I was shocked to learn that my cousins in a suburban community were fined by their homeowners association (HOA) for having clover in their lawn. Doing a little research I discovered this is not unusual; in fact many HOA’s have rules that forbid a wide array of beneficial species including native grasses and wildflowers.
Allow me to be direct: I think the contemporary approach to lawns as instantiated in the dominant practices of our ‘lawncare’ constitutes a crisis. Why? At issue here is much more than lawns—as important as they are. What we call ‘lawns’ can and should be an important part of most homes, and how we treat them is a key expression of how we understand our home and our relation to the natural world.
Home is the place to relate meaningfully to the natural world. Home is where living in a responsible and stewardly way has its main instance. Consider the great possibility that opens before us.
We can treat our lawn as our own ‘steading.’ Whether quite small or relatively large it is place where, recognizing that we humans always live from and on the earth, we receive and cultivate the gift of our own little piece of the earth. This approach bears fruit in multiple concrete manifestations, such as treating the soil as a living thing that we nourish because it nourishes us; landscaping for beauty, productivity, and conservation; avoiding products that poison living things; encouraging wildlife; contemplating the wonders and order of the natural world.
Many of us have been pushed into common practices that are directly contrary to this approach. Walk into the local big box or hardware store this time of year and you are accosted by an array of ‘lawncare’ products that appeal to an understandable desire (e.g., how can I quickly and effectively ‘take care’ of my lawn?) and even scare us into thinking if we don’t use these products we are being irresponsible.
At one yard care website the following leapt out at me: “Dandelions can grow in poor soil conditions and survive periods of drought and can quickly overtake your yard, preventing water and nutrients from reaching your grass and landscaping plants.” The sentence is crafted to make me feel I better get out there and start fighting the enemy before I lose the battle. But who is the real enemy, and what is endgame in this battle?
I certainly recognize that being overrun with dandelions might not be desirable (though in my yard, they never ‘overtake’ it per the website verbiage). According to Austrian herbalist Maria Treben, dandelions are in fact “nature’s greatest healing aid for suffering mankind,” having countless healing properties, especially in spring! What a gift that they can grow in adverse conditions. There are other common ‘weeds’ too—broadleaf plantain and burdock are just two great examples (worth looking up!)—we can study, steward, and profit from. One doesn’t have to be a prepper to recognize that plants such as these could be what saves us in hard times, or heals and strengthens us in normal times… that is, if we haven’t poisoned them and the soil by common lawncare practices.
In the end it’s not most about the plants. It’s most about our self-understanding and our place in God’s amazing natural order. I am convinced that the attitude we take toward our little piece of the earth, expressed especially this time of year in daily lawn practices, has great significance for what kind of person we choose to be and what kind of home we choose to have.
Am I willing to look past convenience, comfort and the accepted norms of our day? Am I ready to take on the challenge of investing a little more thought, energy, and care into something that I have tended to overlook?
If so, I will find that I am not alone; there is a growing number of people seeking to reconnect with their bodies and with the earth, and to start taking better care. Where else to begin but where common sense demands that I start, with a new approach in tending what is mine. Our lawn can be so much more; it can be a real steading—where we live mind-fully, care-fully and joy-fully, together, in this amazing world. ~ ~ ~
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Many years ago, we attended my cousin’s wedding in a somewhat rural part of Connecticut. The night before, a beautiful summer evening, we sat out in my aunt’s yard catching up with everyone. The yard was nicely planted and the grass was green. Someone commented about it all but noted some random weeds in the yard. My aunt‘s response is etched into my mind and is now my gardening guard rail: the yard is for enjoyment, play, chairs to be sat in. As long as it’s green & not overrun with weeds, I‘m happy,
I like your aunt’s approach, Bob. Thanks for sharing!
Practical perspective from a wise New Englander.
Love this. Hysterical. Especially the “enemy” dandelions.
My father made me go out with a bushel basket one afternoon and pick all the dandelions in the yard (kind of big yard, too). He was making dandelion wine as I recall and then he also liked to eat the greens if there were any. That’s one way to care for your lawn!
Indeed, that is real lawn care! Thanks Amy.
This is one more in a long list of reasons why I would never buy a house where I’m required to join an HOA. Over many years, my wife and I have owned a house in a major city, a house in a small town, and a house in a rural area, and with every move we have intentionally avoided HOAs. And by the way, my yard contains whatever grasses or other plants that want to grow there (as long as they don’t mind being mowed from time to time); I make no effort to eliminate clover, dandelions, or anything else.
That’s my approach too, Paul. They do have to put up with some mowing!
