Unlawn America

Across the country, we’re finding our roots again in natural landscaping that revives local ecology and rebuilds communities. From humans to wildlife, and the diverse cultures of all, the tide is turning for healthy resilience. One of the advocates in this collective rewilding effort is Benjamin Vogt—garden designer, educator, author, activist, and owner of Prairie Up, a hub for sustainable and artful natural garden design, helping gardeners convert lawn to native plant communities.

Join Vogt as he traces the history of lawns in the United States, analyzing their basis in division and compliance—from HOAs and municipal codes to racism and classism in the way neighborhoods are planned. He’ll share efforts on how to continue to remake greenspaces by using the growth patterns of plants as the leading guide in designing habitats in the 21st century. His forthcoming book, Unlawn America: A Grassroots Guide to Rewilding Your Yard, will be released in spring 2027.

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