I'm a never-HOAer, but I do like my own lawn for the aesthetics and utility for the kids, dog, for having friends over, and frankly, for the distraction and sense of accomplishment that growing a beautiful and lush, dark green carpet of grass provides.

We grow a small family vegetable garden as well, which is probably substantially less practical than buying the equivalent amount of produce at the best and most expensive organic farmers' market you could imagine.