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June 21: Gotta Get Outside!

2007-06-21 · Hank · watch on YouTube · Science & nature · advice recommendation

On the summer solstice Hank explains Missoula's long days, then, answering John's question about his grass, argues for tearing lawns out and growing vegetables in raised beds, since lawns waste water that food needs.

What is said

00:00:00 — Summer solstice; plan to film outside Missoula foiled by an uncharged camera battery

  • ★★ It's the summer solstice, the longest day of the year; Hank meant to celebrate by taking viewers outside Missoula but forgot to charge his camera battery, so he is tied to the house. (playful) — 00:00:03 · Missoula, Montana

00:00:30 — Missoula's long summer days: day length and distance from the equator; 80% of waking hours in the basement

  • ★★ Hank explains that the average day on Earth is 12 hours by definition, that extremes grow further from the equator, and that Missoula's day is now about 15 to 16 hours. — 00:00:30 · Missoula, Montana
  • ★★ Hank loves Missoula's summer days, though he says he spends 80% of his waking hours in a basement. (playful) — 00:00:30 · Missoula, Montana

00:01:00 — Hank goes outside; Cameo the cat; the side yard where he cannot plant a garden because he rents

  • ★★ Hank has always wanted to plant a vegetable garden in his side yard, but since he doesn't own the house he can't get permission. — 00:01:00

00:01:49 — Vow to grow vegetables instead of grass; answer to John: tear out the lawn, plant raised beds; water argument, Australia; green lawns vs green vegetables; sign-off

  • ★★★ Hank has sworn that when he owns a house he will have no grass, only vegetables (and some flowers), because edible plants are productive and grass seems ridiculous. — 00:01:49 > «I have sworn to myself that when I get my own house I will not have grass»
  • ★★★ Answering John, Hank says to tear the grass out of the ground, put down raised beds everywhere, and water those instead. — 00:02:18 · John Green
  • ★★★ Hank argues watering vegetables is no waste: they get watered either at the farm or at home, the same water for the same vegetable, and growing them saves money. — 00:02:18
  • ★★ Hank says Australia has only 62 weeks of water left, so water should be used for agriculture because we need to eat. — 00:02:48 · Australia
  • ★★★ Hank strongly suggests John not keep the grass: people don't need green lawns, they need green vegetables, though he allows it is just his opinion. (hedged) — 00:02:48 · John Green

Humor (significant)

  • Stuck indoors by the camera cable on the longest day, Hank insists he needs to get outside. — 00:01:00 > «Oh, I have an idea. I'm outside!»
  • A vegetable garden is something to look after that's not a pet or a child. — 00:02:18 > «unlike pets or kids, you can neglect it and no one will arrest you.»
  • Arguing against green lawns, Hank turns to the brothers' surname. — 00:02:48 > «Maybe somebody needs green lawns, but it's not the Green Brothers.»
  • Green vegetables will help them grow up strong and big. — 00:02:48 > «and also not quite as big as most of America.»

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