The kickoff of “No Mow May,” a pollinator-friendly initiative sponsored by the community-based, nonprofit group Heart of the City, is just around the corner.
What is ‘No Mow May’?
No Mow May is designed to educate people about lawn care practices that improve pollinator habitat, soil and air quality by planting native plants, reducing or eliminating use of pesticides and mowing grass less frequently, and at a higher length,” Heart of the City member Margaret Schroeder said in a recent press release.
“These practices free up the time one spends on mowing the lawn. Taller grass results in longer roots that add more nutrients to the soil and help with water retention that reduces flooding,” Heart of the City member Barbara Brouwer added.
“Mowing less frequently also improves air quality by using less oil and gasoline, and allows people more time to participate in the fun that makes summer so enjoyable,” Kitty Welch, a founding member of Heart of the City, continued.
In support of the program, the Fort Atkinson City Council recently approved a temporary exception to the city’s ordinance requiring that all grass be kept below a maximum of eight inches. The exception applies to backyards during the month of May. Front yards must still be kept below the eight-inch maximum as required by ordinance.
Upcoming events
Several events to help people better understand the program and its signup process are under way.
To participate in the “No Mow May” program and receive an official yard sign, residents are encouraged to visit the group at the Dwight Foster Public Library, Saturday, April 24, between 9 a.m. and noon. A table, with signup sheets, signs and native plant plugs and seeds, will be available. A donation of $6, to help cover the cost of plugs and seeds, is suggested, according the release.
Those interested in participating in No Mow May can also contact the group at nomowmay@gmail.com, and provide the following information: name, address, email and phone number. Program updates will be provided through the Heart of the City Facebook page.
Events offered to help those interested in exploring the No Mow May concept and learn more about pollinators, include:
- A webinar, with Jessica Ross, a research specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which will be held Thursday, May 6, from 1 to 2 p.m. The program is being hosted by PLATO (Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization). The webinar is free to the public. To register, visit: https://www.platomadison.org/event-4241481.
- “Protect the Pollinators!” a virtual program geared toward children and families, and created with help from staff at the Dwight Foster Public Library, which will be held Thursday, May 6, at 4 p.m. Families can register for the program at https://www.fortlibrary.org/.
This year, according to the release, Heart of the City is planning to “have a presence at the first Farmer’s Market.” The market is scheduled to begin Saturday, May 1, and is held between 8 a.m. and noon on Milwaukee Avenue.
Fort Atkinson Garden Club offers support
The Fort Atkinson Garden Club has pledged its support to the No Mow May initiative, providing a generous donation.
The garden club recently closed its books and approved the transfer of the balance of its funds to the Heart of the City organization, according to the release.
“Ann Bemis, the treasurer of the garden club, checked with the last few members of the club and got their approval to transfer the funds,” the release stated.
“The money will be used in part to help purchase native seeds and plants for participants in the ‘No Mow May’ program,” Schroeder said in the release.
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