LAWN RAGE - a Case for Change

Reviews:
Jeanne McRight - Founding President www.bloomingbou...
Master Gardener, focuses on biodiversity conservation, specializing in native plants, woodland restoration and naturalized landscaping.
“A well-illustrated narrative that provides good reasons for a by-law change, considering the discrepancies between city public spaces conservation policies vs. the regulations for residential neighbourhoods…”
“So hard to watch…”
Lorraine Johnson - lorrainejohnso...
“Lorraine Johnson has been one of the most constant and helpful advocates of putting native plants back into the garden.” (from the book A History of Canadian Gardening (Carol Martin, 2000)
Author of numerous books on growing native plants, gardening for pollinators, restoring habitat, and producing food in cities, community advocate, cultivation activist.
“… an incredible record. the mowing footage is something that is felt as the powerful violation it is, with the Monarch bearing witness … full of incredible moments…”
“… will go a long way to creating change--probably more than words…”
"This video should be required viewing for municipal officials and politicians, because it shows so eloquently the ecological costs of outdated (and destructive!) grass and weeds bylaws and property standards bylaws. I challenge anyone to watch the footage of an endangered species looking for habitat as that habitat is being mowed down by City officials without feeling sick and sad! Wolf Ruck has done us all a great service by documenting his experience with the Mississauga grass and weeds bylaw, and by presenting such reasoned and measured arguments for change!"
~ Lorraine Johnson, author of numerous books on native plant habitat gardening www.lorrainejohnson.ca
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LAWN RAGE - a Case for Change
Global Warming and Biodiversity Decline are existential threats facing Humankind and all life on earth.
The survival of current and future generations of Homo Sapiens hinges on people making changes to traditional ways of thinking and operating.
However, resistance to change is endemic at every level of international, national, provincial, regional and local organization.
LAWN RAGE is a Case for Change illustrating some of the roadblocks facing citizens who challenge outdated municipal by-laws by re-wilding lawns for wildlife-friendly pollinator habitat.
If you agree with the premise, please SIGN & SHARE the Petition at:
https//www.change.org/p/rescind-mississauga-tall-grass-weeds-by-law-125-2017
If you can, please DONATE to help defray legal costs at: www.gofundme.c...
Additional information with links to articles, websites and resources are available at:
www.orchardhei...
BACKGROUND
In 1996, the Ontario Court of Justice ruled municipal Tall Grass and Weeds By-Laws to be void, invalid, unenforceable and in contravention of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which guarantees Freedom of Expression [Ref. Bell v. Toronto (City)].
Yet, the City of Mississauga Council "deems tall grass and weeds to be a public nuisance" and continues to enforce its Nuisance Weeds and Tall Grass Control By-Law 125-2017 on homeowner private property based solely on "Anonymous Neighbour Complaints".
As Canada's 29th "Bee City”, Mississauga’s stated commitment “to support pollinators and their habitats” and advising homeowners that, "By planting pollinator friendly plants in your garden you can help enhance habitat for insects that pollinate wildflowers and food crops", is self-contradictory virtue signaling when the City's Enforcement Division cites homeowners under By-Law 125-2017 for the wildlife-friendly tall grass and weeds growing on their property.
With Canada's hosting of COP15 in Montreal with a "focus on the urgent need for international partners to halt and reverse the alarming loss of biodiversity worldwide", the City of Mississauga's continued enforcement of By-Law 125-2017 is a failure of leadership in the current global CLIMATE and BIODIVERSITY CRISIS.
At the grassroots level, it constitutes unwarranted harassment of homeowners trying to do their part as conscientious citizens.
It's way past time for Mississauga City Council to rescind its outdated, self-contradictory, arbitrary and illegal Nuisance Weeds and Tall Grass Control By-Law 125-2017.

[@robertperschmann2908]

Thank you for advancing this important message.

[@annecarlton1878]

OMG, I cried.

[@sensi5041]

Brilliant…..

[@maggielandry9999]

Native planted gardens can look cared for. Just need more cues for care.

[@BBirke1337]

An idea for compromise (no, I don't like such bylaws): would they accept some mowed parts of lawn, and wild spaces on "islands" like flower beds? This yard looked just neglected, but having a few ordered elements in it may give it a much more socially accepted appearance, while still most is a valuable wildlife habitat.

[@WolfRuck]

One metre+ perimeters of several staked and cordoned tall grass and weed "islands" on the private residential property are regularly mowed and provide comfortable walkways without disturbing the pollinator and wildlife-friendly natural "gardens" ...

[@marianwhit]

Need to use native plants...they can't argue against something that has existed for 10,000 years. The native plants support the most wildlife diversity in the smallest amount of space...replacing turf grass with native clumping grasses is...hard....very hard to do by hand. Consider a cover/grow/cover operation and re-seed with all native plants...they will have a MUCH harder time defending their position, especially when you quote the elegant and easily understood science of Tallamy, Narango, et all from the University of Delaware. You are on the right track for sure!

[@enatp6448]

I'm also in a lawn dominant suburb. I let my daisies Fox gloves and Rudbeckia grow vigorously and have about 60 % shrubs and perennials and 50% grass. It's just backwards crazy that gas powered mowers and weed wackers and leaf blowers are what we should all aspire to. Nope!

[@gabriellesullivan4772]

And I'm sure everyone here drives cars...

[@oGERONIMOo]

Order following tyrants