If you have never lived in an HOA neighborhood you probably don’t know what the HOA does. There are regulations for common sense reasons. In my suburban Midwest neighborhood that borders many lakes and wooded areas we are not allowed to have a chicken coup. Reason, this attracts coyotes to a neighborhood of small children and dogs. Our HOA requires an outside light remains on after sundown.. Reason, safety of the residents.. Before you decrie the woos of an HOA unapproved laundry line, find out why they began in the first place. Not everyone “cares about their neighbor,”
Thank you, Shannon, for giving this important perspective. Just to be clear: I have nothing against an HOA having reasonable (even if at times inconvenient!) rules in view of the common good. Here we are focusing on an approach that, I think, has become all too prevalent: an approach in HOA’s that prioritizes appearance over stewardship. My hope in writing this piece is not to undermine HOA’s but to encourage a richer, more nuanced understanding of communal flourishing in a community.
Well said, Paul. If I got rid of all of the clover and dandelions in my yard, what would the bunnies who live there have left to eat?
Your vegetable garden.
HOA’s create some of the craziest regulations that go against man’s natural instincts..More so than the perfect lawn regulation is the one in which no one can have a close line. Oh the horror of people using the sun and fresh air to dry the laundry. It’s absolutely ridiculous to have that kind of control over people’s lives.
Wow, I didn’t realize they could do that. On that score Europe is much more sane than we are–still utilizing the ‘renewable’ energy of the sun for drying.
this was fantastic! Here in New Mexico, we simply don’t have enough water to maintain Midwest style lawns and landscapes. Not that people haven’t tried, but 20 years of a mega-drought are forcing some change. I’m trying to create some living landscapes in the yard of the church that I Pastor, and incorporating rain and snow-water harvesting as a main water source. People are surprised that some of the flowers they see blooming on church grounds are actually native to our area and attractive to the hummingbirds and butterflies that people here love so much. I’m glad for the time that God allowed me to have as a biologist and Park ranger before, calling me to this new role. Who knew how much they would overlap?!
That’s a wonderful overlap. I also love the thought of your leading the way with a creative, beautiful ‘lawn’ that fits with the native habitat.
What a beautiful steward of Gods gifts you are. In some state it is illegal to collect rainwater and use it. Even off your roofs. I believe Nevada is one of those states. We kept a rainwater barrel just for that purpose. But I know there are places you can not do it.
Once again, “those that know best” telling us how to live our lives. Some do not allow religious statues or American flags, and sheds must match the house. I purposely bought my home 2 years ago where there was no HOA!! Who needs that added stress!
You are fortunate, Cathy. I hope you can enjoy some dandelions too!
My lawn has clover, and dandelions (and crabgrass alas) but I keep it mowed and looking as neat as I can. I can’t afford the expensive lawn services and I like the clover since it attracts bees. Next spring I am going to put down some pre-emergents and try to get rid of the crabgrass. The clover can stay. I wish I had room for a clothesline. When I was growing up in a family of 9 children, we had one and one of my jobs was to hang out clothes. They smelled so good when they dried in the sun
I’m a big fan of clotheslines too!
My wife and I drove through Amish country in PA yesterday. It was a delightful Spring day. The scent of the air was overwhelmingly permeated with cow manure spread liberally over the lush green farmland of those tilling the earth behind teams of cattle or riding their buggies to do an errand or hanging clothes out to dry in the farmhouse yard. How all very delightful.
So funny you mention this. My wife and son just drove through Amish country in Ohio on Monday. They were really struck by the order and beauty of their homes and yards.
I hope no one tells the Amish about HOA regs!
I find nothing so odd as a development of large houses, each on an acre or two of perfectly manicured grass and a few twigs for trees in front and back, Rarely do you see anyone out using the lawn for games, a picnic, or just to sit and read. The starkness of the houses, and the destruction of nature is to be both marveled at and saddened by.
This is really is an issue connected to so many aspects of life–as you mention–such as how we actually use our yards.
Just harvested dandelion from my lawn last evening and juiced it with celery and carrots, cucumbers and a beet.. Plan to harvest more to have for dinner this weekend. I thank the good Lord for providing such goodness that planted itself naturally!
I wish I could have a little glass of your juice. I’ll have my wife include some dandelions in her next batch!
what’s laughable is that our county wants to BAN all sorts of weed killers and weed preventers as well as gas powered everything YET demand well maintained lawns when they are taking away all of the tools that can make that a reality. These HOAs are often full of idiots on a power trip trying to flex muscles they’ve never used before and you end up with angry homeowners and stupid policies.
