I think it is time to revive the cottage garden. Lawns in the United States consume about 38 billion dollars and 23 million acres of arable land. At an average of a third of an acre, each lawn could produce enough vegetables to feed a family of 6 and still have space for a small lawn.
To add insult to injury, those lawns also consume 270 BILLION gallons of water per week. That amount ow water is enough to water 81 million acres of organically grown vegetables all summer long. I won't even talk about the deadly mix of chemicals that goes into the groundwater from the fertilizers and weed killers used to keep these lawns manicured and green....
The cottage garden on the other hand served multiple purposes. It provided herbs both medicinal and culinary. It was a lovely place to sit and enjoy a beverage and a conversation. It provided vegetables and fruit for the table and beauty for the eye. Most contained lots of flowers, both edible and ornamental. The required little intensive care or water once established...the weeds didn't have much of a chance against the abundance of other plants. Rain barrels can easily be used to water a cottage garden and a compost pile is always a good thing as long as it is tended to.
If all the logical arguments fail to convince you, sink your teeth into a homegrown tomato or fresh shelled peas from the garden. Reach out the back door and pick the salad green for dinner....and don't forget to smell the roses while you are there.
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