? Should we be pumping fertilizer, bug killer and weed killer onto the lawn at increased cost while we further pollute our ground water? No rain this week, so if I am to keep the grass growing I'll need to turn the sprinklers on.

Until recently, the State of Florida allowed Home Owner Associations to require that lawns be covered in grass, be trimmed and neat. Homeowner Associations were constantly reviewing member lawn care outcomes and leveeing fines on those who didn't keep their lawns up to HOA standards. While this mandated grass and good lawn grooming was a godsend to Florida's lawn care industry, the law forbade homeowners from transitioning their lawns to a more sensible usage of native plants, vegetable gardens, or other more productive uses for this space. Fortunately, that law was rescinded and now Floridians are able to change their yards to better use. Hopefully, the other 49 will enact similar laws.

Well, you might think I just finished mowing the grass, edging and cleaning-up the debris in this 96 degree Florida heat.

Beginning next growing season, I think I'll plant some pumpkins and water melons out front ...maybe some tomatoes and cabbages in the back. Then I can fire the lawn care company.