#nomow

[esperanzasacres]

No Mow May...June, July, & August

August 6, 2022

As we begin our task with figuring out how to steward our small piece of land in Wisconsin, the first step we took was to not mow our lawn. We didn't purchase a lawn mower or weed wacker. We wanted to know who was living here before us. What plants called this place home before we did? The best way to do that is to sit back and let them show you.

The chaos of moving in and welcoming Milo to our family was a beautiful, difficult, whirlwind. When the air began to settle, as we did in our new home, we began to get to know our plantcestors that will live with us forever more. Catnip, Boneset, Bergamot, Burdock, Motherwort, Columbine, Sunflowers, and Elderberries began to grow with abundance around us. I got to know the joy of Eastern Daisy Fleabane and White Vervain. We made our first batch of Esperanza's Acres tincture from these plants after we knew them well. We also noticed a plethora of "invasive species" which indicate the history of colonization this land has experienced.

Part of growing new on this land necessitates we give a good death to that which cannot grow with us. For us, this looked like vigorous and intentional removal of Sumac, Buckthorn, Grape-Leaf Ivy, Virginia Creeper, Garlic Mustard, and Yellow Archangel. Life is tenacious, and each grew back with vengeance. At least I'll forever know, I'm incapable of boredom with such a task ahead. 

What we did not expect was a confrontation with our local city officials over the length of the grass of our yard. 

As I sat at my computer, attending classes to further my knowledge in such practices, a city official came to our home and tried to slip a note under our door. I saw his reflection in the window and went out to meet him. Upon catching him in the act of trying to leave a "Notice to Mow Lawn/Weeds" without confrontation, we learned a lot about what aesthetic, people-pleasing, and conformity have to do with citizenship.

Our city only allows turf grass to grow to a terminal length of 8 inches. Our city has decided that grass longer than 8 inches is not just "unsightly" for aesthetic reasons, but is also a fire and safety hazard. Someone had complained to the city that our grass was over 8 inches. They sent someone to investigate this fact. And we were served with a notice to cut our grass in 3 days or the city would hire someone to cut our grass for us and we would then have to pay the city back for that cost.

I explained to the city official that we were restoring native prairie and forest to our small patch of land. To which I was told I would have to register our prairie as an official "prairie reserve." In order to be considered an "official" prairie we would have to fence off any sections that were deemed "natural" (because the one thing you don't want in a prairie reserve is wildlife... clearly) and we could not have any turf grass in "natural" areas.

So I asked him are you the one who is going to pay to remove all my turf grass and replace it with native perennial grass or should I talk to someone else? 

The clear difference between an "untended lawn" and a "prairie reserve" is clear - class. Had we had the money to transition our property quickly by purchasing labor and materials to transition our yard from turf grass to native prairie in one season, we would not have gotten such a complaint. However, like the signs we've now posted on our property say, it takes 3-5 years to establish a native prairie, even when it's accelerated with resource and wealth. 

The city official and I came to an agreement that we would mow the terrace between the road and the sidewalk near our home. Although it is silly to me that we would waste resource, time, and energy on such a project, if it means protecting my family members who are rooted on this land in their homes - unbothered, it will be worthwhile.

[geeknik]

$4/doz quail eggs at the farmers market in Choctaw this evening. Happy to support them! #growyouryardwild #nomowever #farm #garden #oklahoma #flowers #pollinators #nomow #nomowing #lawnconversion #nativemeadow #nativeplants #habitat #habitatforpollinators #insectconservation #floralresources #nature #landconservation #landpreservation #outdoors #rewilding #wildyardproject #growing #food #edibleflowers #eatyouryard #prepping — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/eXzZObS

[seoteam1]

When you love greenery and want to have the best lawns without any pain then look no further and get in touch with artificial grass specialists. All Season grass is your artificial grass specialist for more than 30 years. They are one of the few totally independent artificial lawn installers in the UK, and have a huge range of artificial lawns including those from Verdinia, noMow, HiTech Turf and Perfectly Green, Groupo Grass and Real Turf.

[naturecpw]

Wildlife.net

Dandelion (genus Taraxacum) are flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, which consists of species commonly known as dandelions native to Eurasia and North America, but the two commonplace species in the wider world, T. officinale and T. erythrospermum, were also introduced from Europe and now propagate as wildflowers in those regions. Both species are edible in their entirety. The common name dandelion comes from French "dent-de-lion", meaning "lion's tooth". Like other members of the family Asteraceae, they have very small flowers collected together into a composite flower head. Each single flower in a head is called a floret. In part due to their abundance along with being a generalist species, dandelions are one of the most vital early spring nectar sources for a wide host of pollinators that themselves are critical to pollination of later flowering plants. Although they are appearing earlier, May-June is a peak blooming time critical for Pollinators.

