Exactly this. I am moving from Western PA to the Finger Lakes region of New York. I bought a few acres and all of the land that didn't have trees or the frog pond on it was just mowed. Next Spring I'm going to till about an acre at least and plant crops for my wife and I to eat. Add a couple of chickens and beehives, plant some fruit trees.
Lawns are a waste of otherwise arable space for the most part. Sure we'll have some lawn area for recreation, but when I see a huge yard that is just mowed it irks me a bit.
I'm even going to plant clover and wildflowers over the septic leech field. Food for the bees.