I've just been working out in the yard, mowing the grass (again). While it's not the deep green color of the meadows of the UK, given it's mid-summer here in Australia, it's not looking too bad I guess. We haven't had to water it directly, it's all been courtesy of our blackwater recycling system - without it, the grass would most likely all be dead.

Often when I'm pushing our mower around, I get an attack of the guilts and frustrated. It's not only the noise, the fumes and the fuel consumption in keeping it trimmed; it's the time involved - 50 hours a year out of my life I'll never get back :). Additionally, all the grass is taking up space for more beneficial, native plants - or even to grow food.

We bounced around ideas of re-landscaping, but we'll be moving soon and thankfully the new place has very little lawn, but a nice sized area for growing vegetables.

It's amazing the amount of resources expended and lengths we go to in order to keep our lawns. I visited the site of a company a few minutes ago who paint grass to keep it looking good in times of drought or winter dieoff. That's right - *paint* it green.

They claim the process is non-toxic and environmentally friendly; and I'm not challenging that as such - but when it gets to the point of needing to go to those lengths; in most circumstances doesn't it suggest it's time to replace the grass with something more suited to the conditions?

Given increasing drought and water scarcity, I can see a time in the not too distant future when people gasp in amazement looking back at our almost masochistic attachment to the slavemaster we know today as lawn :)

If you're cursed/blessed (however you view it) with large grassed areas; pick up some tips on eco-friendly lawn care here.