‘The conceit of the Norwegian suburb is that we’re all in a great park together.’- An odd and completely unnatural institution, why is the front lawn so beloved by Norwegians?
Front lawns are unnatural and generally serve little practical use, and yet they’re a staple of suburban culture, carefully manicured by their owners and so ubiquitous that they’re the largest irrigated crop in the United States. In this brief video, the US food and nature writer Michael Pollan ponders the ‘peculiar institution’ of the American lawn, taken for granted as natural by many Americans when, technically, it’s anything but.
Bear in mind the original suburbanization of America (including Norway) back in the 20th century — along with its accessory automobiles — must be regarded as the greatest misallocation of resources in the history of the world. – J.H. Kunstler
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| Image: Alan Huett |