Story Archives of 'Gardening'

Patricia Klindienst talks about the ethnic gardener as a culture bearer and citizen of the land community, one who, in healing the wounds of displacement--whether by injustice, poverty, or war--brings a wealth of traditional wisdom to the task of healing the land as well. Patricia addresses where we might begin the work of remembering who and what we are. Patricia Klindienst earned a Ph. D. in Modern Thought & Literature form Stanford University in 1984 then began her career as an interdisciplinary scholar at Yale, publishing ground-breaking feminist re-interpretations of classical myths and biblical stories. An award-winning scholar and teacher, she left the academic world to write for a broader audience. Her first book, “The Earth Knows My Name”, tells the stories of ethnic Americans who transmit their cultural heritage through their gardens. She received an American Book Award for 2007.

America's obsession with the flawless lawn didn't begin in suburbia, but in 1967, when the Masters Golf Tournament was first broadcast in color. Homeowners who'd been used to weedy, varied lawns suddenly wanted their own emerald carpets of grass, just like the ones on the green in Augusta, Georgia. It was even given a name, "Augusta Syndrome."

This lust for the perfect lawn has cost Americans billions in herbicide, water and gas, plus countless hours of mowing, and possibly even our health. A National Academy of Science report shows that the health of one in seven people is negatively affected by some form by lawn pesticides. Children and pets are especially at risk because of their size, development, and proximity to the ground. But going organic would be so expensive, right? Well, maybe not. Paul Tukey is the founder of SafeLawns.org and he says an organic lawn is not only better, but less expensive too.

(Photo by Jeremy Page via Flickr/Creative Commons)