There are many ways that we can conserve our water, our natural resources and reduce our carbon footprint. Breaking up an old, concrete driveway or path provides excellent building materials for a storm water permeable path, patio or raised vegetable beds. An old lawn can be sheet mulched over and be left in place to decompose under a new garden bed. Compost made of yard trimmings and kitchen waste makes an excellent soil amendment, and the old landscape plants can be chipped down as mulch for the new garden. 

While conventional lawns are beautiful and soothing to the human eye, they are inappropriate for our dry, Mediterranean climate. They waste water, require too frequent maintenance that is usually performed with gas-powered equipment polluting our air, and are fertilized and treated with synthetic chemicals that pollute the Bay and our water supply. Instead of these lawns we can choose native grasses, sedges and shrubby or herbaceous ground covers as effective play surfaces and for curb appeal. These alternatives require low maintenance, no chemicals, either low or no water, and can be easily maintained without any polluting equipment.