I checked out the SAWS rebate program for converting your lawn to xeriscape, wildscape, or hardscape. Not so food-friendly. Annuals and vegetables are only allotted 5% of the square footage to be eligible for the rebate, whatever it is. I didn't find any specific information about that.
On the site, you are invited to fill out and submit a questionnaire about what you've done, and I didn't see any clear communication about what to expect next.
There is no mention of using rainwater catchment or using graywater for landscape watering, both of which could ease demand on SAWS' need for new water sources, if taken seriously by the agency. They do promote graywater reuse for commercial sites. Why not for residences?
Graywater is the water that goes down the drain that is clean enough for landscape use but is not considered potable. For home use, this is often done with laundry water, and can include anything except toilets and the kitchen sink. Reusing this water will make you think twice about using harsh chemicals in cleaning, something many people are getting away from for health and safety reasons anyway. Thus, the environmental benefits extend beyond water conservation.
There is no mention on the SAWS rebate site about certain kinds of hardscape causing runoff problems for the homeowner or neighbors. No mention of rain gardens or micro-contouring to keep rainwater on the property. These simple techniques can build up underground pods of water that can help plants thrive between rains, and are naturals for wildscaping and edible landscaping.
Since SAWS has for many years been educating us about xeriscaping (using low-water-use plants, from the Greek xeros, dry), and promoting it with brochures and free plants at events and in many other ways, it is puzzling that this rebate program does not wrap in more of that information.
In my ideal world, SAWS would
- provide subsidies for homeowners to incorporate rainwater catchment in their landscape watering
- provide subsidies for homeowners to incorporate graywater reuse in their landscape watering
- partner with nurseries and the Native Plant Society's NICE program to actively promote the use of native plants and wildscaping rather than turfgrass
- partner with our garden writers and broadcasters to do the same
- develop comprehensive sample landscape plans and educational materials showing homeowners how they can combine water reuse, contouring, native and other low-water-use plants, and edible landscaping to have a beautiful, sustainable yard.
