The cost saving argument is probably a stretch:
"In many cases, installing a Farmscape garden in the place of an existing lawn can lower your monthly yard maintenance and irrigation expenses. Depending on crop selection, most customers can expect to break even against the installation cost of the garden with the savings over organic grocery or farmers market purchases and the gas and time for the errands. This also depends heavily on how you value high quality fresh-picked produce and how you value your own time spent inspecting fruits and vegetables in the produce aisle."
But as another commenter points out, this is more about keeping up with the Jones than saving money. There's a chicness in CA these days in having a bountiful garden (chickens provide an extra level chicness in some places). And whereas the DIYers have set the trend and have embraced the dirt and sweat of the enterprise (see http://www.amazon.com/Farm-City-Education-Urban-Farmer/dp/15...), the green-leaning elite are willing to buy their way to the promised land. Another version of the same old story, no?
In terms of urban harvest, I think this is way cooler, although who knows if it's successful from an environmental-economics standpoint: http://nymag.com/guides/summer/2009/57477/
The cost saving argument is probably a stretch: "In many cases, installing a Farmscape garden in the place of an existing lawn can lower your monthly yard maintenance and irrigation expenses. Depending on crop selection, most customers can expect to break even against the installation cost of the garden with the savings over organic grocery or farmers market purchases and the gas and time for the errands. This also depends heavily on how you value high quality fresh-picked produce and how you value your own time spent inspecting fruits and vegetables in the produce aisle."
But as another commenter points out, this is more about keeping up with the Jones than saving money. There's a chicness in CA these days in having a bountiful garden (chickens provide an extra level chicness in some places). And whereas the DIYers have set the trend and have embraced the dirt and sweat of the enterprise (see http://www.amazon.com/Farm-City-Education-Urban-Farmer/dp/15...), the green-leaning elite are willing to buy their way to the promised land. Another version of the same old story, no?
In terms of urban harvest, I think this is way cooler, although who knows if it's successful from an environmental-economics standpoint: http://nymag.com/guides/summer/2009/57477/