Flagstaff Arizona Giving Rebate To Homeowners Who Rip Out Lawns

[matcom]

<snip>

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. --Pulling up grass in Flagstaff could earn homeowners some greenbacks.

The city is offering a one-time $500 rebate to households that remove at least 1,500 square feet of grass and replace it with rock or hardy native plants that require little water.

The average homeowner uses about 72 gallons annually to water each square foot of grass, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

Adam Miller, Flagstaff water conservation manager, expects up to 20 households a year to take advantage of the rebate.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/08/09/in_arizona_remove_grass_get_rebate?mode=PF

[redqueen]

1. Anyone who lives in the desert,

but puts in a lawn requiring lots of water is a friggin idiot.

UGH!

[DS1]

2. And then there's the golf courses

:eyes:

[distantearlywarning]

3. Actually, Flagstaff is not in the desert.

It sits at about 7500 feet, right in the middle of the largest forest of Ponderosa pine trees in the US and at the foot of several 10K+ mountains.

However, it has been in a major drought for some time, and was an arid place to start with, so there aren't too many good reasons for Flagstaff home owners to maintain lush lawns at this point in time.

[Dez]

5. My sis lives there

and she let her lawn die this year.. I'll tell her about that rebate! Perhaps she can still qualify for that!

[redqueen]

7. Ooops.

Well, you know what I meant.

Glad they're doing this in Flagstaff... we need more sane laws to balance out all the crazy ones.

[XNASA]

4. I really love Flagstaff.

If I win the lotto, I'll be there tomorrow.

[Placebo]

6. i hate when i'm driving through the suburbs...

and all they're talking about in the news is the lake level being down to record lows, and everyone is overwatering their precious lawns.

wtf for?

fuck 'em

the lake is more important than your grass being green

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Is it really a rebate?

Or will the homeowners who participate have to claim the $500 the following tax year?

Also, have to wonder how much it would cost a homeowner to rip up the lawn and then replace it with something else, such as a xeriscape.

[Enraged_Ape]

11. 1,500 square feet will run you at least 8-10 grand for xeriscape...

if you have a landscaper do it, probably 3-4 grand if you do it yourself (assuming you have the time and energy to move 20-some tons of rock). This assumes that you actually put native and drought-resistant plants in and don't just use gravel.

Kind of puts the $500 windfall in perspective.

On the other hand, the missus and I live in the desert southwest and we just replaced our struggling lawn with xeriscape, and it's been, IMHO, well worth it.

[Zomby Woof]

9. What Flagstaff really needs are brains

Having just lived there for 2 years, I can say - the most arid place in the area is the place between people's ears. Even with the presence of a university, the makers of Gore-Tex, and an observatory, Flagstaff is the stupidest place I have ever lived, per capita IQ.

It's somewhat pretty, but so small, the place wears thin, like the 7,000 foot air. And the icy winters suck ass.

Fuck Flagstaff, now that I think about it. What a relief to have survived 2 years there.

[Dora]

10. Speaking as a former Arizona native ...

:spray:

Oh, that was probably a waste of water.

[bicentennial_baby]

12. I'm anti-lawn, personally

I think people should just let nature be...although it would be hell on people with allergies...I'm a hypocrite of the first order though, 'cause I do love to lay on my own lawn... :P