Sow an Alternate Lawn

Bee Turf, shown here, is one of West Coast Seeds' alternative lawn blends. It is a mix of clovers and low-growing wildflowers that are loved by pollinators, as well as home owners, who appreciate that it requires less water, fertilizer and mowing. Growing a more sustainable lawn, particularly in urban settings, doesn't mean the neighbourhood has to look like a pasture as the mowed side on the right shows — unless, of course, you want it to.
Farming seems to be in the DNA of West Coast Seeds' general manager, Alex Augustyniak, above. He says he's "been growing food and animals since he was born," having grown up on his family's farm in Ontario.
When he moved west, he continued to grow his own food in more than 1,600 square feet of garden. Recently, he and his wife purchased a small farm in Mission, called Lucky Sun Farms, that they're converting to be certified organic and as biodiverse as possible.
The demonstration and trial gardens, above, are based on three quarters of an acre at West Coast Seeds' 16-acre certified organic farm in Delta, grow and test new varieties of seeds to ensure their viability in different types of soil and growing conditions and to help them adapt their environment.