Posts tagged Lawns
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It’s time to stop mandating lawns
Grassy lawns originally became popular for members of the pre-industrial aristocracy to show they could afford to waste land rather than farm it. Today, lawns are mandated by zoning codes that outlaw other uses, even front yard gardens. Keep reading…
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Lawns may be green, but they’re terrible for the environment
I made my childhood fortune pulling dandelions. My father saw them as the scourge of his beautiful green lawn. At the time everyone wanted a yard with a large expanse of grass for the kids to play. It was a time of innocence. Now it’s a time of consequences. Keep reading…
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National links: How a manicured lawn came to represent the American Dream
How did the American Dream get so green? The pandemic is sending jobs to the suburbs. Segregation isn’t just about houses — it’s about where we spend our days. Keep reading…
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Grassy lawns exist to prove you’re not a peasant. It’s time to let that status symbol die
Grassy lawns originally became popular for members of the pre-industrial aristocracy to show they could afford to waste land rather than farm it. Today, lawns are mandated by zoning codes that outlaw other uses, even front yard gardens. Keep reading…
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Lawns are green—they’re also terrible for the environment
I made my childhood fortune pulling dandelions. My father saw dandelions as the scourge of his beautiful green lawn. He paid two cents per pulled dandelion, provided the roots came up, too. I had job security because the neighbors let their dandelions go to seed, assuring that there would always be more dandelions for me to pull. Keep reading…
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Lawns may be green, but they’re terrible for the environment
I made my childhood fortune pulling dandelions. My father saw dandelions as the scourge of his beautiful green lawn. He paid two cents per pulled dandelion, provided the roots came up, too. I had job security because the neighbors let their dandelions go to seed, assuring that there would always be more dandelions for me to pull. Keep reading…
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National links: What it takes to make congestion pricing work
Research from cities around the world shows how to make congestion pricing work. A data-driven approach to ending homelessness has been successful in multiple cities. Why don't most cities tax land values? Keep reading…
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What the US gets wrong about urban parks, summed up in two pictures
A look-but-don't-touch mentality mars many US parks, reducing people's ability to enjoy public spaces. Here are two pictures that show how loosening the rules would make our cities better and more beautiful. Keep reading…
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Grassy lawns exist to prove you’re not a peasant. It’s time to let that status symbol die
Grassy lawns originally became popular for members of the pre-industrial aristocracy to show they could afford to waste land rather than farm it. Today, lawns are mandated by zoning codes that outlaw other uses, even front yard gardens. Keep reading…