Vegetables in the front yard
- Laura Moore: Housebroken
- May 8, 2023
- 506
I don’t remember it raining this much last year — it has gotten so wet in our area that our yards are fast turning into swamps and we actually need boots to walk back to our shed. Behind that shed is a swale that is now a small pond. That wouldn’t be too bad if the pond had a few fish swimming about.
I dearly love working in our gardens, but working in squishy mud isn’t fun — so I won’t. Next week we are promised a couple of clear days. Unfortunately, we need more than just a few such days for our swampy yard to dry out. Then it will have to be mowed. Mowing too tall weeds and grass is really difficult and does not qualify as a favorite outdoor activity.
Perhaps we need to give some thought to having a vegetable garden instead of a lawn. We have some friends that dug up their entire lawn and planted all sorts of vegetables. It makes far more sense than spending all that time, effort and money on grass.
Another couple we know got a goat. Humans don’t eat grass, but goats do and will even eat weeds. That idea has merit if the neighborhood allows goats, but then, of course, a goat does produce business that has to be cleaned up. Can’t call that a fun activity.
A neighbor had a good idea and replaced her lawn with pebbles. She placed potted plants all around on those pebbles, and her yard looks great. She has told us the occasional weed will make its way through the pebbles but not often and certainly not many. Pebbles never need mowing.
But to be honest, as a gardener, I would prefer the vegetable option. Taller Half assures me that would be even more work, and he has stated in very strong words he has no desire to help, but I bet he will help eat those veggies.