14
Prior Waskan
Grass Is Ass: In Support of a Natural Lawn Congratulations! You are a murderer. Or, more specifically, your yard is. For many families in The United States and Canada, lawn upkeep is a part of daily life. I, too, participated in lawn upkeep, duped into believing that a good lawn is the mark of a good neighbor. However, despite their appearances, “good” lawns are anything but green.
Monocultures, areas where only one species grows, are inherently unnatural and unstable things. They are especially weak against disease, competition, and herbivory. Unfortunately, these monocultures are the exact things we have in today’s suburbs. And of course, instead of letting these lawns die out and replacing them with the diverse plant life that our local animals need, we are actively maintaining them, despite their negative effects.
Runoff from the pesticides and herbicides we use to keep our lawns homogenous drain into water supplies and kill plants and animals. Even without insecticides, most lawns comprise invasive grasses that are inedible to insects. Non-native grasses also usually require better conditions than their surroundings. In California for example, the need for green grass yards has dramatically increased water consumption, often causing or worsening drought conditions. You know that “Kentucky” Bluegrass that everyone likes so much? It’s an invasive species from Europe. That front-yard “nature” that you adore? It’s as far from natural as you can get. I could go on and on why this is a bad thing, but take a look at the bird population in The U.S. and Canada instead. Due in no small part to the lack of bugs to feed their young, caused by a
