Despite the original posters overly extensive post, with certain questionable content, the central point is still quite vaild. We as a nation spend more money on grass than on any other crop. That by itself should be reason enough. Read up on the history of lawns and you'll find that they were orginally created as a means of demonstrating wealth (aka, I have this big area and I can afford to do nothing with it except grow grass I can't eat) Regarding the comments of junegem13 and zachslc, you might want to read up on the legal history of this movement. As it turns out, most weed laws (ones based on hight, not on noxious weeds) are unconstitutional. Nonetheless, if you are in a city or subdivision and decide to do a wildflower meadow where there is not an reasonable ordinance, then you should notify your neighbors and the city about why you are doing and the legal preceedants. The EPA has all this information. Regarding property values, that was the original complaint neighbors made against one landowner when she converted her lawn into meadow. When they were unable to demonstrate an actual decrease in property values, the city ordinance was ruled unconstitutional. Afterwards, the neighbors decided if they couldn't beat her that they'd join her and replace their own yards with meadows. Property values in that one neighborhood are now some of the highest in the city (Specific names and places, are available if you want them). Time and time again, lawn alternatives done correctly have shown to raise values, not lower them. In Charlottesville, VA local government is working on an ammendment to exclude native meadows from our weed ordinance. Other cities are doing the same very quicky, especially since the weed ordinance as written by many localites constitutes a legal liability to local governments.

'U' are preaching to the choir here...

Actually, I would say that most humans try to do whatever they think is best for themselves and immediate family, without seeming to impinge too outrageously upon others. Just short of official censure, IOW. Obviously a significant minority are utterly selfish and do not stop even at directly harming others and/or their prospects. I agree that every bit of extractable fossil fuel will be extracted and used, presuming our capacity to do so persists long enough. I don't think it will, for a large number of factors: climate change, environmental degradation, costly conflicts over land and resources to name a few. These will likely reduce human civilizations to subsisting on annual sun-fall before we get to all coal and shale deposits. The richest societies will likely manage a partial shift to renewables via best technology but that savings will be engulfed and then some by the ravening horde. It's gonna be a wild ride.

I think I said the implication was quite clear. In any case, absurd rules were made to be broken. I think the growing conditions in coastal new england must be fairly similar because most of our common weeds are imports from southern england. Also most of our garden crops, and we grow them at the same time of year. In some other parts of north america such is not the case. In northern scotland it probably isn't the case either, is it? The town I live in was settled in the 1600's by people from Tisbury, england. My lawn is tiny, less than 100x100, and I am not allowed to keep a cow, nor goats, nor sheep. (strangely, we are allowed to have any number of large, troublesome dogs). Nevertheless, even small patches of grass do need to be cut at some point, or else they will become small patches of brush and brambles. So even there in irrelevant england you will be reaching for some sort of cutting implement, and I am guessing it will likely be powered by an engine of some sort? A small, rarely-used poorly-maintained motor can do some champion polluting in a short time. I believe that is part of the point of that aggressive manifesto. As I said, the basic thrust of it is valid (and applicable everywhere). But of course, since it was posted by an american, and other americans have read it here on your UK forum, you mustn't concern yourself. Good day.