Maximum Yield USA October 2017 | Page 76

cycl trends & technology GROWING FOOD NOT LAWNS WITH FLEET FARMING Low turfgrass in front of dwellings have served many purposes over the course of human history. Our ancient ancestors kept low grass to better spot approaching danger, while in the 1500s, lawns were used for recreation. Today, with arable land at a premium, environmental challenges, and billions of mouths to feed, Fleet Farming may be the future of the typical lawn. by Co ry Hu ghes fresh green lawn is a symbol of success to many. To others, it is a symbol of waste and environmental struggles. There are approximately 40 million acres of lawn in the United States. Many of these are fed countless gallons of water and treated with fertilizers and pesticides, all for the purpose of maintaining that picturesque Norman Rockwell visual appeal. A new movement known as Fleet Farming is changing that. 74 grow cycle