While preserving our remaining natural resource lands is critical, we also call upon ourselves and others to be better stewards of our already developed lands. As the majority of South Burlington land is already developed, we can strengthen our climate resilience and help stem the loss of biodiversity locally if we collectively change our practices. Planting more trees, converting portions of lawn into resilient meadows that sequester carbon, and shifting from weekly mowing to bi-weekly mowing are actions that we can take now to increase carbon sequestration, help cool our homes in summer, shield them from wind in winter, and protect wildlife. These actions are relevant across the income spectrum. We are also encouraged by the national “No Mow May” initiatives that are being taken across the country and hope that South Burlington will soon join the communities that encourage lawns to go wild in May.
[Demonstration lawns/how you can get involved]