NO MOW MAY

As the weather starts to warm up and flowers begin to bloom, it’s important to remember the important role that bees play in our ecosystem. Bees are responsible for pollinating many of the crops that we rely on for food, and without them, our food systems would be severely impacted.

That’s why Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre is proud to promote No Mow May, an initiative that encourages people to refrain from mowing their lawns for the entire month of May. By letting our lawns grow wild for just one month, we can create a habitat for bees and other pollinators, allowing them to thrive and do their important work.

So, this May, we encourage everyone to join us in letting our lawns grow wild and creating a welcoming habitat for bees and other pollinators. By taking this small action, we can all make a big difference in supporting the health and well-being of our planet.

And who better to help us promote No Mow May than our very own Mental Health Worker and beekeeper! James has been tending to our bees, ensuring that they have a safe and healthy home. Read further to learn more from James.

“I think the main highlight is the early spring flowers such as dandelions are often mislabeled as weeds. When it comes to pollinators, who have been hibernating most of the winter, these are some of their first sources of food. Early access to food ensures that the colonies we keep have plenty of nutrients to produce plenty of bees who then gift us delicious natural honey. Because of the relatively short lifecycle of honey bees, and our short northern Ontario growing season, it is important to hold off on the unnecessary mowing until other plants and flowers are readily available in June.

Naturalized yards were recently illegal and could cause plenty of trouble for a home owner. As more people, and communities begin to see the importance of protecting our pollinators for global food security, we are seeing trends towards ditching the grass seed, harmful ferilizer, over watering and constant work of mowing and trimming.

Replacing grass seed with flowering cover, such as clover, creeping thyme, and other flowering plants is an easy way to beautify your yard, reduce yard work, reducing constant watering and increase your enjoyment of your home while providing seasonal food for a variety of bees, butterflies and pollinating insects.”