Can Lawn People Choose Alternatives

Even so, most of the practical options available to individuals are low-cost, simple, and based on widely available information and resources. At the individual level, alternatives are most commonly implemented by growing ground covers other than turfgrass-either by simply aUovmig secondary succession to establish whatever diverse herbaceous, shmb, and tree species grow on a neglected plot, or instead by actively planting new communities, especially of native species.  

Planting native species in the yard to replace turfgrass represents an effort to restore traditional and locally viable ecological communities on a small scale. Such species include not only historic and prehistoric forest species mixes (oak-hickory, and beech-maple for example), but also wddflower meadows, as well as tall and shortgrass prairie. The advantages of such landscapes are that they tend to be low-maintenance, resist weeds, and attract birds and other wildlife. Native landscaping also can be used to produce yards with fmit, nut and berry 

Lawn alternatives seem to represent opposition to larger system, one with significant momentum. Failure to adhere to local yard norms often represents an 

Copyright 2001 The Scotts Company, Marysville, Ohio reprinted from Robbins, R, and J. Sharp (2003). Producing and consuming chemicals The moral economy of the American lawn. Economic Geography 79(4) 425-451 with permission from Clark University. 

The Wild Ones was founded by naturalist and teacher Lorrie Otto. She planted blue and white aster Aster azureus), yellow goldenrod (Solidago 

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