Turf Mutt makes a plea to save lawns

That’s the approach Kris Kiser urges when it comes to California’s lawn debate. Kiser invokes a cartoon canine – based on his real-life family dog Lucky – that teaches environmental awareness to kids. Popularized on Scholastic.com’s educational website, Turf Mutt aims to “save the planet, one yard at a time.”

 

In California, those yards are looking mighty brown. Faced with ongoing drought and mandated water cutbacks, residents are tearing out grass by the acre, often in favor of concrete paving, mulch or artificial turf.

 

But dogs need lawn as a place to play and, you know, be dogs, Kiser said. Birds, bees and beneficial insects – above and below the soil – depend on living landscape for survival. In fact, humans benefit from urban grass, too; it helps clean the air and cool the environment.

 

Those are all good reasons for second thoughts before digging up that grass.

 

For the full story, on sacbee.com, click here.