A symbol of colonialism, waste and environmental decay may exist right now in your backyard. In fact, it is your backyard. The lawn, an aesthetic remnant of an unsustainable American dream, is losing its foothold in a greener, more sustainably minded nation.
Historically, lawns were communal areas primarily used for grazing livestock. They later evolved into status symbols for the aristocratic class. The size of the field represented the numbers of cattle, sheep or servants they owned to keep such a landscape trim and clear. The purpose of lawns today is not much different. While they may provide curb appeal or a place for seasonal social gatherings, they also use 30 to 60 percent of urban fresh water and ten times the amount of pesticide per acre compared to farms to properly maintain – and could easily be repurposed for more useful things.
The cycle, promoting growth through irrigation and fertilization only to cut the plants down when they’ve grown too much, seems ludicrous. The United States has as much land allotted to turf as it does to the top four agricultural plants combined, yet we grow no agricultural product on turf. With pollinator populations diminishing and runoff contamination on the rise, it is time for our generation to question how we will invest in the land we have been given.
Homeowners of the Southwest are planting native flora, which help pollinators and prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals. In other areas, including the South Lawn of the Obama-era White House and our very own Bloomington community, lawns are being repurposed into fruit and vegetable gardens to mitigate the growing food desert crisis and provide nutrient-dense produce to populations usually reliant on heavily processed foods.
Even in areas where fresh food is available, gardens create opportunities for education, autonomy and exercise – additional benefits a farmers market or grocer doesn’t provide. Many community gardens provide a welcome respite from canned goods and frozen meals by donating unused produce to local food banks and shelters.
Locally, volunteer opportunities exist on campus at the Hilltop Gardens as well as off campus at Winslow Woods Park, Butler Park and the Bloomington Community Orchard, one of a mere handful of community orchards in the nation.
When I compare pushing a mower in summer heat over countless weekend hours to Bloomington’s unique opportunity to learn more about sustainable agriculture and horticultural practices, I know which option I would rather choose.
