Fire the Landscaper: How Landscapers, HOAs, and Cultural Norms Are Poisoning Our Properties (Thought-Provoking Nonfiction)

"Rarely does a gardening book raise eyebrows, let alone hell."-Diana Morse

Fire the Landscaper is a biting critique of current landscape design and maintenance practices. The book explores the health risks, cultural biases, origins, and the insults to Mother Nature caused by our culturally backed, legally enforced obsession with artificial representations of nature.

The author, Phil Williams, is a former owner of a successful lawn and landscape company. He exposes the waste, fraud, and downright ridiculousness of an industry focused solely on aesthetics. Through his subsequent training as a permaculture designer, he offers many practical solutions aligned with nature to increase the health and productivity of landscapes, and the world by extension, while simultaneously reducing the workload of upkeep.

What readers are saying.

"Rarely does a gardening book raise eyebrows, let alone Hell. Phil M. Williams' "Fire the Landscaper" sounds a battle cry defending private property, homesteading and chemical-free living -- "weeds" and all. A former landscaping mogul, Williams exposes the industry's practice of over-fertilizing and over-mowing lawns, a cycle driven by homeowners chained to such maintenance by Home Owner's Association (HOA) rules or a "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality. Williams also discusses questionable landscaper design and pricing practices, to educate consumers about what they're really paying for, from below-grade trees and shrubs to the lack of permaculture-style plantings that can provide food as well as aesthetics.

Part biography, part instruction manual for turning lawns into natural and productive garden-spaces, Williams describes the pride and pitfalls of homesteading. From living with nosy neighbors who can't get their heads out of their mole-holes long enough to understand "perfect" lawns require plant killing toxins that impact land for generations, to downright mean folks who can't comprehend that so-called weeds are often edible, and necessary for healthy soil. For the intrepid homesteader, it seems, fighting City Hall often comes with nature-led land management.

Williams bucks the system with style, however, and digresses from instructor to insider often. His stories includes a satisfyingly lurid dream sequence worthy of Sinclair Lewis' "It Can't Happen Here" guaranteed to make the reader want to start an illegal mulch pile immediately. Damn the HOA, full speed ahead! After all, it's your property, right?" -Diana Morse ★★★★★

"Mr. Williams had me in tears a few time with his rich descriptions, story telling, and simplistic revelations of truth to a simpler, richer way of living. A definite MUST READ for everyone - and I mean everyone." -Terri R. ★★★★★

"As much about life as it is about the lawn, Fire the Landscaper is a quick and very timely read about the organized destruction of our ecosystems one yard at a time." - T. Hall ★★★★★

"Great book, I went through it in an evening. Mr Williams does an excellent job using real life examples to paint the picture of where we are, where were going, and where we could go. I wish I could stand on a corner and hand this out." - Matt M. ★★★★★

"What an awesome book! Its great to have a book out there that challenges the cultural norms head on. It exposes the practices of the lawn care industry, and how toxic and wasteful it is for our environment. It definitely inspired me to get out there and grow some food in my yard instead of just mowing down my weeds, i mean grass...no weeds. A big thank you to Mr. Williams for writing this spectacular book!" - Desiree H. ★★★★★

"This is one of the few books I have actually read in its entirety for many years. If you are one that seeks after true nature, this is the book for you. I can't wait to read his future works." - Aaron ★★★★★