Using friendship-based community organizing and principles of permaculture, gift economy, and mutual aid, Food Not Lawns has been turning yards into gardens and neighborhoods into communities since 1999, when we were conceived by the Food Not Bombs family in Eugene, Oregon. For more than twenty years small, self-organized groups of grassroots gardeners have been organizing local seed swaps, joining together for garden work parties, and making lots of friends while learning more about the simple act of growing food can radically improve your home, your community, and your life.
Honestly, I’ve tried gardening, and it is a ton of work and just not my cup of tea. I’d rather build, like, a big front porch that comes out to the street, and then have some vines on trellises, and maybe a tree or two.
If you ever want to try again, native plants for your region should be less effort. After all, they’re what would have grown there with no human intervention anyway.
Some older family friends replaced their lawn with native plants because they don’t need to be watered unless there’s a drought, and take a really hands off approach with their garden now.