Artist: Grow Food, Not Grass

Wisconsin State Journal ^ | February 20, 2009 | Susan Troller

[stripes1776]

Fritz, the reason for a lawn is because a well-kept green is beautiful. But since you are a contemporary artist, I would not expect you to know anything about beauty.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“...and they make it easy to spot nitwit artiste a-holes who can’t resist the urge to pester their neighbors over nothing.”

LOL! Love it. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Last summer, Madison, WI. Olbrich Gardens, which is a treasure:

http://www.olbrich.org/

[G Larry]

Ha!
This in a society that has turned an endless number of “wants” into “needs”, to the extent nobody is home raising the kids, let alone cooking dinner!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Really nice photo show of a local botanical garden, here. It’ll make you anxious for Spring!

http://www.olbrich.org/visit/phototour.cfm

[Richard Kimball]

Some people also have children, and want a place for them to play.

[mplsconservative]

While we're not growing food in our front yard, we have dug up quite a bit of lawn to devote to flowers. I can't wait for spring as we jammed hundreds of tulip bulbs into this space last fall.

[Richard Kimball]

The garden in the picture on this thread is beautiful, but that's probably 3 or 4K worth of landscaping and $20 worth of lettuce. No big deal, but it reminds me of my college and their "land management program." Let me spend 4 million of taxpayer money to acquire the land, another couple of million to build out buildings and run water lines, operate with five or six full time employees that are paid out of general operating funds, and still run the place at a half million deficit a year and I'll manage the heck out of that land. I like the idea of raising vegetables, and my dad used to raise enough on a half acre to supply the whole neighborhood, but if you add up the costs of raising yourself, you usually spend more money. That being said, home grown tomatoes are so much better than what's in the stores, as are most other home grown products.

A lot of Freeps have got it down and it's worth while, but your first season growing, the price is surprising.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Nicely done! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

LOL! You got that right! There is definitely a learning curve to gardening, just as there is with any other skill.

[mplsconservative]

Thanks Diana! :) I can't resist posting one more of part of the backyard. I have MAJOR spring fever. My husband and I just repotted 20 geraniums today. Made a huge mess in the kitchen. Luckily my hubby is pretty handy with the vacuum.

[ottbmare]

I suffer under the control of a community association that dictates how my front yard is kept. When I moved here, nearly 20 years ago, the community association was very weak and made little effort to control things; now they’re like storm troopers.

But they can’t control what’s in my back yard (or perhaps I should say, they can’t readily see what’s in my back yard, as long as the sides look nice). Last year I had a small vegetable garden. This year there will be a BIG one. The soil isn’t really amenable and the neighbors may complain about the smell of the horse and cow manure I’ll have to use to condition it; they may get me there.

[dfwgator]

But they can’t control what’s in my back yard (or perhaps I should say, they can’t readily see what’s in my back yard, as long as the sides look nice)

Ever hear of Google Maps?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Very nice! You did a great job of mixing up perennials and annuals. Great color! What a lovely spot to sit and watch the birds.

I’m so busy in the spring that if anyone ever saw my garden these days, they’d be amazed that I’m ‘in the biz.’ LOL!

I can’t WAIT until I can be back home with my garden full time. *SIGH*

BUT...gotta make some cash while I still can. :)

[Richard Kimball]

Yeah, the gardening gene skipped me. My grandmother could raise any flower in existence. My dad could grow vegetables better than anyone else I knew. My daughter loves cactus and raises them constantly. I love xeriscaping. “Hey, those aren’t weeds! I’m xeriscaping!”

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Good for you! You could also tuck veggie and herb plants in with any perennial gardens you may have. Keep up the subversive activity! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m pretty sure that ‘xeriscaping’ is an old Native American term for ‘Poor Gardener.’ Bwaa-Haaa-Haa! ;)

Whatever gets you out into the fresh air and sunshine is fine with me! :)

[mplsconservative]

Thank you again. You're very sweet.:) I'm sure your garden is beautiful with all of your plant knowledge. We are our own best critics, as you know. One last pic and then I'm going to do something useful like start some seeds.

[kcvl]

Fritz Haeg should really mind his own damn business!

http://tinyurl.com/dz9sea

http://tinyurl.com/brjqpg

Fritz Haeg is an architect and social designer.

[Ditter]

Oh dear!