a green link to the Chesapeake Bay

I'd like to share a link to an article that expresses much of what I believe when it comes to the ubiquitous lawn:

Redefining the beautiful lawn when it comes to Chesapeake Bay's health

It makes similar points to what I made in a blog entry from last year: no grass is greener.

I'm not against all lawns per se, but considering how much stress they put on the environment with their upkeep, and how much valuable land they have taken up already (I've read an estimate that the amount of lawns grown in the United States is equal to the size of the state of Missouri), their use ought to be vastly reduced. An article in the local newspaper made a good point, something to the effect of: "if the only time you walk on the lawn is when you mow it, maybe you don't need a lawn." And if one must be be maintained, perhaps as required by a homeowners' association, a much smaller patch of it might suffice - in which case, a push mower would be all that is needed to keep it neatly cut.