Revolutionalize your lawn!

My friend Susan Tweit, over on her Walking Nature Home blog, has written an eloquent post in her recent LIGHTEN UP series that really resonates with me. I'll admit it---I hate lawns! Not only are they a huge energy suck in so many ways, but they are also a huge waste of our precious water resources and they aren't very friendly to wildlife or beneficial insects.

While you're reading Susan's post, think about ways that you can start to eliminate your own lawn. You don't have to rip the whole thing out overnight...you can start with a little strip removed along the street. Several of my neighbors are taking my example and doing that. Although some of their plant choices aren't great for this searing heat, at least part of the grass is gone and it's a good start. I was lucky in that my lawn was almost non-existent when we moved in, and since then, the drought (and the fact that I refuse to water lawns) has lead to the demise of most of the grass here. Except for the Devil Bermuda Grass, of course, which is a whole different story! LOL.

Happy trails from HOT Texas!

Dig it!

bobbi c.

New garden photos!

I know, finally! Sheesh. I wanted to get some of the new front yard landscaping done before I took photos, but everyone's clamoring to see. So here are a few of the "new" gardens and house. We've been here almost two years now, but it still feels new to me.

I'm growing vegetables, fruit trees, herbs and flowers in the back, and native shrubs, trees, herbs and flowers in the front and on the sides.

First of all, an overview of my backyard raised veggie and herb beds, made from simple, inexpensive cedar fence pickets held up by stakes driven into the ground.



I use whatever existing structures I can to help make a side for the beds. I have them all along the garage sides, along the back fence, side fence, you name it! Here's the one along the back fence, in progress.



I also have them lined up behind the detached garage. This one has asparagus in it.



And this one at one side, underneath the birdfeeders and the windows that Husband added to get more light into the garage workshop:



After building huge, complicated, expensive cedar beds at our former house, these are simple to do, almost instant, and inexpensive.

More later!

Dig it!

bobbi c.

Food not lawns!

Dear friends,

I was excited to run across a website called "Food Not Lawns"

Started by author/activist Heather C. Flores, the group advocates and supports front yard gardens and other ecological projects. Hey, as the almost owner of a new front lawn, I'm all for that!

I for one can't wait to turn my water-wasting, gasoline-guzzling front lawn into a verdant garden full of herbs and flowers, and yes, maybe even veggies! Time will tell whether I run into any kind of ruckus by doing that or not...you never know here in Texas.

And as always, I'm inspired by the work of the Dervaes family in California, and their 1/5 acre homestead. If you haven't seen their gorgeous, amazing website, surf on by and prepare to be gobsmacked!

Path to Freedom

Until next time,

dig it!

bobbi c.