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73rd out of 115 books
—
46 voters
Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn
The Edible Estates project proposes the replacement of the domestic front lawn with a highly productive edible landscape. It was initiated by architect and artist Fritz Haeg on Independence Day, 2005, with the planting of the first regional prototype garden in the geographic center of the United States, Salina, Kansas. Since then three more prototype gardens have been crea...more
Paperback, 126 pages
Published
February 1st 2008
by Metropolis Books
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I just finished this book which I had the library acquire for me (so glad they obliged!). It is interesting and inspiring. I'll never think of lawns the same way again. It goes into some of the history of how and why America came to be carpeted in turf (as opposed to walled courtyards or gardens or other landscape features you see in other countries) and presents growing attractive edibles as an alternative. Lawns suddenly seem altogether wasteful, even harmful, when you consider all the water t...more
maybe 3.5? documents 4 front yards in different usda zones going from flat & grassy lawns to abundant veggie gardens, ostensibly to show that even committed suburbanites can visibly grow their own food without being lynched by neighbors... an art installation of sorts by fritz haeg.
doesn't really have as much detail as i'd like about the practical aspects of gardening & all seems rather slapdash for a work meant to have so much lasting political/social meaning; many of the starter-garden...more
doesn't really have as much detail as i'd like about the practical aspects of gardening & all seems rather slapdash for a work meant to have so much lasting political/social meaning; many of the starter-garden...more
When I first heard of this book I was entering my "I want to have a totally native yard" phase. I put my name on the list at the library and waited at position 2 for over two years! My library finally figured whatever out and I gleefully picked this up and pored over the pages.
I'm a little bit of a boat-rocker and for some time I've wanted to have a buffalo grass lawn. I see now that even though my neighborhood is not a bastion of green-ness, it just would not be appreciated and have now set my...more
I'm a little bit of a boat-rocker and for some time I've wanted to have a buffalo grass lawn. I see now that even though my neighborhood is not a bastion of green-ness, it just would not be appreciated and have now set my...more
I was really excited about this book, and it was kind of a let-down. There's a passably good history of lawns, and several essays with reasons to get rid of your lawn & plant some food (including a piece from heavy-hitting michael pollan). This stuff was all a little redundant, but good for inspiration. There are profiles of four yards-turned-edible estates, but the profiles vary widely in quality. I prefer the profiles that read like journal entries, with coordinating series of pictures tha...more
I've never really thought much of lawns except that I think front lawns are a waste of space since no one ever really does much in them. After a casual discussion about front lawns, this book ended up in my hands. It's a quick read and details the history of the lawn, the water waste & chemical pollution that lawn care brings. Its manifesto is to tear up your lawn and build an edible garden. It's a political book that started off as an art project and it wants to cause action and attention....more
Skimmed the first section of this book describing the benefits of edible landscaping (read quite a bit about that already) and instead focused on the specific yards participating in this author's project in 2007. Interesting layouts for front-yard fruit and veggie gardens, even in the smallest of spaces. Love reading the reflections of the families participating in this project and their comments on the community's response to their lawn-alternative front yards. So many said that new relationshi...more
I didn't quite get this book finished before we had to return it to the library. However, I read enough to know that eventually, we're going to end up eliminating our lawn entirely (or almost entirely). In the meantime, we're going to start by making our garden bigger. We're also going to continue our practice of deliberate lawn neglect - i.e. we neither fertilize nor water our lawn. We figure at least we're doing no harm this way. Nik says that this book is helping to turn him into a radical en...more
This book is not a step-by-step plan for converting your front lawn to an edible landscape (as I had thought). It documents a project that was about raising awareness that large expanses of lawn are not a good use of the land. I couldn't agree more. So what this book did was feature several transformations of lawns in various American cities (and one on a council estate in London) in areas where people haven't gotten the message about lawns being dumb. The owners of the lawns/gardens documented...more
What a great gift from Kerri! And it wasn't even my birthday... it was her birthday!
I thought this would be a how-to book, but the author clearly states it's not. It's more of a brochure/pamphlet for performance art, because that's what he's done - his lawn conversions are part of his artistic & political expression.
It was motivating for me, who is already a convert to the edible landscape plan. It was a couple of years ago that I saw a news report about a local lady who had converted her fr...more
I thought this would be a how-to book, but the author clearly states it's not. It's more of a brochure/pamphlet for performance art, because that's what he's done - his lawn conversions are part of his artistic & political expression.
It was motivating for me, who is already a convert to the edible landscape plan. It was a couple of years ago that I saw a news report about a local lady who had converted her fr...more
If you're interested in liberating yourself and your yard from the tyranny of a lawn -- the pernicious monoculture that is taking over America -- then this is the book for you.
Haeg argues that by transforming our yards -- in particular the front yard, and changing our idea of curb appeal by putting in a vegetable garden -- we will transform our neighborhoods and lives.
