An article in today's San Francisco Chronicle talks about some things suburbanites can do to reduce their environmental impacts. Their suggestion: start with your lawn.

The authors recommend replacing power tools with hand tools when feasible and composting all yard and food wastes on site. The data in both of these areas is amazing. Lawmowers, it turns out, are the Hummers of the gardening world. According to one estimate, gas-powered mowers in the United States consume 800 million gallons of fuel per year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says 17 million gallons of gas are wasted annually while refueling mowers -- more than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez.

The data on home composting is also compelling. One study found that a home composter typically diverts 579 pounds of yard waste and 225 pounds of food waste from the waste stream in a year's time.

Here are their 10 tips:
-- Buy local.
-- Grow your food.
-- Shrink your lawn.
-- Replace power tools with hand tools.
-- Keep green waste out of the landfill.
-- Compost at home.
-- Avoid synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
-- Save your seeds.
-- Spare your trees.
-- Garden for wildlife.