Looking out on our yellow polka-dotted lawn recently, I was reminded of an interesting libation I had last year at the festivities to celebrate the designation of Brookside Park as the city’s first chemical free park. The drink was dandelion lemonade, and it was Turtle Lake Refuge founder Katrina Blair who proffered it to me. It was good, vaguely weedy, but not in a way that I would call unpleasant.

Today I called Blair to get the recipe and learned a lot has been going on over there. Last year, Blair, an organic grower, worked out with the city to do lawn care at Brookside with the assistance of volunteers. The city, in turn, suggested that Turtle Lake form an organic lawn care business so that in the future the city could contract with it and the workers could be compensated. Thus, Grassroots was formed. 

Blair said that Grassroots, with about six employees, will apply an organic compost tea to a standard-size lawn for $50.

“We’re less than what people would be paying already,” she said.

The service will also provide consulting on garden design and maintenance.

To celebrate the launch of Grassroots and help raise funds for it, Turtle Lake is holding a dandelion festival from 1-10 p.m. May 16 at Rotary Park. There will be workshops, music, games, food and — best of all — dandelion beer made special for the occasion by Durango’s three local breweries.

Blair said that employing organic lawn care prevents the accumulation of chemical fertilizers in our rivers and oceans, where they contribute to oxygen-depleted dead zones.

For more information on Grassroots, call 247-1773.

And for those wishing to make use at home of their dandelions (Blair eschews the word “weed”), here’s her lemonade recipe. 

- a cup of dandelion greens* (not the blossoms)

- juice of 2 lemons

- ½ cup honey

- about a quart of water

Blend these together then strain the pulp. Add ice and garnish with the flowers if desired.

 * Blair said that dandelions have many healthful properties, including supporting liver function, boosting the immune system and supplying a gamut of minerals. She recommends not harvesting for consumption greens from a lawn that has been sprayed with pesticides within the last three years.

Tags: Environment, Recipes

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