Lawns cover more American soil than any other irrigated crop — but who decided they should look this way, and at what cost? In this episode, we trace the centuries-old aristocratic tradition behind the modern lawn, expose the billion-dollar industry profiting from invasive grasses and toxic chemicals, and with the help of nature educator Jason Wise (aka Journeyman), we’ll explore how your patch of green could become something far more prosperous. If you've ever questioned the monoculture outside your front door, this one's for you.

Episode rundown:

• (00:00) - Chapter 1
• (00:49) - Why are lawns a climate issue?
• (02:38) - How did lawns become popular?
• (06:05) - How is our community adapting their lawns?
• (12:34) - Tips to rewind your lawn from Jason Wise (aka Journeyman)
• (34:02) - Who’s profiting off the lawn industry?
• (43:07) - Imagining a lawn-free future

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Episode Credits

• Listener contributions: Craig Brown, Nick Blocha, Lena, Grace Kinney-Broderick, Haley Murphy
• Research: Makenna McBrierty
• Editing and engineering: Evan Goodchild‍
• Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham