Should Lawns be banned? (1 Viewer)

[kface]

If you really cared, you would stop buying meat instead of almonds. It is true that almonds are the worst of the nuts, but it takes 106 gallons of water goes into making just one ounce of beef. By comparison, just about 23 gallons are needed for an ounce of almonds.

https://www.businessinsider.com/real-villain-in-the-california-drought-isnt-almonds--its-red-meat-2015-4

Good point. 

 

[Manster]

Then we ban golf courses!

 

[supermike80]

If you really cared, you would stop buying meat instead of almonds. It is true that almonds are the worst of the nuts, but it takes 106 gallons of water goes into making just one ounce of beef. By comparison, just about 23 gallons are needed for an ounce of almonds.

https://www.businessinsider.com/real-villain-in-the-california-drought-isnt-almonds--its-red-meat-2015-4

No.   Me buying meat doesn't mean that I don't "really care"  Not at all.  

Know who else uses a LOT Of water..People..Maybe we should get rid of them too?  I mean otherwise do we "Really care"

 

[the moops]

No.   Me buying meat doesn't mean that I don't "really care"  Not at all.  

Know who else uses a LOT Of water..People..Maybe we should get rid of them too?  I mean otherwise do we "Really care"

I think changing ones eating habits is more resalistic than mass extermination of people

 

[supermike80]

I think changing ones eating habits is more resalistic than mass extermination of people

So do I still "care" if I decide to not eat almonds?  I mean if you're telling me I don't "really care" then I guess I could just go back to eating almonds.  So much for that idea.  

 

[the moops]

So do I still "care" if I decide to not eat almonds?  I mean if you're telling me I don't "really care" then I guess I could just go back to eating almonds.  So much for that idea.  

It was an on the cuff comment. Don't take it so seriously.

I eat almonds, and don't eat meat. You eat meat, and don't eat almonds. I was just asking a question why you would choose to eat meat over almonds considering that you said you wouldn't eat almonds because of how much water they use.

 

[supermike80]

It was an on the cuff comment. Don't take it so seriously.

I eat almonds, and don't eat meat. You eat meat, and don't eat almonds. I was just asking a question why you would choose to eat meat over almonds considering that you said you wouldn't eat almonds because of how much water they use.

Edited. 

Well you are right.  I deleted my post.   Sorry to bring it up.

 

[supermike80]

California should not be in the almond industry and it soon won't be.

Isn't it your call (by that I mean at the voting booth)?  So you are happy to just let the almond industry do one of two things in California

1. use all the water so others don't have access?

2. drive up prices so much that again low income people struggle to even pay for water?

I get free market capitalism but there are limits are there not?  I think this is a good example when it is your business to at least educate people and hopefully support policies that rectify the situation.  

I dont know.  I eat meat.

 

[beef]

I bet my lawn equipment puts way more CO2's in the air than my vehicles do.  Especially my 2-stroke toys.  And no F'n way am I putting down my Stihls for an EGO.

 

[JerryG]

@MTskibum, I listen to Freakonomics podcasts, this week they replayed one entitled “How Stupid is our Obsession with Lawns.”  The statistics on the sheer area of lawns in this country, and the amount of water and chemicals and equipment/fuel used to maintain them is staggering.  Only 27 minutes long, good listen:

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/lawns-rebroadcast-2/

 

[Leroy Hoard]

If it wasn't for lawns we'd have one less thing to wave our fists at to keep off.

 

[MTskibum]

Oh for crying out loud.  Where do you all come up with this?  I swear.  The drama is just off the charts.

In today's news, the local board of Johnsonville Colorado today decided to vote against their citizens having food and instead voted to keep lawns!! 

We spoke to one local Johnsonville resident that was disappointed in the decision.

"I mean I really would like to have some food, but I guess lawns are just more important."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/08/colorado-river-drops-to-record-low-levels-slashing-arizonas-water-supply/

Farmers in Arizona will be the first to feel the pain of the cuts. In one county, farmers will receive 65 percent less water next year. The desert state continues to grow water-intensive crops like cotton and alfalfa in part because of the Central Arizona Project, a 336-mile long series of canals, pumping stations, and reservoirs that was completed in 1993 and draws from the Colorado River. The aqueduct has encouraged farmers to stop pumping groundwater, though many will undoubtedly restart the unsustainable practice as their fields begin to run dry. Others will have to switch to lower-water crops or let their fields lie fallow. Dry, fallow fields contribute to dust storms that envelop the region.

 

[-fish-]

I have a circular patch of lawn in front of my house.  It's on a slope and not irrigated.  I don't want to waste the water to put a sprinkler on it every summer so it goes dormant and turns brown until the rains come in October.   Looks really bad.  Tried getting rid of the grass and replacing with clover, which worked for one season then the grass came back and killed off the clover.  

Looked into artificial turf and they wanted $7,500.  Not a chance.

This year I painted it with grass paint.   It's still a dead lawn, but it looks much better.   Cost $29.   

 

[The Narrator]

Yes. It's a huge waste of water. Water shortages are here. It's just stupid to spend it on growing a vanity crop. 

 

[AAABatteries]

I'm no expert, and this is all on memory from a podcast I listened to over a year ago, but my understanding is that there isn't.  There are typically native grasses that do not require water, but are unlikely to stay the green color we associate with a manicured lawn.  Any environmental benefits that the grass directly provides is more than offset by the act of mowing it.  

I suppose if the vast majority of people used native grasses, didn't water them, and strictly used manual push mowers that there would be benefits, but I don't know if that even qualifies as "lawn"

Coming back to this I may check in to an eco-friendly mower this Winter as I’m in need of a new mower.  The nice thing in my area is I can pretty much not water and just let the rain keep it watered.  I have Bermuda so it deals well with heat.

I would see no reason to ban lawns across the board - could see allowing cities or counties to do it in certain areas.  

 

[parasaurolophus]

 I cut my lawn old school. push revolving blades mower. 

just hate the pine cones. everything else works great. 

 

[supermike80]

I have a circular patch of lawn in front of my house.  It's on a slope and not irrigated.  I don't want to waste the water to put a sprinkler on it every summer so it goes dormant and turns brown until the rains come in October.   Looks really bad.  Tried getting rid of the grass and replacing with clover, which worked for one season then the grass came back and killed off the clover.  

Looked into artificial turf and they wanted $7,500.  Not a chance.

This year I painted it with grass paint.   It's still a dead lawn, but it looks much better.   Cost $29.   

Wow.   I cant get rid of my clover.  Wish my lawn would kill it off

 

[the moops]

I have never understood the appeal of a plush green lawn. Unless it is a golf course or baseball or soccer field, I much orefer to have plants and shrubs and flowers taking up yard space rather than lawn.

 

[Mile High]

I have never understood the appeal of a plush green lawn. Unless it is a golf course or baseball or soccer field, I much orefer to have plants and shrubs and flowers taking up yard space rather than lawn.

It's easier to mow grass then pull weeds.

 

[the moops]

It's easier to mow grass then pull weeds.

Easier for me to have my wife pull weeds than me mow a lawn

 

[supermike80]

I have never understood the appeal of a plush green lawn. Unless it is a golf course or baseball or soccer field, I much orefer to have plants and shrubs and flowers taking up yard space rather than lawn.

Truthfully its easier.  I do like a nice lawn too tho