Fight Climate Change With Drought-Resistant Lawns for Every Homeowner

Grass lawns are a green disaster. At the cost of trillions of gallons of water, billions of gallons of gasoline, and millions of pounds of pesticides, we end up with ecological “dead space” all over the country. This contributes to the decline of wildlife and pollinators and exacerbates intense drought conditions. Unfortunately, many “common interest communities” like homeowners associations force residents to maintain meticulously manicured lawns. Widespread grass lawns are a luxury our planet cannot afford, and it’s wrong to force people to continue dumping resources into this actively harmful practice just to prop up property values.The state of Colorado already has legislation that protects the right to a drought-resistant lawn. Within “reasonable aesthetic standards,” unit-holders in Colorado cooperatives, condominiums, HOAs, and other communities have a right to drought-resistant alternatives like xeriscaping on their own property and in common areas. Requiring turf grass over drought-resistant vegetation or xeriscaping is declared against public policy and therefore unenforceable. This means people are free to explore alternative land use that encourages the flourishing of local wildlife and preserves our dwindling water supply.

Demanding a right to drought-resistant lawns on a national scale is taking a meaningful step towards ending the tyranny of homogenous and artificial ecosystems hostile to the diversity of natural life. It means sending a message to our communities that we have direct agency in managing the climate crisis with our own hands.

Sign this petition to set our nation on a path towards local sustainability and raise our children in a diverse landscape built in harmony with our environment.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Congresswoman Kathy Castor,

Thank you for your hard work piloting the new Climate Crisis Committee. Since your time protecting Florida’s wetlands at the Florida Department of Community Affairs, you’ve shown persistent dedication to preserving the environment and building a brighter future for all people.

You know better than anyone that ecosystems across the country are under threat from dying rivers, greenhouse gasses, and poisonous chemicals. Although it’s not often talked about, manicured grass lawns are a massive resource sink at the crossroads of all these issues and more, costing us trillions of gallons of water, billions of gallons of gas, and millions of pounds of pesticides. As the climate crisis intensifies and Americans become ever more strapped for basic necessities, this ecological “dead space” is going to have to be phased out.

It is going to take years of effort and experimentation to develop a comprehensive alternative to grass lawns across the country. Unfortunately, many people don’t have the option to start because of common interest community regulations that prevent residents of home owners associations, retirement communities, condominiums, and more from experimenting with their own land.

In line with preserving the national interest and basic liberties for future generations, we must pass national legislation similar to Colorado’s House Bill 19-1050 to preserve the right to a drought-resistant or xeriscaped lawn. This would make regulations requiring turf grass unenforceable, and open up the door for all Americans to begin work on sustainable and diverse land management in their own yards. This is the first step towards preparing for a stable future that Americans choose to build together rather than a dramatic collapse that is forced upon us by climate change.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Jason Hollinger