5 ms·

I think it was mainly a status thing, in that you could afford to have vast amounts of land that weren't producing anything, and the workforce to maintain it. L

I think it was mainly a status thing, in that you could afford to have vast amounts of land that weren't producing anything, and the workforce to maintain it. Like, it's something a French king would do at a Chateau to complement their rose gardens. It's just crazy to think that now it can be against the law (or at least against HOA rules) to not have a lawn. Like it's illegal to plant a vegetable garden in your front yard.

ticmasta 8y ago
If you can put up with the dirty looks from neighbors and resist the peer pressure, cultivate crabgrass! it's drought-resistant, grows low so never needs to be mowed and still green. I'm quite the crabgrass cultivator - my main technique is negligence and general laziness. If you live in a strata or HOA, all bets are off - maybe lobby for an astroturf exemption?
- aplummer 8y ago
  I googled it and the top 10 links are about getting rid of it!
- justinator 8y ago
  I live in a pretty rural part of town (off of a dirt road that leads to the main road - across the street: it's back to your usual 120,000 people city), so nothing but whatever grows naturally. Some of my neighbors raise goats and sometimes they ask us if they can graze on our yard. It's nice.
stplsd 8y ago
>or at least against HOA rules WTF!? I am from Europe, is this really a thing? Although,it wouldn't surprise me, watching American Movies, lawn and suburbia seems inseparable.
- whatshisface 8y ago
  The homeowner's association has a lot of power in the US, so it is inevitable that it will be misused and used incompetently. However only in the most close-minded and controlling of suburbs can you not plant a vegetable garden.
  - stplsd 8y ago
    But what is their reasoning for this?
    - maxxxxx 8y ago
      I think it's about the looks. Everything needs to be tidy and clean.
      - NeedMoreTea 8y ago
        What if someone wants tidy, clean and paved, or tidy, clean with lots of interesting shrubs and trees? Simply a case of no, a lawn it must be?
      - ew6082 8y ago
        HOA's and HOA bylaws are normally mandated and created by the bank doing the construction loan. They do this to protect the value of the property while they hold interest in the remaining lots. The mortgage industry also loves this since in the end they may be stuck with a property if there is a default.
        macawfish 8y ago
        HOAs are a fascist alternative to actual community.
        dennisgorelik 8y ago
        > protect the value of the property ... which means "protect interest of neighbors". People like when their neighbourhood looks nice and is safe from snakes, bugs and mosquitos.
- dsfyu404ed 8y ago
  >WTF!? I am from Europe, is this really a thing? In some places, particularly wealthy places built up after WW2. Some people like it because "muh property values". Just as many hate it because "muh freedom"
- DoubleCribble 8y ago
  You have no idea. Many Master Planned Communities have very restrictive CC&R's (Covenants, Codes & Restrictions) that you must contractually agree to abide to in order to buy a property there. I've seen all kinds of fun rules like only being allowed to paint your house one of the approved seven shades of beige, only using one type of roofing material, only planting trees and shrubs in any publicly facing frontage/backage/sideage from an approved list, maintaining no publicly visible weeds, maintaining a green front lawn year round and even put up a minimum amount of holiday decoration (lights) during December. Little Boxes, indeed[0]. [0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUoXtddNPAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUoXtddNPAM
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
maxxxxx 8y ago
"Like it's illegal to plant a vegetable garden in your front yard. " Making that illegal should be illegal.
- justinator 8y ago
  They've made crossing the street at certain places illegal. This is the war on public spaces we've lost.

ticmasta 8y ago

If you can put up with the dirty looks from neighbors and resist the peer pressure, cultivate crabgrass! it's drought-resistant, grows low so never needs to be mowed and still green. I'm quite the crabgrass cultivator - my main technique is negligence and general laziness. If you live in a strata or HOA, all bets are off - maybe lobby for an astroturf exemption?

aplummer 8y ago
I googled it and the top 10 links are about getting rid of it!
justinator 8y ago
I live in a pretty rural part of town (off of a dirt road that leads to the main road - across the street: it's back to your usual 120,000 people city), so nothing but whatever grows naturally. Some of my neighbors raise goats and sometimes they ask us if they can graze on our yard. It's nice.

stplsd 8y ago

>or at least against HOA rules WTF!? I am from Europe, is this really a thing? Although,it wouldn't surprise me, watching American Movies, lawn and suburbia seems inseparable.

whatshisface 8y ago
The homeowner's association has a lot of power in the US, so it is inevitable that it will be misused and used incompetently. However only in the most close-minded and controlling of suburbs can you not plant a vegetable garden.
- stplsd 8y ago
  But what is their reasoning for this?
  - maxxxxx 8y ago
    I think it's about the looks. Everything needs to be tidy and clean.
    - NeedMoreTea 8y ago
      What if someone wants tidy, clean and paved, or tidy, clean with lots of interesting shrubs and trees? Simply a case of no, a lawn it must be?
    - ew6082 8y ago
      HOA's and HOA bylaws are normally mandated and created by the bank doing the construction loan. They do this to protect the value of the property while they hold interest in the remaining lots. The mortgage industry also loves this since in the end they may be stuck with a property if there is a default.
      - macawfish 8y ago
        HOAs are a fascist alternative to actual community.
      - dennisgorelik 8y ago
        > protect the value of the property ... which means "protect interest of neighbors". People like when their neighbourhood looks nice and is safe from snakes, bugs and mosquitos.
dsfyu404ed 8y ago
>WTF!? I am from Europe, is this really a thing? In some places, particularly wealthy places built up after WW2. Some people like it because "muh property values". Just as many hate it because "muh freedom"
DoubleCribble 8y ago
You have no idea. Many Master Planned Communities have very restrictive CC&R's (Covenants, Codes & Restrictions) that you must contractually agree to abide to in order to buy a property there. I've seen all kinds of fun rules like only being allowed to paint your house one of the approved seven shades of beige, only using one type of roofing material, only planting trees and shrubs in any publicly facing frontage/backage/sideage from an approved list, maintaining no publicly visible weeds, maintaining a green front lawn year round and even put up a minimum amount of holiday decoration (lights) during December. Little Boxes, indeed[0]. [0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUoXtddNPAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUoXtddNPAM
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

maxxxxx 8y ago

"Like it's illegal to plant a vegetable garden in your front yard. " Making that illegal should be illegal.

justinator 8y ago
They've made crossing the street at certain places illegal. This is the war on public spaces we've lost.