On this Earth Day, a lot of people are thinking of ways that that they can help the planet. At the same time, people are busy, and the best intentions sometimes fall by the wayside. If you thought about doing something ambitious for Earth Day, but the plan fell through, fear not! There is an easy way to make a difference, without doing anything.
This past February, Buffalo Common Council adopted a resolution to support the “No Mow May” initiative, which encourages people to let their lawns grow throughout the month of May, so that bees and other pollinators have a fighting chance to forage for food.
“Studies show that lawns that participate in ‘No Mow May’ have three to five more pollinators that lawns that do not,” said North District Council Member Joseph Golombek. “One-third of all the food we eat is thanks to pollinators. By supporting this initiative, Buffalo Common Council hopes to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and promote environmental conservation efforts.”
We are all aware the bees and butterflies, among countless other vital insects, are in peril due to habitat loss, spraying of harmful insecticides, climate change, etc. I would have to say that the low hanging fruit here, is to let nature be. Don’t eradicate their food sources (spring flowers) in the name of having a lifeless lawn. Bees and other insects need time to mature, and the early spring flowers are their only food source.
Have you ever stopped to consider what a lawn would look like if it was simply left alone? It’s amazing how quickly it becomes a haven for foraging bees. And over time, with a little maintenance, a lawn can become a meadow, populated by indigenous wildflowers.
For far too long we have been told by the lawn industry that we must have the greenest of lawns. Mow, spray… do whatever it takes to mimic the look and feel of a golf course. But that’s not natural. It’s the opposite of natural.
Do you wonder where the bees and the butterflies have gone? There are numerous reasons that they are rapidly disappearing. At the same time, there are simple ways that we all make a difference, before it really is too late. Please consider participating in Now Mow May in 2023… and 2024… and so on. Not only will you notice your yard buzzing with life, you will also notice that life is a lot more peaceful without the blaring sound of lawnmowers.
For more information about “No Mow May,” please visit their website at www.nomowmay.org.
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