#beesneeds

#pollinators #bees#biodiversity #pollination #wildlifenet #dandelions #nomow

#beesneeds #pollinators #bees #biodiversity #pollination #wildlifenet #dandelions #nomow

[sweeneylandscapedesign]

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A post shared by Noel Sweeney (@sweeneylandscapedesign)

‘BEEHAPPY’ it’s World Bee Day! . Bumblebee on Selfheal, these bees can operate in all weathers and are very efficient pollinators! 20 species found in Ireland . #bees #pollinators #nomow #biodiversity #saynotomow #growitdontmowit #worldbeeday #allirelandpollinatorplan #neonicotinoidsban #honeybee #solitarybee #meadow #sweeneylandscapedesign #landscapespecialist #landshaper #naturephotos #ecology #bumblebee (at Ireland (country)) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxqWGmCFOk0/?igshid=4xso8bwjknxd

[theartofdavo77]

Weather... The weather gods hate me. #weather #rain #nomow You can see more at https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/the-quickscribbles/list?title_no=72074 or Join us at www.patreon.com/born2drawcreations #quickscribbles #writingcommunity #comicstrips #webcomicseries #illustration #Thequickscribblescomicstrip #webcomic #comic #webcomics #comicstrip #webcomicartist #art #illustrations #family https://www.instagram.com/p/CHB6YcnhDff/?igshid=wf50a7b3wlce

[panics-gasp-supplied]

Side yard tilled and ready for clover seeding #sustainability #nomow https://www.instagram.com/p/B_295x9gFVw/?igshid=13q3pc1fzlrsg

[guenthergroup]

It's official-- I shirked mowing the lawn today. * #nomow #spring #ski #snowboard #bluebird #sky #landscape #pnwonderland (at Silver Fir - Summit at Snoqualmie)

[sydney-synthetic-grass]

So we are just about to start a very exciting job at 30m above sea level & boom some amazing #aboriginalart appears that will remain for another 1000 years + 💚 This synthetic grass is being laid to make life allot easier #nomower for the new home owner, but still preserving all the natural rock and yards natural landscape. Keep an eye out on this job it’s going to look super amazing 💚 #syntheticgrass #artificialgrass #aboriginalart #aboriginal #sydney #sutherlandshire #theshire #nsw #landscape #gardens #house #home #bush #fitness #fashion #kids #safe #pets #follower #followtrain #following https://www.instagram.com/p/CQa4r7qpa4T/?utm_medium=tumblr

[365staging]

Tired of mowing? We have faux grass and even putting green faux grass! #tntflooring #realestateagent #bayarearealestate #listing #milliondollarlisting #homesforsale #flooring #floors #fauxgrass #puttinggreen #syntheticturf #syntheticgrass #syntheticlawn #nomowing #landscape #landscaping #realtor #realestate (at San Jose, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0NdK_D6Wa/?igshid=1e1tjatsgr4w1

[winfordsolutions]

Big thank you to Bruce for letting us do another robotic lawn mower installation yesterday. Congratulations on your new found freedom. #nomowing #winfordsolutions #smarthome #smartyard #mow #tech #grass #ohio https://www.instagram.com/p/B_coV8pH_bh/?igshid=148jhdizilbv6

[geeknik]

Lost in the kaleidoscope of vibrant chaos, where wildflowers whisper stories of freedom and the symphony of nature dances to its own tune. Embracing the beautiful mess as I wander through this enchanting garden of untamed wonders. 🌸🌼🌿 #growyouryardwild #nomowever #farm #garden #oklahoma #flowers #pollinators #nomow #nomowing #lawnconversion #nativemeadow #nativeplants #habitat #habitatforpollinators #insectconservation #floralresources #nature #landconservation #landpreservation #outdoors #rewilding #wildyardproject #growing #food #edibleflowers #eatyouryard #prepping — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/P3YvkIo

[ashenowloddities]

What a darling little gem 💎✨ 🌿💛🌿❤🌿🧡🌿 #marigold #nomowing #flowers #flowerstagram #nomaintenance #garden #noticethelittlethings #hellobeautiful #magicalflowers #witchesofinstagram #witchcommunity #pagancommunity #witchesofig #witchesofinstagram #pagansofinstagram #eclecticwitch #solitarywitch #growyourown #seedsaving #savethebees #beefood #autumnblooms #findbeauty #attractwhatyouwant #beautifuldetails #theresbeautyallaround #natureaesthetic #naturelovers #AshenOwl https://www.instagram.com/p/B21UVLAn6fs/?igshid=iu921lwl24z1

[mpathe]

Sowing the Seeds of Love: Verge remake with #localgrown #nativegrassesofparramatta #microlaenastipoides #carexinversa #cyperusgracilis for starters #microlaeana_stipoides #carex_inversa #cyperus_gracillis naturestrip for #biodiversity not #kikuyu #nomowing #northparramatta #watchthisspace https://www.instagram.com/p/BzzoFjLA6RL/?igshid=q9lelnrgtckc

[sweeneylandscapedesign]

....And so we begin! . We will be developing this TREAD LIGHTLY project with a client who is passionate about biodiversity and pollinators, so really ‘buzzin’ about this one. 😀 - - #bees #pollinators #nomow #biodiversity #saynotomow #growitdontmowit #allirelandpollinatorplan #neonicotinoidsban #honeybee #solitarybee #meadow #ponds #rivers #greenroofs #greeninfrastructure #irishgreeninfrastructure #sweeneylandscapedesign #landscapespecialist #landshaper #naturephotos #ecology #bumblebee (at Newry, Mourne and Down) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9hG6aEH0Jk/?igshid=cmeynn9grr88