493 Water Wise Clothlawn Part 1
The little piece of the world where I live has been mired in what appears to be the worst heat spell and drought in its recorded history. Rain, has been as scarce as a spotted owl and the heat as blistering as if Arizona came to visit Montana and stayed the entire summer.
Not only are our forests burning, so is the Clothlawn. All summer I’ve battled the drought with my sprinkler. However, as the heat wave has grown from days into weeks and now months, I’ve started to grow concerned. I pump water on my lawn in the evening only to see the oppressive daytime heat dry it out again like a damp shirt under a hot iron.
My enthusiasm to keep the Clothlawn lush is being dampened by the realization that a green lawn in the midst of a drought demands a high price on my time, my wallet and the environment.
It takes an astonishing amount of water to hydrate a lawn in a drought. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a third of all outdoor water use in the United States goes toward keeping our lawns green.
Common sense says there’s got to be a better, more organic way to deal with the ground that surrounds our home. Just one look at the habitat that God manages in our area confirms this theory - it’s as dry as a campaign speech. If God doesn’t keep his yard looking like the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Course, then why should I? Yet, who can argue against the natural beauty of God’s dry lawn?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to green grass in public areas such as parks, schools, golf courses, etc. Neither is most agricultural irrigation inappropriate. But there comes a point when a green yard seems to be missing the point. For me, months of a blazing heat and drought is that point.
There’s a verse that says, “He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, he broadcasts hail like birdseed – who can survive his winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts, he breaths on winter – suddenly it’s spring” (Psalms 147:16-18).
I would add, “He sends away the clouds and warms up the earth – what lawn can survive?” The answer is the lawn that God designed, which is not the lawn most of us have. Our yards take so much time, water and money because they aren’t natural. That’s why I’ve decided to transform the Clothlawn into a natural, water wise lawn – which I’ll explain next week.
As I started thinking about this I realized that going natural isn’t a big deal functionally. Unless we have little children, about the only time most of us spend in our yard is when we are taking care of it. And as God’s lawn demonstrates, if done properly, a lawn can look as good brown as it does green. Thus, there are other options besides the imported 18th hole at Augusta look.
Still, I don’t expect many to follow Clothman’s lead. Having a manicured green lawn is as American as the garbage can; if you don’t have one you are the bane of the neighborhood. Which reminds me, does anyone know where I can find a good garbage can?
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