Master gardener presents about substitutes for lawns

Washington State University Spokane County Master Gardener Kathleen Callum came to the Ritzville Public Library on June 11 for a “Food Not Lawns?” presentation.

During the presentation, Callum provided tips to attendees on ways to convert their lawns into food gardens.

Callum said she is an archaeologist who specializes in agriculture. In addition to being a WSU Spokane County Master Gardner, she is the Spokane County Master Composter-Recycler and the Inland Northwest Community Gardens President.

Callum has sold vegetables during her lifetime and has worked for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service.

After Callum and her family moved to Spokane in 2004, she acquired a community garden plot and later moved to a bungalow with a victory garden from World War II. Callum and her husband are currently managers of their local community garden.

Callum described Food Not Lawns as a movement founded by Heather Jo Flores, who published the book “Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard Into a Garden and Your Neighborhood Into a Community.”

Callum explained the focus of Food Not Lawns is to expand subsistence homesteading, especially in urban settings, and to encourage people to grow their own food.

It also encourages homeowners to use yards to grow food as an alternative to lawn care.

She explained the average homeowner spends 70 hours a year on lawn and garden care. Callum added homeowners across the United States use about nine million gallons of water per week to water their lawns, with 60 percent of homeowners over irrigating.

Callum said bagged grass and lawn clippings also produce 18 percent of landfill waste. She noted synthetic fertilizer and pesticides can contaminate drinking water, and run into oceans and rivers. Lawnmowers also burn fossil fuel that enters the atmosphere.

Although a manicured lawn can increase a house’s value, Callum said realtors are using food gardens to attract local food movement enthusiasts.

Callum described five principles for Food Not Lawns, beginning with gardeners evaluating their goals and how to meet them.

Callum suggested property owners examine the available space, excluding spaces where buildings, trees, roots and shade will hinder the growth of the crops. She also advised homeowners conduct a soil test before beginning the garden.

Property owners should also research municipal and state laws, as well as contact the local Homeowner’s Association for their lawn’s appearance.

She recommended growers contact organizations and gardeners for advice, and research gardening classes and programs.

Another key principle is a person should only grow what they eat. She said property owners should start with a small garden and expand when they have more time, money and interest.

Callum’s third principle is a gardener should plan one year in advance when they decide to eat from their garden.

She recommended using charts to calculate the family’s food needs. She also suggested to keep a garden journal and implement a yearly schedule.

For example, Callum suggested the spring would be a time for planning while summer is an ideal time to grow and harvest. Growers can use the winter to attend classes and network.

The fourth principle is about making the lawn conversion process easier for homeowners.

One of Callum’s suggestions for homeowners is to purchase a property with a food garden or a fruit tree, and maintain it.

During the winter, she suggested homeowners apply sheet mulching with heavy cardboard topped with materials like leaves or shredded pine straw, lawn clippings and coffee grounds.

Another tip from Callum was for a grower to strip the sod from the lawn and dispose of weed seeds and invasive roots.

For the last principle, Callum suggested using urban homesteads for intensive food production and to expand if they are successful.

She said homeowners with small spaces can use their energy, time, creativity and resources to pursue sustainable alternative agriculture methods.

Her final tip to urban farmers is to grow legumes and heritage grains. She explained growing these plants will help add nitrogen and carbon into the soil.

For more information on Food Not Lawns, visit http://www.foodnotlawns.com/.