Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 72
The Grass on the Other Side
TEXT AND ART BY GINNY NEIL
The variety of all things
forms a pleasure.
-Euripides
O
n our farm we raise cows and sheep, but
My Own Farmer will tell you that the
most important thing we raise is grass.
Acres and acres and acres of grass. Some
of it is in pasture, and the cows spend most of their
time in the summer and early fall there. This leaves
the meadows to grow long and lush until their
once- or-twice-a-year mowing for hay. So, the grass really
is greener on the other side of the fence.
Last June, the battery on the electric fence dividing
our hay meadow from our pasture died. Cows are
opportunists. By the time we noticed the breach, the
whole herd was enjoying a fresh green meal. I headed
across the meadow to chase them back to pasture, and
soon I was walking through grass up to my armpits.
As I pushed my way through the tangled mess, I had
time to notice things. Things like the two open cups
of blackbird nests woven around woody Joe Pye weed
stems. Things like swallows swooping above my head,
mouths wide open, as they pursued the bugs disturbed
by my progress.
I saw milkweed plants with just-hatched monarch
caterpillars eating their way to wings. I surprised bees
of one kind or another foraging on yarrow, daisies, evening
primrose and moth mullein. I counted four variet72
BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
ies of grass and two kinds of clover. The meadow was
buzzing and humming and beating with far more life
than just those ornery cows.
There is a new movement in America called " unlawning. "
Unlawning recognizes that our carpets of
grass are sterile environments and that they have a
huge negative ecological impact not only on the life
they could support but on our air and water quality.
Watering lawns in America uses 30 to 60 percent of
urban freshwater. If homeowners apply pesticides and
fertilizers improperly, the extra washes off into gutters
which flow into the host of rivers, streams and bays
that are fed by our mountain watersheds.
It has been estimated that mowing the 40 million
acres of lawn in the United States each year produce
16 billion pounds of CO². A gas-powered mower run
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 3
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 4
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 5
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 6
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 7
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 8
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 9
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 10
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 11
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 12
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 13
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 14
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 15
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 16
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 17
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 18
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 19
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 20
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 21
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 22
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 23
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 24
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 25
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 26
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 27
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 28
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 29
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 30
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 31
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 32
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 33
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 34
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 35
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 36
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 37
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 38
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 39
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 40
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 41
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 42
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 43
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 44
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 45
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 46
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 47
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 48
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 49
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 50
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 51
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 52
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 53
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 54
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 55
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 56
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 57
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 58
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 59
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 60
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 61
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 62
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 63
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 64
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 65
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 66
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 67
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 68
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 69
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 70
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 71
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 72
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 73
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 74
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com