

Xeriscaping. Lawns started as a form of opulence and stature of the rich. It signaled wealth as they were rich enough to afford to have a lawn, pay for it’s grooming and labor, and not use it to grow food, along with paintings of oversized livestock. Let the chips mellow for a while before planting the garden as rotting vegetation puts out a crazy amount of heat and will scorch tender sprouts. If you’ve ever stuck your hands in a compost bin, it’s quite toasty.


Sometimes, I envy you guys with your smaller lawns. I’ve got about 4 acres of ‘lawn’ which is partially taken up with a large set of raised vegetable gardens, goat and chicken pens, A couple acres to raise a few head of cattle on, then scrub brush and woods, and then 15 acres of farmland.