EPISODE · Apr 15, 2026 · 47 MIN
It's Time to Kill Your Lawn
from Second Nature · host Commons
Lawns cover more American soil than any other irrigated crop — but who decided they should look this way, and at what cost? In this episode, we trace the centuries-old aristocratic tradition behind the modern lawn, expose the billion-dollar industry profiting from invasive grasses and toxic chemicals, and with the help of nature educator Jason Wise (aka Journeyman), we’ll explore how your patch of green could become something far more prosperous. If you've ever questioned the monoculture outside your front door, this one's for you. Episode rundown: (00:00) - Chapter 1 (00:49) - Why are lawns a climate issue? (02:38) - How did lawns become popular? (06:05) - How is our community adapting their lawns? (12:34) - Tips to rewind your lawn from Jason Wise (aka Journeyman) (34:02) - Who’s profiting off the lawn industry? (43:07) - Imagining a lawn-free future 📱 Want to make your money count? Download the Commons app .🌎 Find citations and further reading in the full show notes.📞 Want to submit to the show? We'd love to hear from you!📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.Episode CreditsListener contributions: Craig Brown, Nick Blocha, Lena, Grace Kinney-Broderick, Haley MurphyResearch: Makenna McBriertyEditing and engineering: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham
What this episode covers
Lawns cover more American soil than any other irrigated crop — but who decided they should look this way, and at what cost? In this episode, we trace the centuries-old aristocratic tradition behind the modern lawn, expose the billion-dollar industry profiting from invasive grasses and toxic chemicals, and with the help of nature educator Jason Wise (aka Journeyman), we’ll explore how your patch of green could become something far more prosperous. If you've ever questioned the monoculture outside your front door, this one's for you. Episode rundown: (00:00) - Chapter 1 (00:49) - Why are lawns a climate issue? (02:38) - How did lawns become popular? (06:05) - How is our community adapting their lawns? (12:34) - Tips to rewind your lawn from Jason Wise (aka Journeyman) (34:02) - Who’s profiting off the lawn industry? (43:07) - Imagining a lawn-free future 📱 Want to make your money count? Download the Commons app .🌎 Find citations and further reading in the full show notes.📞 Want to submit to the show? We'd love to hear from you!📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.Episode CreditsListener contributions: Craig Brown, Nick Blocha, Lena, Grace Kinney-Broderick, Haley MurphyResearch: Makenna McBriertyEditing and engineering: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham
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It's Time to Kill Your Lawn
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