Posted: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 3:25 pm
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Updated: 7:39 pm, Tue Aug 6, 2013.
Southernminn
Posted on
August 6, 2013
Is there anything more lovely than landscape untouched by man?
It represents serenity, peace and a sense of “getting away from it all.”
Would that all our land looked like that.
Except it’s not really feasible.
An increasing number of Northfielders are moving away from typical grass lawns and incorporating rain gardens, food and herb gardens or natural landscaping instead.
The benefits to such a move are clear: Growing food is a cheap and healthier alternative to the grocery store and a great use of land. Rain gardens reduce the amount of runoff going into our sewer systems and eventually our waterways. Natural landscaping allows for less groundskeeping overall, which reduces the use of herbicides and other chemicals that may pollute the land and water.
But because we live in a city, there has to be limits. We cannot all dig up our grass, drop prairie roots instead and let it go. With that come the less pleasant side of nature: Pests such as field mice, possum and other animals that don’t mix well with humans.
And because we live in the land of free choice, it is neither fair nor acceptable for one neighbor to let their property go wild — literally — while others lose possible value because not everyone views prairie landscape in front of a home as a positive thing.
That’s why the city has developed what are fair guidelines. No weeds nor anything pushing 3 feet (that’s not a flower or bush). Fire hydrants must remain clear — that’s a public safety issue.
We should all feel free to cultivate on our property a yard that we can be proud of and that is enjoyable to use. But as residents of a community, we don’t live on an island. Our actions have an impact on our neighbors.
We have an obligation to not impose upon them anything that would reduce the value of their homes or their enjoyment of it.
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Posted in
Editorials
on
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 3:25 pm.
Updated: 7:39 pm.
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