Essays by various writers, including the always fabulous Michael Pollan, as well as detailed plans, layouts of what will grow in...more
Haeg argues that by transforming our yards -- in particular the front yard, and changing our idea of curb appeal by putting in a vegetable garden -- we will transform our neighborhoods and lives.
Essays by various writers, including the always fabulous Michael Pollan, as well as detailed plans, layouts of what will grow in...more
A coworker loaned me this book and it was really fun! It's a rant against lawns, and though it didn't tip me over to getting rid of ours at the moment, it did inspire me to start up my garden again, so it had an impact. The book shows several people's front yards converted from lawns to gardens of edible food. It's great fun and includes some useful references. I recommend it to anyone interested in local eating!
Great ideas, great book pointing the way to great transformations of our bland American yards, our misshapen evergreen landscaping huddling up by foundations, hemmed in by the expanse of lawn desert. My HOA will probably "get it" in 25 to 50 years. Or not. By that time we'll be a museum piece for that bland '70s suburban look.
For everyone else, YES! ATTACK THE FRONT LAWN!
For everyone else, YES! ATTACK THE FRONT LAWN!
I was disappointed with this book. The idea of putting edible gardens into front yard across America is great, but not that ground-breaking anymore. It seemed like a short-lived stunt rather than a long-lasting movement that would incorporate the community in the neighborhoods where these gardens were installed.
I found the stories in this book and the Edible Estates project to be really interesting and inspiring. I was amazed when I moved to San Francisco and noticed that what little yards people had were covered with easy to maintain plants that required little water. Most American front yards are planted with non-native grasses and a tremendous amount of fertilizer, pesticide, and water is wasted on it. This book describes these problems along with the conformity that is pushed into maintaining a law...more
Definitely offered up a persuasive argument for ripping up your lawn and planting edibles in your front yard. I thought it would have more design ideas (perhaps the second book has what I'm looking for?) but the pictures, layout and first-hand accounts from gardeners were illustrative and colorful. Super easy read and had a lot of good information packed inside. Would recommend it to others.
i rate this as amazing because everyone should read this book.
for me it was just good because of all the reading and practice i already do in reference to the topic of permaculture and sustainability.
Definitely worth a look-see, but also check out the website. . . its much more visually interesting
for me it was just good because of all the reading and practice i already do in reference to the topic of permaculture and sustainability.
Definitely worth a look-see, but also check out the website. . . its much more visually interesting
I have always held a bit of a grudge against my front lawn, and I'm afraid this book has only added fuel to the fire. The best part is probably the essays in the front, taken from several other authors (like Michael Pollan)that talk about the history of the lawn and reasons we may be so obsessed with it.
My new favorite mantra is "grass is a useless crop!", and am making slow plans to do away with mine.
The author has a web site of the same name where all of his projects are posted (I understand a...more
My new favorite mantra is "grass is a useless crop!", and am making slow plans to do away with mine.
The author has a web site of the same name where all of his projects are posted (I understand a...more
i really wished i liked this book more. but i dont... nothing really grabbed me i have skimmed it like five times and not gleaned anything from it ... ever. oh well i can't like all self sufficiency manuals
This book is definitely worth checking out. I found it very inspiring. It was cool to hear how much joy people found in having fresh vegetables to eat from their yard as well as the community it built as children and other people from their neighborhood started to come by and ask questions, and even help out.
It might not be too long until my front yard is gone too!
It might not be too long until my front yard is gone too!
It was ok. Good documentation of one person/group/company's projects. Lots of stuff to reassure people who weren't already convinced that a lawn is a bit silly to have.
Jul 24, 2012
Karen
added it
This book changed my life (plus my friend Susie is mentioned in it). Definitely take out the lawn and put in a garden in the front of the yard and build community - love it!
This book had some good ideas in it and the essays I read were interesting. Not interesting enough to read them all, but still. The pictures are good.
I was hoping for more of a how-to book, but at least it sent me in the right direction: The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy.
great idea, great project, great photos = great little book. Stories of five families and their suburban-yard-to-garden stories.
A fun book with grassy lawn to veggie garden plans. Not filled with practical advice, but has a great anti front lawn rant.
I highly recommend this book to anyone in suburbia. A great opportunity to rethink your "yard". You are not alone.
I already enjoyed gardening, but reading this book really makes me want to rip out my front lawn.
The author of this book picks a property in several different regions of the country and transforms the lawn into an edible garden in one weekend with the help of volunteers. Most of the stories are told from the point of view of the homeowners and there are lots of pictures. Gave me some good ideas!
Renewed the disgust I have with my lawn and those of all my neighbors.
borrowed for Construction Studio, Trafalgar Elementary School
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Apr 05, 2009 12:39pm