Thursday April 25, 2024 
Consider “No Mow May”
There is a growing trend in New York and other states in the U.S. known as “No Mow May.” I encourage others in North Greenbush and Rensselaer County to participate.
City of Cortland promotes the program as: “No-Mow-May is a conservation initiative to promote healthy habitat for people & pollinators. Residents let their lawns grow – just during the month of May. Let wildflowers blossom for pollinators. [https://www.cortland.org/502/No-Mow-May] “
Buffalo lawmakers are “encouraging residents to do as a way to get them involved in environmental conservation efforts and create a more pollinator-friendly environment. The goal is to preserve habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators that are necessary to produce apples, grapes, pumpkins and other crops [BuffaloNews.com / Feb. 26, 2023].”
Officials in the Town of New Paltz are asking residents to avoid mowing their lawns in the month of May to help create habits for pollinators and other wildlife [hudsonvalleycountry.com].
No Mow May started abroad and came to Wisconsin in 2020. Per the Daily Gazette, “In Appleton, WI where 435 households participated in 2020, lawns not mowed saw five times as many bees and three times as many bee species, according to research compiled by Lawrence University scientists [Daily Gazette / April 30, 2022].”
We rely on bees and other pollinators to pollinate 100 crops species that feed 90% of the world. Steep declines in insect populations affect our food production. Per the BBC, without bees “Our supermarkets would have half the amount of fruit and vegetables [BBC.com].” We protect pollinator food supplies & habitat, so we can sustain our own food supply.
Michael Myer, North Greenbush