Take the Stigma out of Growing Vegetables In Place of Lawns
Jane Chitty, Somerset, England
vegetables in place of lawns?
It is only in comparatively modern times that homeowners have become programmed to grow lawns in their front gardens or yards. I guess it started in the USA in the 1950s with the growth of suburbia and quickly spread to other countries such as Australia and South Africa and, to some extent, Britain. Up until then, growing vegetables and fruits along with flowers and trees was a popular form of gardening in all parts of the garden. In fact in World War 2, there were many who managed to eke out their meager rations in Britain by digging up their gardens to grow only food.
Britain and America alike were urged by their Governments to “Dig for Victory”.
In much the same way as the western world turned to sugar and all things sweet after being deprived during the War, so did people embrace the concept of a velvet lawn in front of their home. It became the done thing to spend a fortune on having a wide expanse of grass which had to be fed and watered to make it grow and then when it did grow, to be cut frequently (more expense) in a never-ending cycle. Specialist companies providing “garden services” sprung up to take all the hard work of keeping that lawn in tip-top condition. But at what cost to the homeowner and the environment? Greedy lawns guzzling up water, food, toxic chemicals, fuel, labor, time, and commitment and with no actual end result apart from a perceived uniform look.
It became so much the norm that local authorities started to write rules and regulations that “only lawns” were to be permitted in suburban areas in front gardens and yards.
Now the whole concept has turned full circle. With the fashion of going organic and avoiding GM foods and the delight people are finding in growing their own food, a few intrepid adventurers started to venture into the possibility of digging up their front lawns and putting in vegetable gardens instead.
But it has not been without its perils.
Across the land, law enforcement officers sprang into action slapping court orders on those who dared while Home Owner Associations wagged their index fingers in horror. The persecuted turned to the media for publicity but the real support came from social media petitions and dedicated Facebook pages. It would seem that the local law backed down in surprise at the ferocity of the backlash. Julie Bass in Oak Park, Michigan, was one of the first to take advantage of social media when she decided to grow a vegetable garden to feed her family quality organic vegetables instead of a grassy lawn. Threatened with jail time for Julie, the Oak Park Hates Veggies Facebook page grew to 25,626 fans and is still going strong several years later.
Back to “Dig for Victory” and I found this old “Victory Gardens – Leaders Handbook” online published in 1943 soon after the US joined the allies fighting in World War 2.
The first paragraph says:
“As a nation, we have always taken food pretty much for granted. Not the farmers, of course. To a farmer, food is the stuff life is made of. But the rest of us haven't always understood that. We have always had the idea in mind that there was plenty of food if we just had the money to buy it. Now we are learning that a nation, or a group of nations, is no stronger than its food supply. We have stopped taking food for granted.”
Many today have caught on to this fact and have stopped taking food for granted too so the trend for growing vegetables instead of lawn is increasing all the time.
And if you are planning on going that way, remember that you don't have to rip out the lawn to replace it with vegetables. There is an easier way. The best soil in the world is the result of a gradual accumulation of lots of organic matter on top of grass. So you can go ahead and put in a vegetable garden but you don't have to rip up the lawn – in fact, it is so much better for your vegetables and fruit if you do not. Add lots of organic matter on top of grass whether by building a raised growing space or by constructing raised beds on top of the lawn and adding all your organic matter into the raised beds themselves. Your soil and your growing space will benefit in leaps and bounds.
If you are concerned about the opinions and actions of neighbors, homeowners associations, or local authority law enforcement officers, plan your change carefully. Start small with a few raised beds closer to the house. You can even screen these slightly with fruit trees. It is all about making it look good so that there is nothing anyone can object to.
Remember these points for a successful front yard vegetable garden:
*It must look beautiful.
*It must look tidy and well cared for.
*Remove any unhealthy, diseased, or insect-ridden plants.
*Cover any bare patches with containers of plants instead as a temporary measure.
*Always include some flowers to add color and to entice bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects and creatures.
And remember to keep in your neighbors' good books by sharing your vegetable and fruit bounty - they will learn to appreciate the goodness that comes with organic and GM-free homegrown produce plus they are so less likely to complain!
If you are able to make this move to help take the stigma out of growing vegetables, then please do so.
Once again it is time to stop “taking food for granted”.
Jane Chitty is a content writer for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions (including acne, arthritis, moles, warts, skin tags, and many more). After living for many years in Cape Town, South Africa, Jane has now settled in England although she has spent time in the USA where she has close family living. Jane is interested in comparing natural living and lifestyles in the USA, the UK, and South Africa – especially in the areas of health, green living, and nutrition. You can find Jane's regular posts for Healing Natural Oils at www.amoils.com/health-blog.
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