Siblings Erin and Christopher Rogoff share their backyard with chipmunks, squirrels, bats and rabbits.

Siblings Erin and Christopher Rogoff share their backyard with chipmunks, squirrels, bats and rabbits.

(ARA) - Americans craving authenticity and fretting over a bleak economy have reinvigorated the trend to grow-it-yourself (GIY). From blueberries to houseplants, GIY is the new mantra as folks turn back to the future to simplify their lives while gardening for the greener good.

A year ago, the windows began to sag on Debbie Smith’s home in Rafferty Gardens. Her furnace was leaking carbon monoxide. The water heater was in need of duct work.

Marc and Bernadette Rogoff wanted to create a fun backyard that would encourage their kids to appreciate the outdoors, entertain themselves and have unstructured down time. Landscapers and designers say that creating fun outdoor spaces is simple and inexpensive.