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Rattling Cages At Christmas – Anti Lawn Folks

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I don’t like people to try and whip me into shape. It is my nature. I make no exceptions and that can get me into trouble. Especially with those who are loyal to causes.

So when I came across a conversation that rattles some cages I thought “Why not post that?” instead of “I wouldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole”. – and at Christmastime!

I love those who wish to make a positive change in the environment and I realize the need for evangelists.

Just don’t rattle my cage 🙂 Well…read on to see the controversial quote in question.

Yvonne: I enjoyed how you put the anti-lawn folks in their place. When someone you describe as a “tiresome eco-evangelist” visits from city and criticizes your lawn, you ask: “What do you propose we do out here? Let the whole place turn into an overgrown jungle? Get eaten alive by mosquitoes every time we go outside?” Lawns might be unnecessary in the city, but I can’t imagine any other groundcover that’s as practical for a country property. Are you still having to defend your lawn?

Sonia: Yes, unfortunately. I hate to say it, but eco-evangelists who live in the city and have postage stamp backyards are the new Puritans – always preaching and trying to lay down the law to everyone else. They need a reality check.

Yvonne: I guess city folks have no idea what it’s like to contend with country weeds, do they?

Country Gardener

With whom I empathize.

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Comments

  1. Hi Ilona. Tell Sonia that lawns used to be a sign of great wealth. If you had enough land to grow crops on that you could afford to put your lawn to grass, you had it made.

    Sonia could let her grass grow and then make hay from it. That would put the city folk in their place. 🙂

    Now a question: What should I do with my winter crop? I have planted garlic (I know it will be okay), turnips, radishes, spinach and a little toy choi bok choi as recommended for winter crops. Do I need to cover them, or just let them grow and hope for the best.

    Someone posted a URL for a place that can answer every veggie question, but I’ve lost it. Do you know? Thanks.

  2. They will probably be fine until the deep freeze which can happen any time this month, but usually by New Years.

    The normal way to deal with winter root crops was to dig them and store them in bins in a cool area, like the old root cellars. You will have to dig them up soon and store them some way or other or you will lose them. Once it freezes solid, you won’t be able to pry them out of the ground.

    There might be some techniques to delay freezing- but Ohio gets really cold. Harvest the spinach and Bok choy right away.

    -my whole back field went naturally to grass once the grasses took over from the red clover I planted. If the grass dies out (like one year in a drought, or under a pile of cut grass) you get a bumper crop of Canada thistle, etc.

    I think Sonia’s point is that one garden does not fit all. Wealthy Englishmen are not Midwest farmers, who in turn are not Big city dwellers with small lots. In the city I had no lawn-everything was planted except for minuscule patches. Mowing took two minutes 🙂

  3. My winter crops were planted mid-October as was suggested in the post I read and which I cannot find now. 🙁 So the radishes and turnips really don’t have and eating roots yet.

    Guess I’ll just back off ten yards and punt.

  4. On your in ground root crops: try covering them with a mulch. I looked through my October posts- don’t think I would have posted advice to grow a crop that late.

    Fall crops are planted in Jul-Sept. Maybe you read about “cover crops”? Those are planted as green manure -grow over winter/plow into ground spring.
    Gardenweb has advice:
    In zone 5 you can still plant:
    bush beans–now (July)
    zucchini and summer squash–now
    turnips–early Aug
    beets–next week
    carrots-next week
    lettuces
    chicories–Aug
    spinach (to overwinter for spring crop) — late Sept.
    kale–next week
    collards–next week

    I saw
    http://www.vegetable-gardening-online.com/

    -was that what you were looking for? I always look up veggie advice in hardcopy books -not as familiar with online resources in that type of gardening. (flower person here)

    Hope this helps a little {:|

  5. Coneflower,
    although i am in a different zone,
    we frequently get to about 25
    degrees. occasinally lower,
    but not long spells of cold like
    up in ohio.
    i have used a floating row cover and raised lettuce and other greens all winter–several times, even under ice storms and snow, and 20++..there are several thicknesses with
    about 80% light transmission.

    dont think it would get you through the winter, but you can perhaps prolong the harvest of
    bok choy, turnips, etc. til its
    time to eat them.
    good luck, johanna-lea