Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Roundup use in common areas

[Buzz Harris (buzz_harris]

Hi Joan.
We've commonly used overlapping sheets of cardboard from broken down cardboard 
boxes that we then cover with mulch or wood chips.  This kills the underlying 
ground cover over a period of weeks (or longer).  We've also used large, black 
tarps held down with stones or logs.  Note that you don't have to do the whole 
area at once using this method.  It can be done in sections.  Liquor stores 
often have lots of cardboard boxes to recycle or dispose of.  I've had good 
luck just asking then to give some to me.
You can then plant whatever you want.  My understanding is that some kinds of 
prairie grass takes a couple of years to grow tall as it first spends its 
energy putting down deep roots.
Good luck!
BuzzMosaic Commons CohousingBerlin, MA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buzz Harris


What used to be called liberal is now called radical,
What used to be called radical is now called insane,
What used to be called reactionary is now called moderate, and
What used to be called insane is now called solid conservative thinking.

-Tony Kushner


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    On Friday, October 2, 2026 at 02:55:02 PM EDT, Joan Huntley via Cohousing-L 
<cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:  
 
 I live in Casa Verde Cohousing, the site of Cei's original question. We are
in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This area has had a drought - summer
was brutal -  and future  predictions are equally grim. This area is part
of the country impacted by shrinking reservoirs leading to water shortages.
And, of course, the impact of the water bill for the community is a
concern. So watering our current grass is not reasonable.

Residents of Casa Verde primarily agree with the move to native grasses
that use far less water. What is debatable is the best way to do that. Are
there options other communities have used that do not require Roundup?

Our community is discussing this. Our landscape team will make a final
recommendation to our Board who would approve the transition, based on the
projected costs.

Joan Huntley

On Fri, Oct 2, 2026 at 12:37 PM Elizabeth Magill via Cohousing-L <
cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> We have a no chemical planticide/pesticide policy but over rode that
> to approve use of round up on a particular invasive (I'm not
> remembering which one). In our case it could be/should be administered
> just on the cut stem and is the recommended path suggested by the
> local environmental authority.
>
> It helped us to make the case when the outsider expert who clearly
> recognized the risks is who made the presentation.
>
> -Elizabeth
> (The Rev. Dr.) Elizabeth Mae Magill
> Join my email newsletter about how we can Act! Be Church Now in the
> resistance. https://actbechurchnow.kit.com/posts
> www.elizabethmaemagill.com
> 508-450-0431 <(508)%20450-0431>
>
> On Fri, Oct 2, 2026 at 10:45 AM Ceil Malek via Cohousing-L
> <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> >
> > Our community, Casa Verde Commons in Colorado Springs, is proposing to
> use
> > Roundup extensively to kill old grass in preparation for planting native
> > grass.  The intention is to cut down on water bills and prepare for
> coming
> > climate change, which is admirable..
> >
> > Our landscape committee, which is proposing the project, advocates this
> use
> > of Roundup t because it's time limited, but the chemical will be
> > administered over a three-year period. Final decision will come from the
> > board, not the community.
> >
> > I'm wondering what other communities have done.  Are there viable
> > alternatives to using Roundup?  Do other communities have a model for
> > changing to native grass that doesn't challenge the health of community
> > members, especially the vulnerable ones. We have young children, older
> > people with various health challenges, dogs, and cats whose exposure to
> the
> > chemical Roundup may be especially problematic.
> >
> > Thanks for your help.
> > Ceil Malek
> > Casa Verde Commons
> > Colorado Springs, CO
> > _________________________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
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