Food Not Lawns in Lawrence
Yard Farming in Lawrence Kansas
What’s Going on with the Food Not Lawns Movement! A family in Lawrence, Kansas is leading the way.
As awareness grows of the need to become more self reliant in a time of declining energy resources, Jeremy and Amber Lehrman’s solution is to grow food in place of their lawn. During last week’s Lawrence community gardens tour this photo was taken of the Lehrman’s yard in a south west Lawrence subdivision.
Jeremy and Amber Lehrman's yard
With concern for rising food and fuel prices, and being tired of struggling with a weedy lawn, they dug up the grass and tilled the lawn. In its place from curb to adjacent curb they put in raised beds, mounds, and a vine trellis. Potatoes and strawberries are planted in the easement strip between the street and the sidewalk. In the main area of the yard they have planted raspberries, black berries, vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, and various fruit trees. The Lehrmans plan to use most of the produce, sell some and can the rest.
So far the neighbors all support their efforts. There is no local law restricting food gardens to back yards, and the “weed” ordinance has a height exception for “proper gardens”. If this isn’t a proper garden, then nothing would qualify!
Steve Moring