It was no hardship for me to mow less and let the clover and wild strawberries overrun my lawn this spring. I’ve been schooled on lawns. I’ve embraced natives and No Mow May and all the other hippy dippy environmental trends that are becoming more and more common place. And for good reason. The fertilized, “pest-free” lawns of today have virtually zero nutrients and little food or shelter for birds and other creatures vital to a balanced ecosystem. This spring, my yard was teaming with bees, birds, chipmunks and spiders. I love them all! (Out of respect for my neighbors, whose lawn aesthetic is more Puritanical than mine, I try to keep their side of the property more conventionally manicured.).

Is your yard a sterile wasteland of emerald green grass, pumped full of pesticide and herbicide? Take a walk on the wild side! Try less lawn. Experiment with native plants. My interview with Heidi Shiver, of Bird Town PA, will inspire you to start building a healthier home for yourself and all the living things around you. Thank you, Heidi, for extolling the virtues of vultures and all of our feathered friends!

~ CK

Resources:

1. Bird Town PA link: http:/birdtownpa.org

2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Threats To Birds: https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/threats-bi…

3. Bird-Friendly Habitat Recognition Program: https://pa.audubon.org/bird-friendly-habitat-recognition-program

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