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Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't

649 points · 203 comments · DarkContinent

  1. jojocool0501 · · focus · HN ↗
    My favorite Youtube channel.

    Please watch the latest <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=HDVcfSYcxc0" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=HDVcfSYcxc0. It&#x27;s an interview with an old botanist, who shares his wisdom and philosophy, remains engaged after decades of witnessing first hand America&#x27;s nature getting destroyed. 2 main points: - destroyed old-growth forests, grassland, remnant prairies takes millennia to be back to what they were, not decades. Insects and other pollinators don&#x27;t just reappear - water availability for plants comes in many forms, all of which disappear with tillage.

    Joey is an acquired taste, but if you look past the strong and odd personality (the persona?), his channel is a gold mine. But this time he was (rightfully) impressed by Gerry (Gerould) Wilhelm&#x27;s wealth of knowledge.

    1. andai · · focus · HN ↗
      Brilliant, thanks for sharing.

      I&#x27;m reminded of an article I read once, it seems to have gone offline, an interview with indie game dev Jason Rohrer. He said the city took him to court for not mowing his lawn. He ended up winning under the 1st amendment (the lawn was &quot;free expression&quot; or something...)[0]

      I thought that was really interesting (and obviously wouldn&#x27;t work in other countries).

      The other day I walked around the neighborhood and found this massive patch of grass and weeds that had been mowed, and scorched by the sun, so it was just mostly dead. Barely 5 minutes away, the city had fenced out special plots and paid to have a bunch of weeds instlled, to help the bees. Comedy.

      [0] Edit: Yeah it&#x27;s deleted. I found backups though!

      <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.ph&#x2F;j9025" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.ph&#x2F;j9025

      <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;web.archive.org&#x2F;web&#x2F;20150315123808&#x2F;https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.esquire.com&#x2F;news-politics&#x2F;a5303&#x2F;future-of-video-game-design-1208&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;web.archive.org&#x2F;web&#x2F;20150315123808&#x2F;https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.esqui...

      1. badpun · · focus · HN ↗
        &gt; I thought that was really interesting (and obviously wouldn&#x27;t work in other countries).

        I don&#x27;t know about other countries, but in Poland you&#x27;re just not required to cut down your lawn at all, unless it&#x27;s a fire hazard (you have a lot of dead and dried up plants).

        1. graemep · · focus · HN ↗
          I think legal requirements are a US thing. I had only heard of it in HOA run places though.

          Here in the UK there are no usually legal requirements, but it might be a social problem as your neighbours will not like it.

          1. quickthrowman · · focus · HN ↗
            There are municipalities in the US with lawn ordinances, mine has one.

            &gt; Tall Grass and Weeds

            &gt; Weeds or grass more than eight inches high or that have gone to seed must be cut or mowed. Noxious weeds, as defined by the state Department of Agriculture, must be controlled or destroyed completely.

            Source: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.stpaul.gov&#x2F;departments&#x2F;safety-inspections&#x2F;rent-buy-sell-property&#x2F;maintaining-your-property&#x2F;property-code-enforcement" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.stpaul.gov&#x2F;departments&#x2F;safety-inspections&#x2F;rent-b...

            A lawn is not required, but if you have one, the grass must be cut if it seeds or is more than 8” long.

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