Re:California moves to cut off water to thousands of farmers
by TaylorAlexander on Saturday July 24, 2021 @04:31PM
(#27944225)
I think lawns have an important role psychologically. There’s something amiss to me about continuing to dump water on non-native grasses in a major drought. Part of solving climate change is about changing our minds. And I’ve always felt happy to see brown lawns since the draught started. If the actual effect of lawns is truly insignificant then that’s one thing, but if it’s a borderline case I’d factor in the psychological value. Brown lawns or natural landscaping are a sign of unity on this important issue.
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Re:California moves to cut off water to thousands of farmers
by blooalien on Saturday July 24, 2021 @04:36PM
(#27944256)
You mention a huge part of an easy start to a solution to one part of the problem a couple times… "non-native grasses", "natural landscaping". It's entirely possible to create a really pleasant yardscape with native plants that require little to no care once placed, and can still supply that green which the human psyche seems to require.
The hard part is convincing the cities to stop fining and harassing folks who choose that over a standard "golf course" lawn.
Re:California moves to cut off water to thousands of farmers
by TaylorAlexander on Saturday July 24, 2021 @04:45PM
(#27944327)
Agreed. And ooof a state ballot measure to prevent cities from fining people for this might be a good idea hmm...
Re:California moves to cut off water to thousands of farmers
by kemiller on Saturday July 24, 2021 @06:29PM
(#27944949)
That’s why my front lawn is dead dead dead but I have a small patch of green in the back. I get the psychology angle, but when we grow cheap commodity crops with irrigation water only to ship them to China where they are fed to cattle is outrageous. We tend (maybe nobly) to focus on the insignificant steps we can take (navy showers?!) personally while ignoring the politically difficult but much more impactful big steps.
Re:California moves to cut off water to thousands of farmers
by TaylorAlexander on Saturday July 24, 2021 @08:16PM
(#27945520)
Absolutely. Much can be said about superficial activism or "meme activism". We should certainly be concerned with the ways we mine the earth for profit even as we are running out of drinking water. We can build a system that better cares for each person without exploiting the earth for endless profit.