This is the grass lawn that I am replacing with a vegetable garden. Specifically it will utilize roughly one third of the lawn. Initially I became interested in backyard gardening after taking many environmental classes at the University of Vermont and reading Heather Flores's book Food Not Lawns. It focuses on reasons why people in urban environments should turn their lawns into backyard vegetable gardens. It was a very inspirational book for me and has a heavy influence on this project.
In order to do this I've decided to try the no-dig method for creating a garden. Therefore, I am laying down wet newspaper and building raised beds; and, therefore, I won't have to dig up any of the garden, (which will result in less work), I won't disturb the underlying soil structures and environmental habitats already existing under the grass (which is good for the environment -permaculture method), and finally it will give me better control over the environment in which the vegetables will grow. Over the years this style of gardening creates lush soils, with minimal weeds, and does so in a more holistic way than some intensive modern gardening practices. It allows the microorganisms living in the soil, under the grass sod, to increase their natural habitats (basically the size of their 'homes') and expand them into the raised beds.
