Say No to Grass Lawns

No Lawn Mower Needed
No Noise
No C02
Consider Replacing Your Grass

A Lawn Mower is estimated to pollute in one hour as much as 40 late model cars! That's according to the EPA. Think about that the next time you drag out your walk behind to trim your lawn. It is estimated Americans burn more than 600 million gallons of gas per year mowing their lawns. That's 2, 271, 247, 070 litres. How ironic that without doubt a fair number of these lawn mowing people are at the same time concerned about global warming, taking steps to reduce their use of plastic, and so on.

There are numerous no water / low water, no need to cut options for replacing your lawn. Even better, a number of the options involve food plants-- instead of wasting time walking back and forth polluting the environment and causing noise pollution, you could sit back, relax, and then grab a bucket full of delicious organic treats for your meal.

That is exactly what we do, with our small backyard (pictured above).

The amount of food that even a very small yard can produce is awesome. Granted, if you want some crops, most involve some work. But probably not a lot more effort than tending to that boring green grass you weed-and-feed, water, cut. 

Even better. Perhaps you have heard that bees are in trouble? Do you think your flowerless green grass is doing anything for them? Nope. But put in something like the creeping thyme (the purple flowers above), and watch them dance!

If you are a home owner, I urge you to think about how you use the bit of earth you own. If enough people replace their grass, maybe we won't have to suffer through the constant whir and buzz of lawn machinery all spring and summer. That would be a great added bonus.

Urban Backyard Organic Garden

Backyard Organic Food Garden
Coming Back From Winter 

Counterintuitively, when we had acreage we found we could not really do that much with it, as it was just too much land for us to manage, especially with young children and work. Moving 5 years ago to a very small lot, the difference is remarkable. I think when we had acreage, it was frustrating because even spending a full day on it did not show much impact. Now, a few hours and you can see progress.

One thing was certain: when we bought the land and built the house, I said no grass, none, ziltch. Having spent 20 years mowing hilly acreage with a push mower, I had had more than enough! Also, I hated the noise, the stink, the seeming pointlessness of it-- especially in spring, you cut it, and it grows back so fast! So yes to no grass. What a great decision! I get to lie back in my hammock with a good book and the sound of neighbours firing up their mowers hardly even bothers me, smirking with no grass to cut! (Actually, the noise does still annoy me...)

So instead of grass, we have food. Lots of food! The first year, when from one of those large raised beds I harvested in one day 3 1/2 large colanders of french green beans, and from the side, buckets of raspberries, blueberries, I realized you don't need much land to grow an amazing amount of food. I had to buy a freezer!

From fairly early spring to late fall, this small backyard provides the majority of our fruits and vegetables. And, with the freezer, on into the winter.

I wish more people would move from lawns to food. You can do it on a small scale without that much effort and money, and you will save a lot at the grocery store, and eat better.

Hibernating Food Garden, Backyard Urban Garden

Hibernating Backyard Food Garden
Urban Organic Crops

My green thumbed wife is the gardener. I, as the most frequent cook, enjoy what she sows and reaps. After five years it still absolutely amazes me just how much food a very small back yard produces. Above is what I think of as its hibernating phase (although there are still a few delicious things that can be dug up from beneath the snow, like purple broccoli.

She is happy, as this cold snap may kill lurking bugs.

Below is what this small garden will soon, hopefully, once again look like. Soon there will be plenty for all meals, the freezer, and lucky friends. Can't wait!

For those who still maintain a traditional grass lawn, I wish you would think of ripping it up and putting in a few raised beds, a few plots. It cost a little to get started, but you will see your food bills dive, and the bees will love you.

From Last Summer, Lots of Food!

Urban Organic Food Garden Success

A Small Yard
Produces Lots of Organic Goodness

We moved into our new house 3 years ago, and while I got going in my new workshop producing wind chimes for the world, my wife got going on what at that time was a barren, scorched earth landscape.

My only stipulation was that I would not be cutting any grass. We moved from acreage where there was A LOT of grass, and I felt strongly I never wanted to walk back and forth with a lawn mower again. She agreed, and the result is what you see pictured above: food.

She did invest many, many hours, but that turned out to be something she really enjoys; pulling weeds, planting seeds, and, of course, harvesting. This little yard produces so much, we had to buy a freezer.

As I hear the noisy lawn mowers firing up to the left, the right, I laugh. Those characters are going to spend an hour walking back and forth, then maybe climb in their car and go to the grocery store to buy expensive, pesticide coated, produce for their supper.

I suggest, if you have a yard, or even just a patio, that you grow your own.

If you live on the Sunshine Coast, BC, or visit, you are welcome to come by. My studio is open pretty much everyday, and I'm happy to show off both the garden and my outdoor art for the home and garden. See my work and get directions on my visitors page of my website: Coast Chimes.

Delicious Time of Year: Urban Garden

Colorful Organic Swiss Chard from
Urban Home Yard Garden

Possibly my favourite time of year: warm days, cool nights, and awesome treats arriving daily on our dining table, thanks to my wife's hours in our yard garden.

I usually grocery shop once a week, Sunday mornings, and just now it is really happening. Making out the list, and realized I can almost completely skip the produce aisles. So cool!

It is shocking to me just how much food a very small yard garden can produce. I realized just how much last year, when I had to go out and buy a chest freezer!

I encourage you to rip up the grass and put a few raised beds in. The time you save from not having to mow and care for your lawn, invest in planting and weeding and harvesting. Enjoy better food.

Below is a picture of our little yard garden.

This little yard produces a lot of food