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We did it! Thanks to the generosity of 36 supporters, we exceeded our goal and raised $5,418 for our plant grant project. I am humbled by the kind words of encouragement, the tips and helpful links, the hours of labor, and the dollars that this community has offered up as it has grown and come together around our mission. A year ago Journeywork didn't own a shovel, and we couldn't have gotten to where we are at the beginning of 2024 without all of you. Thank you!
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As you sift through all the things you plan to do more of in the new year, I present two researchers' cases for what you can do less: mow and rake.
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Susannah Lerman, a scientist for the USDA Forest Service, spoke recently in a webinar for the Ecological Landscape Alliance. She studies the extent to which yards support wildlife.
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Lerman noted that 30% of land in the United States is yard. There are seven times more yard than protected land. Lerman argues that there is too much turf to eliminate completely, so how do make lawns "less bad?"
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As a result of her research into lawncare regimes, she advocates a "lazy lawnmower" approach of mowing every two weeks. She arrived at this recommendation after studying 16 yards for two years in Massachusetts. Some yards were mowed every week, others every two weeks, and the rest every three weeks.
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Lerman catalogued 58 plant species in the lawns she observed including yellow wood sorrel, fleabane, field pennycress, dandelions, and yellow hawkweed. She found an average of 35 bee species per yard, 111 bee species in all. She hypothesized that mowing less would provide more flowers for bees, and this proved true. Interestingly, Lerman found more bees in the two-week yards than the three-week yards, and she speculated that the taller grass might prevent bees from reaching flower nectar.
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Lerman has also published a paper about the rich bird diversity in yards maintained for wildlife. Because she sees the potential for Americans to embrace native planting in their yards the way households planted Victory Gardens in World War II, she included in her paper the beautiful illustration above by Elsa Cousins.
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After you spend the spring and summer of the new year mowing less, you can rake less in the fall. Right now as snow tiptoes into the forecast, you can cozy up with Doug Tallamy's The Nature of Oaks to learn more about what is going on in the leaf litter that you leave on your lawn (oak leaf images below are from my front yard). According to Tallamy, "oak leaf litter provides housing, nourishment, and moisture for more multicellular species than are found aboveground in oak trees." How about that! That statement has helped my eyes translate the "messiness" of leaves on the ground into the beauty of so much free housing for the critters we need.
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It all just comes back to community. The plant and animal communities surrounding us and the human communities coming together to honor and strengthen the natural processes that support all life. For me, this work counters the despair that can feel shellacked onto our days. In this new year, I am grateful to be doing this work with you.
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Speaking of community...
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Ruth, one of our newsletter subscribers and a Pollinator Palooza participant, sent these photos of prepping the bed for her spring pollinator garden. Between the cardboard and top layer of mulch, Ruth added some compost from her compost bin. She also did a great job creating a neat edge and sent along the link to the video that showed her how to do that. Thanks for the inspiration, Ruth!
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Resolve to volunteer!
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If you haven't yet, add yourself to the volunteer list to get news of every volunteer opportunity. Events come up between newsletters, and you will be in the know!
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Something you can do this month: start some seeds outside!
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If Journeywork inspires you to sheet mulch, start seeds, or plant some native plants in your yard, please send us a picture! Let's celebrate and support each other!
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Our wish list
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Rubbermaid bins with lids for storing gloves and tools
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clean, gently used 5-gallon buckets
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Follow us on social...
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