LOCAL BUSINESS FEATURE
The Landscape Cooperative
by Megan Lowder Before the Industrial Revolution, lawns
The result of this generational
were seen as a sign of wealth. It took
terraforming of the native landscape
multiple men and many hours to
has resulted in a manicured lawn in
maintain a manicured lawn. During the
almost every yard. Mowing and
Industrial Revolution, lawnmowers
maintaining the lawn are now deeply
became available to anybody, and
ingrained in our culture. These useless
millions were sold. These mowers
lawns make up an urban “food desert.”
transformed the native landscape,
This is especially true in highly
rendering it useless to the community.
populated communities where food
Invasive species of plants and grass
security is needed the most. After the
were imported and marketed as “exotic”
pandemic hit in 2020, the founders of
to homeowners. Most of these exotic
The Landscaping Cooperative (TLC)
grasses and plants which persist today
came together to address this issue in
are not adapted to the climate of the
San Antonio. The cooperative was
area and require more maintenance than
founded to fulfill the need for
native species. The monoculture lawn
sustainable landscapes in the San
requires dangerous chemical treatments
Antonio and surrounding area.
and copious amounts of water just to stay green. It also does not serve any
The Landscaping Cooperative provides
productive purpose.
the services to design, build, and
16 | Fall 2021 | Cultivate SA
