Suburban Farming

[NotSoonEnough]

Is it neat, or is it slightly odd that in this Los Angeles community -- it's called Pasadena -- a suburban mix of nice restaurants and well-tended front lawns, there is a home wedged in with the other houses where the entire front yard is edible?

Nightline: Living the Real Simple Life

 

[bow-tie]

I think that's awesome. There is some discussion related to this on Simple Living Network.

 

[cantlogin]

I think it’s awesome too. I respect the self sufficiency aspect and aspire to be more like that. It’s hard for me to understand how a family of four in California can pay property tax, car, home and health insurance as well as their other living expenses with only $30,000.

 

[mb]

I think that this happens more often in California. There are a number of people in my neighborhood that have at least a partially edible front yard without grass. Most of them look fine and in no way do they detract from the neighborhood. I think that part of it is the Asian influence and part of it is the climate.

CA has a semi-desert, mediterranean climate. We get almost zero rain from May through October. Large "well tended" east coast/english style lawns require huge amounts of water and IMHO do not belong in the CA environment.

MB

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

happened to catch the program. very cool. here's the family's website:

Path to Freedom

 

[TromboneAl]

If it's working so well for them, why don't they look happier?

 

[yakers]

If it's working so well for them, why don't they look happier?

My wife and a lot of friends have visited there. despite the pic, T Al, the folks are happy & healthy. Have real musical ho-downs regularly. I need to check out their biodiesel, the only local folks I know who make their own. I have seen the folks walking their goats on the hiking paths, quite a shocker to see a goat on a leash. My wife took out our front lawn and put in cactus & succulents, looks great.

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

why don't they look happier?

i dunno. maybe we could ask these people...

 

[TromboneAl]

Actually, Lazy, I think they were emulating that picture. Note the pitchfork.

I think I've finally figured out a crop that I can grow: Christmas Trees.

Tree number one (Doug Fir) has grown this much between 12/07/07:



and today:



I've got four more planted