With this recent explosion in followers comes many questions! We are well aware that our zero waste lifestyle is a bit odd, and we’re happy to explain our perspectives!
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Why don’t we garden in the backyard?
First and foremost, we don’t really have one. With the way our house is placed on our corner lot, the back yard is itty bitty. It also doesn’t get much sun. We only use it as a space for the dogs to do their business, and as a small area to work on projects (Like our wreath disassembly partnership!)
Secondly and more importantly, is the fact that we are not required to. It’s our lawn. We are respectful to our neighbors in that we keep our gardens and chickens clean, quiet and organized. We complete projects quickly and quietly so as not to disrupt our neighbors, and that’s all we are required to do per our municipality’s regulations.
Isn’t it pretty rude to use a front yard the way that we are? Most suburban folks won’t like that.
Honestly, more people are into it than you’d think!
Also, this was not exactly our original intent. We wanted to be a bit more rural and that didn’t work, then we were planning to put up a fence, which didn’t work out either. Turns out our city regulates fences way more than anything one wants to pop into their lawn.
We knew we’d have some explaining to do one the fence plan didn’t work out, and we happily did so to all the folks that came over to ask us what we were doing. We made an effort to explain everything, particularly to all the folks immediately around us since they see our property every day. We had no complaints voiced directly to us until well after the city inspector showed up (and promptly told us everything was completely fine.) It escalated from there to direct confrontations, a newspaper story, the city council being contacted, and so forth.
But we didn’t escalate it. Our neighbors did. Neighbors who made zero attempt to ever speak with us.
Once it was escalated we realized just how many folks are totally for this lifestyle, though! They just don’t quite know where to begin.
Alas – here we are. Following every rule and regulation that applies to us, and connecting every day with thousands of folks who want to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. We’re all working to normalize suburban sustainability in our lawns and gardens – front and back yards.
But Property Values!
Property values continue to be unimpacted. The house next door to us was sold recently to a lovely guy that has no issues with us. Dozens of others nearby have sold for record prices. If the housing market tanks, I assure you it’s not because of us. The housing market is just whacky these days.
What do we do about people who aren’t okay with this?
Nothing really. We talk about harmful practices, but if that makes them feel some type of way that’s on them to confront why that makes them uncomfortable.
We don’t “mess with” our neighbors who have ecologically harmful hobbies and properties because unfortunately they’re almost always within their legal rights to do so. We simply ask for the same “live and let live” mentality in return. That really upsets some folks because it creates a lot of cognitive dissonance about the norms and values in these places.
So are you just trying to make people mad?
We’re not intentionally trying to antagonize anyone! Nor have we ever tried. If folks don’t want to live a sustainable lifestyle or adapt their view of what lawns should be, they don’t have to. I can’t make them, and I won’t waste my time trying. It’s simply not acceptable to me that I should have to adapt my lifestyle to meet the aesthetic desires of a minority of people in our neighborhood.
In this suburb at least, it is incredibly clear that the majority of residents have a vision of unwinding the classism and conformity that built this space. When our story blew up last summer, we figured why not use every scrap of attention brought to us by folks who were cruel to us to bring light to our belief that spaces can change? We don’t subscribe to “If you don’t like it, then leave,” because it leads to division and polarization. This place has been my home for my entire life, and I will see it continue to change for the better. To become a more inclusive and diverse place for both humans and native wildlife.
Our family believes that if you don’t like something in a space, you create change in that space. That as long as you’re not causing harm to people or planet, it is okay to challenge deeply held beliefs. It is necessary to challenge beliefs, particularly when they are harmful.
Recommended Reading for New Suburban Climate Activists
Change doesn’t just happen – it is made. By each of us!
Do we actually think things can change?
We do. We really do, ya’ll. All four adults in our household are completely on board with this mission, and it’s why we started this online venture in the first place. We received thousands of messages and comments of support from folks in our city after being blasted by aggressive and outright violent folks in response to our first newspaper article. After the follow-up came out, we knew we needed to step up our advocacy – both in this city and beyond.
Other people are doing similar advocacy work with native gardening and with urban agricultural projects nationwide, and I don’t ever want folks to get discouraged and stop starting up these projects just because they receive pushback. Any time we challenge long-held beliefs and norms things might get dicey for a while.
That’s okay. Growth often requires a bit of contention, and we must be up for the challenge! By supporting each other through the tough times we can maintain forward momentum.
So Now What?
Well. We went from 3000 to 17,000 followers in a week (since this was originally posted we’re up to 30k) so we step up our game is what! We’re going to continue what we do by providing resources and directing folks to the experts that we learned from ourselves. We don’t ever want to portray ourselves as the first or only ones doing this work, but rather that this kind of advocacy for our planet should be happening in suburban spaces nationwide. Every penny we earn from our social media presence and the support of our followers goes right back into this little venture of ours!
I grew up being told to “Take the good, leave the bad,” from every situation. That’s what we are doing in this space. We are taking the beauty of the suburbs – beautiful properties and a strong sense of community – and leaving the exclusivity and classist norms that demand we all conform to a certain curb appeal that has always been, and always will be unsustainable.
And we’re going to chuckle our butts off when folks call the newspaper to call us the “Demise of the Neighborhood,” and all sorts of other wild things. Because it’s funny! We’re too busy making change to be bothered by folks that are committed to misunderstanding our purpose. At the end of the day, that’s on them. Not us.
Your Turn!
We hope you’re ready to come along on this journey with us in whatever way works for you. You don’t have to live in or even be near a suburb to join us in our Zero Waste journey. We all have a part in mitigating climate change and learning to live in this post climate change world. There are many unknowns in our future, and we will get through them all together.
Through education and community collaboration, we can create a better future for all living things.
Let’s go! 🙂