The Lawn Reform Coalition Blog is Born

Standard-issue "lawn care" information is OUT. Lawn reform information is not only IN, it's important for ecosystem gardening, the health of our waterways and more. So 15 months ago the Lawn Reform Coalition launched a website filled with alternatives to the conventional, overly perfect and supersized American lawn. Next came our Facebook page, which quickly grew to over 1,000 followers.


And now, by popular demand, we have the new Lawn Reform Blog, launching today with as big a splash as we can muster, with all 13 of us Coalition members making a fuss about it at once. The coalition members live in various parts of the country: I am the Florida representative.

The blog covers design ideas to reduce or replace lawns, regionally appropriate lawn species, and eco-friendly care for all lawns. And news!"


COMING SOON
Zazzle account where supporters can order up their Lawn Reform swag - buttons, T-shirts, hats, and more. And a "tag cloud" so readers can search on the blog for terms like "front yard," "buffalograss" or "California" to get really specific help for their own gardens.
The Coalition is not against lawns where they can be easily grown, but
we present ideas on to care for them sustainaably and without poisons.
This is my "Freedom Lawn" in northeast Florida.  It used to be
100% St. Augustine, but now many plants--all of them green-- grow there.
GUEST BLOGGERS WANTED!
We're looking for as many guest contributors as possible, so DO contact us if you have a story to tell - how you've reduced or eliminated your lawn, about a low-water lawn species you're trying, or just a horrific example of lawn care advice that could have been written by Big Chem (and probably was). Already we have contributions in the pipepine about:

•Front yard edible gardens from the Germinatrix herself - Ivette Soler, who's our most ardent supporter on Facebook, hands down.
•Mary Ann Newcomer will show us her favorite lawn-to-garden make-overs.
•The Garden Rant's Elizabeth has promised reports of the very best examples of lawnless front yards that Buffalo has to offer.
•And of course we've asked another Garden Ranter, Michele Owens, if she has any thoughts about giving up lawn for the growing of some food, and of course she has.

SO GET IN THE LOOP

Subscribe to our blog, or come here first and link over to lawn reform from our right-hand column. "Like" us on Facebook. Contribute photos to our Flickr group. And download one of our attractive badges to your website or blog.

Grass isn't always greener...

Ginny Stibolt

Comments

daisy g said…
I'd love to join the lawn reform group, but unfortunately, I live where the HOA can force you to have St. Augustine unless you have lots of money to fight it. UGH!
January 19, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Anonymous said…
Hi Daisy,
HOAs can no longer force you to grow something that is not Florida friendly. See my two-part interview with Mike Thomas who heads this program in Tallahassee http://fnpsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/everything-you-need-to-know-about.html

There are materials that the state has developed just for HOAs to educate them on the new Florida Friendly law HB 2080.

That said, there are ways to reduce the amount of lawn neatly so not to offend the lawn police. There are plenty of ideas and resources on the lawn reform pages.

Thanks for writing,
Ginny
January 19, 2011 at 8:21 PM
daisy g said…
I know about the legislation, but these folks are not reasonable and I don't have the resources to fight them. Thanks for the references.
January 20, 2011 at 6:22 AM
Anonymous said…
Daisy, I hear your frustration, but maybe there are others in your neighborhood who feel the same way. Perhaps you could start a "no-grass-roots" movement to get the rules changed. You could start with allowing a higher percentage of properties to be non-lawns such as butterfly gardens, bird-friendly habitat, or even a community vegetable garden.

I know that if I lived in such a neighborhood, I'd run for the board myself to work from the inside.
January 20, 2011 at 7:17 AM
Hancey said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
February 2, 2012 at 6:45 AM
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