Freedom Lawns 2008
Laurel Lobovits and I have been photographing the Freedom Lawns, gardens and yards for the Freedom Lawn Contest, which is held each year. The contest has been held since 1996 and we are still looking for more entries which ends on July 30th.It has been an inspiring experience especially this year, as we have been pushing for people to be, not only more organic in their land care, but to compost, raise vegetables with the flowers, and use what land they have effeciently. Yesterday as we drove around looking for potential contestants, and after approaching the owners, we continue to be impressed with their passion, their youthful spirits which are ageless. For instance, there is Carleeen who spoke of her 24 year old son, she looked hardly a day over 25, then there was Julie, who does all the gardening and planting, free of charge for her condo and makes sure they don't use pesticides on the lawn which is located right on the banks of LIS and then there is Vincenza who works every inch of the small piece of land, who comes from the Big Apple and teaches the neighbors children about gardening, and raises over 80 pounds of tomatoes along with all her herbs and flowers right to the edge of the street, and not to forget Nancy who does one spectacular job of managing flower beds in the front and when invited to see her back yard which stretches at least 150 or more in the back has created more rooms in which to enjoy nature. They all are beyond inspiring, we want to learn from them and feel such delight in having discovered them.
I would like to say, so far, it has not been the 'mcmansions' that execute these qualities of demonstrating such respect for their land and their environment, we haven't seen a cloths line as we have in the above women's yards, a mix of flowers and vegetables, converting grass land for gardens and we still see ocassionally that dreaded yellow sign, that says we use pesticides.
Those who still are wedded to the three step chemical use, need to know that those chemicals invade their neighbors yards and contaminate their neighbors' children and pets which in turn give them the potential for cancer and of course themselves.
I do want to mention, that it is hearwarming to see yards and the front lawns that are freedom lawns as they have a good mix of clover and crabgrass and whatever, horrah to all of you who do not think it is cool to have that perfect lawn!!
Ann Berman, Chair of ECC
Labels: Freedom Lawn
