Trash to Treasure: Lawn of Dreams

This is a story of a girl who loves living in the city but, who clearly is in need of some nature.

Exhibit A: This is the ally behind our apartment. What do I spy? A neglected bit of turf.

As I drive off to do my errands I am saddened to think that this little patch of grass will be run over, peed on and trampled in no time.

I am reminded of my first day at Our Fair School when I asked the children to write something about our school and one boy wrote, "There is no grass at OFS."

I start to think of ways I could rescue the grass. I decide that if the grass is still there when I return, I will take it home with me.

Upon my return, I get some cardboard out of the dumpster (again) and head off to claim my turf.


Can I get an elevator alone? No. A model gets on with me. This young, hip, Hollywood chick comments on my awkward, barely balanced cardboard tray of grass. I make some feeble joke. Sometimes we trash to treasure junkies must endure scrutiny.

It was quite something to manage and I nearly drop my lawn as I come into the apartment. Of course, Cliff senses the impending project and quickly answers the door. (Rats! I was hoping he would be so deeply engrossed in writing that I could sneak in.)

Predictably his head spins as he says, "Your going to make something of this!!"

I tell him I am going to plant it.

"I am going to call my mother" he says.

Thankfully, my mother in-law wasn't home. I'd like to have executed my plan so that it is cool and not crazy before she hears about it.

Look! If you build it, they will come.

I used some kitchen scissors to cut the turf into a circle and planted it in this pot of dirt that I already had from failed flower attempts. Then I added the rest to a tray and quickly cleaned up the mess.

The funny thing about being cheap and thrifty is the timing. Last week I had been at the thrift and admired this little lawn chair. It reminded me of the chairs up at the Thousand Islands. But, I didn't buy it because I didn't have a use for it.

Happily, it was there waiting for me and my new lawn.

A week later,  Cliff loves our lawn too. He said, "After 7 years together, there's always something new." He has fun making jokes about the new watering restrictions in LA. 

This little project is goofy and probably wouldn't interest anyone who lives ... on the ground. But from my "penthouse in the sky," it is a patch of green that might actually survive the harsh oven that is our balcony. And, it  motivates me to take our search for a house a bit more seriously. Fake it 'till you make it!

More Trash to Treasure at Reinvented.