Buzz On, Ridgewood: 'No Mow' Initiative To Support Bees, Officials Say

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Buzz on, Ridgewood!

In a hat tip to Ridgewood's resident beekeeper, the village council has proclaimed next month as "No Mow May" to create habitat and food sources for early-season pollinators.

At the April 12 council meeting, deputy mayor Pam Perron read aloud the proclamation recognizing the national pollinator-friendly initiative that encourages communities to keep lawn mowers in storage throughout the month of May.

"'No Mow May' provides early-season foraging resources for pollinators that emerge in the spring — especially in our suburban landscapes, when few floral resources are available," the proclamation read.

Mayor Paul Vagianos, who said he would not be grass cutting at his house during the spring month, gave a nod to Frank "The Beeman" Mortimer for being the driving force in raising awareness about the initiative.

"I hope everyone will join us in this very worthy effort, that I was unaware of before this came to our attention," Vagianos said at the council meeting.

Councilwoman Perron, by way of the proclamation, encouraged other village residents to participate in the effort (as she will be), by delaying lawn-care until June and "allowing pollinator species to emerge and early flowering grasses to establish."

Perron also noted, in comments at a previous meeting, that the initiative will not only be fun, but it helps the village abide by its Bee City USA commitment to protect pollinators. Ridgewood, Mortimer — who is a past president of the Northeast NJ Beekeepers Association — said, was the first town in the region to join the Bee City organization.

"I am, of course, the Beeman, but there are a lot of pollinators that will benefit from No Mow May," Mortimer said in promoting the initiative to the council at its March 1 meeting. "In addition to helping pollinators, this will cut down on pollution and noise for the month, and it will spurn positive conservations about the environment."

He added that many groups and organizations in town are already engaged in this effort, including the Parks and Recreation Department, Green Ridgewood, the high school and the public library. Perron said that 10 of the village parks this year will be participating, by leaving parts of their lawns undisturbed.

One added benefit of the effort, Perron said, is that this will show solidarity among Ridgewood residents that the village cares about the environment, and seeks to make landscapes that are healthier and more sustainable.

"It is exciting to have so many entities involved," Mortimer said. "(This effort) is a fantastic way to bring people together, so we can start moving toward a more natural environment that is good for everyone."

If interested in participating in this initiative, sign up here.

Everyone who registers will get a No Mow May Ridgewood sign, "so all your neighbors know that you're helping the environment," the village said on its website.

"BEE ready and sign up today," the village said.