What are your priorities

As we are nearing record drought conditions (amen for yesterdays rain) and cities are finally starting to make water conservation efforts I just want to pull my hair out when I drive past the lawn or business with the bright green grass and sprinklers running.

Does your self-worth come from the greenness of your grass? Do you worry the people in your life will judge you or look down upon you for letting your grass “die?” If you do you may want to consider your priorities and the people you hold close to you.

Millions, if not billions of dollars are spent convincing the American public that weed-free green grass is what you MUST keep to be part of the American dream.  The dream lawn requires a cycle of fertilize, herbicide/pesticide, water and mow. So people get the supplies  nd start treating their lawns with chemicals which are probably over applied if they have never taken the time to get the proper education for chemical application. These chemicals are then washed away into our water increasing nitrogen levels and decreasing water quality. Between the chemical fertilizers and over watering our grass is growing, increasing our dependency on oil and requiring more emissions to mow the grass.

Let’s make this an educational opportunity. YOUR GRASS WILL NOT DIE! Grass goes dormant. Do you place a protective heat blanket on your lawn in the winter to keep it green? No, you let it go dormant and it comes back every year, like magic! Same does for bulbs and tubers that are established.

If you MUST water something, do the minimum to keep it alive and not in the heat of the day, a significant portion of your water is just evaporating. It is about as effective as  leaving your kitchen sink to run down the drain. Consider capturing rainwater and condensation from roofs, store it in barrels to use on the plants that have to be watered.

Be the beginning of a change. As you drive around town you see a very obvious difference between the lawns in the Overman Park neighborhood area, which are dormant and weedy, to the newer developments off Hudson, which are green and growing. I am proud to say my friends are one of the few in one of the new developments with a brown lawn!  The grass maybe greener on that side, but I certainly don’t want to be there.

In the Midwest we have a delusional belief that we have an endless supply of drinking water but with continued dry conditions and overconsumption it can change. How much will you care about the condition of your lawn when you are paying our the nose for clean water to give your children. Other areas are already facing these challenges. So please, next time you feel inclined to provide your lawn and midafternoon bathing, please consider you are having an impact on the world and our future and make the right decision.