If our HOA fined me for weeds of any kind in the yard I would sue them for harassment because I can tell you MOST of the weeds in our yards come from these lawn services driving into neighborhoods with yard clippings and grass attached to their equipment from other locations and then they spread them when they start the blowers or use the “infected’ equipment on the yards around here. The reason I know this is because every year we see different varieties of weeds which were never here before and it’s more then just the wind of nature blowing seeds around in the air. We’ve had weeds pop up as more lawn services are hired by homeowners and spread the foreign weeds brought in from other areas of the county….so no way would I ever pay any HOA fine unless they could prove it originated in my grass specifically….and they can’t.
I would say….take your fine and shove it!!! Can’t have it both ways….act like tyrant environmentalists but then fine homeowners because their grass has weeds which you won’t allow them to kill with the products that work….and those safe products are garbage…waste of money and never work.
This can indeed be highly frustrating! Good luck in your yard.
My HOA got after me because I had wild sunflower “weeds” growing in my flower bed- they told me to remove them. I replied with an article on the value of sunflowers, especially as attractive to bees (we were having a serious loss of bees at the time), and told them the sunflowers were staying as they were a benefit to the environment. Never heard from the HOA again!
Way to go, Sunflower, taking the time to educate them!
Is there anything prettier than a springtime lawn festooned with batches of dandelions in bloom?
So true, so true!
I was inspired by this reflection and the comments. My son and I (mostly my son) made some dandelion wine this afternoon. It is currently bubbling away on my counter.
Now that’s the ticket! I’d love to try it.
And another thought on those dandelions…there’s nothing quite like being given a clutch of dandelions held out proudly by a chubby, grubby fist. Few things delight a mother’s heart more! I’m reminded of a quote on a picture I bought, “Children see beauty and joy and grace where we forget to look.” (There’s no author to attribute this to on the picture.) Thought-provoking nonetheless.
Blessings to you and yours!
Melisa
I live in a rural area. My yard is buffalo grass with clover, dandelions and various other plants. The backyard has wild flowers too and I mow around them, I wouldn’t mow there at all but my husband insists. I battle goathead stickers in the front and yucca in the backyard. Sigh. Both are hard to kill.
On my 1/8th acre, I also give the wildflowers special consideration. Although I keep the main areas of lawn, mowed, I have clumps of red clover, milkweed, wild aster, black-eyed susan and other misc. flowers. The embankment in the front is home to a variety of these, along with some creeping juniper. It almost looks planned! It does take time to maintain it, so as not to create an eyesore, in respect for my neighbors. No one has complained. And I don’t use chemicals and try to ask my helpful neighbor to use a rake, when helping me, instead of dreaded leaf blower! I highly recommend the WorkPro battery operated grass shearers for close trimming!
In my parishes in ne penna, the coal regions, the Lutheran church would have a dandelion n beef dinner
My parishioners would make dandelion tea & wine & there’d often be at the local table dandelion leaf beef salad!
I am gradually converting more and more of my lawn into beds for both vegetables and flowers (for the pollinators!) as well as fruit trees and ornamental bushes. Much less to mow as I get older and less able to do it all (and kids are grown and gone), as well as healthier for the environment. I’ve never used chemical weed killers except on poison ivy (b/c I am super allergic to it). Dandelions grow because your soil is compacted and over time, they will help aerate the soil. I find them pretty and usually ignore them (the Canada thistle is a different story!) I, too, would never buy a house in an HOA neighborhood. I’m sure the original intentions were good but the horror stories I’ve read have turned me off.
We retired to a townhouse with an HOA. Even with the stiff regulations many neighbors find ways to get creative in the front of their homes. We’ve used edging to define flowerbeds and replaced the original plants (when they died) with ones we love. After closing in the backyard with a privacy fence, we were free to do as we like in that small space. We enlarged the patio, put flowers in large containers, edged with mulch and placed solar lights on the top of the fence. With a large umbrella and nice outdoor furniture, we have an oasis.
How perfect, Ann. It really is amazing what can be done in a small space, even with many limitations!
Last Saturday, a fellow came to door wanting to sign me up for monthly pest control services. The services not only inluded the house but spraying the yard to rid it of ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects. I declined. The first thing I thought of is “What will the birds and the bats eat?” It struck me as a Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring type of thing. I don’t want bugs in my house, but they can have the outdoors.
At our previous home, we had a purple martin house. The purple martins took care of all the mosquitoes, and we were never bothered once.
My philosophy is nature and wild animals are sharing their habitat with us. God created them before man but gave us dominion (stewardship) over them. Therefore, we are to be in right relationship with God and nature (the natural order).
Well said, Joanne! It’s great to hear these stories of people implementing a good philosophy in their own little space–this is true stewardship.