Northwood News ♦ April 2010

Local Woman Advocates Turning Lawns to Meadows

By Jacquie Bokow

Author and photographer Catherine Zimmerman — who lives in our neighborhood on Lorain Avenue — has combined her expertise in photography, environmental issues, horticulture, and organic practices to advocate what she calls “meadowscaping” as an alternative to pesticide-ridden, manicured lawns.  Her new book, Urban and Suburban Meadows:  Bringing Meadowscaping to Big and Small Spaces, addresses the problems caused by the extensive planting of non-native grass lawns across America and provides the actions anyone can take to reverse the trend.

This thoughtful and stunningly photographed volume provides step-by-step directions on changing our work-intensive and sterile lawns into thriving, easy-care “plant communities” that provide both food and habitat to native wildlife and insects.

The 271 pages are crammed full of advice on preparing your site, planting, and maintaining the meadow once it’s established.  Extensive plant lists and local resource sections provide the details you need to make informed choices.  She presents her case so convincingly — and makes it look so easy — that she really will inspire you to make biodiversity a priority.  (I was ready to rip out my lawn after perusing a review copy!)

Zimmerman, an award-winning director of photography, has over 30 years of experience in documentary filmmaking with an emphasis on education and environmental issues.  She is also a certified horticulturist and landscape designer accredited in organic land care.

She hopes that her Meadow Project will help start the movement toward making natural landscapes the new landscaping norm.

Discount for NFCCA Folk

The book ships 1 April and can be purchased on Zimmerman’s website, www.themeadowproject.com.  She is generously offering a time-limited promotional code for Northwood News readers who buy the book from the website.  The promotional code is MPN007.  It will only be active starting 1 April and will expire 30 April, so be sure to act quickly if you want the discount.

Zimmerman will also be selling signed copies at the Rachel Carson Meadow Festival on 16 May (see page 16); her film accompanying the book will be shown at the North Four Corners Rec Center during the Festival.

The book can always be purchased at www.themeadowproject.com, but in June will also become available on Amazon and in retail stores like Barnes and Noble.   ■