WORK TOGETHER FOR A GRASSLESS FUTURE
Grass is over glorified, there are much better alternatives. |
Although there are some positives about grass, it would be easier to talk about the negatives (Statistics from NRDC)
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Contrary to popular belief, grass lawns aren't planted for reasons for general environment improvement. Lawns are actually, and have always been a symbol of status. According to Emily Upton in her article "Why we have Grass Lawns", this symbol's origins are in European aristocracy, the first lawns were grassy fields that surrounded English and French castles. Castle grounds had to be kept clear of trees so soldiers had a clear view of the surroundings, otherwise enemies could sneak up on the castle through the forest (Upton, 2014). By the late 17th century, grass lawns, with the grass cut close to the ground, started popping up on the grounds of the wealthy. This practice began spreading among the elite, using manpower as lawnmowers hadn't been invented yet, to make a nice, tidy lawn, symbolizing their social status. Eventually in the industrial revolution, the lawnmower was invented, making lawns more widespread. Upton notes, during that same time, suburbs were becoming popular, and in these suburbs, each house had its own little lawn, further popularizing grass lawns.
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