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Yard & Garden 101

Congratulations on taking that first step from a boring, resource-hogging expanse of same-old, same-old lawn to a vibrant, low-maintenance, ever-changing garden!

Lawns are remarkably resource demanding, and with the exception of a certain aesthetic and a space for recreation, they don’t provide much for the people who maintain them. Americans spend an average of $6 billion on lawn maintenance each year – this includes mowing, fertilizing, watering and weed management. And the costs don’t end there:

  • According to the EPA, the pollution emitted from a lawnmower in just one hour can equal the amount from a car driven for up to 200 miles.
  • On average, a U.S. lawn requires more than 8,000 gallons of water per year.

Compare that with what you’ll save—and get in return—from your garden:

  • An acre of organic vegetables requires approximately 3,000 gallons of water per year.
  • A well-maintained vegetable garden can yield an estimated half-pound of fresh produce per square foot of garden per growing season.

Converting your lawn into a garden is much easier than you think, and for the time and energy you put into maintaining it, you’ll get to see and experience results that are beautiful, rewarding and delicious.

On this site, we’ll give you everything you need to start converting some or all of your lawn into garden.

Why A Garden Is Better Than Lawn

  • A well-maintained vegetable garden can yield an estimated half-pound of fresh produce per square foot of garden per growing season.
  • Growing your own food and flowers is the ultimate in local sourcing. You can’t get fresher, safer or less expensive produce.
  • It’s a great way to spend time outdoors, and you get to share your bumper crop with your neighbors!
  • According to the EPA, the pollution emitted from a lawnmower in just one hour can equal the amount from a car driven for up to 200 miles.
  • On average, a U.S. lawn requires more than 8,000 gallons of water per year. An acre of organic vegetables requires approximately 3,000 gallons. That’s a savings of 5,000 gallons of water per year!
  • The average American lawn is extremely resource intensive, using much more equipment, labor, and fuel, and up to ten times as many chemicals per acre as industrial farmland.