Green Grass

Grass was a sign of prestigious wealth. A show of prosperity and status for the people who could afford gardeners to tend it all by hand. It has also been a signifier of settlement, of claim and progress. Deforested land was land that was occupied, land being put to use, for food and money. It didn't matter that these introduced species were quickly displacing native ones. Now grass is an iconic sight in this country. It contributes to the concept of New Zealand’s green environment. It may be green in colour but is it green in its effects? Grass doesn’t keep the water pure. It doesn’t absorb much C02. It's not so good at holding up the soil. What about holding up ecosystems? It's quite good at supporting cattle and sheep...and algae blooms.

Grass is a monoculture, it supports very few species.

Indigenous vegetation supports thousands of species but not very many humans.

In a time when green concepts are being marketed like a brand, grass doesn’t look very green.