Could ‘No Mow May’ improve Renfrew’s environment? Council weighing proposal from RCI

RCI teacher Adam Noack and students Marshall Rouse and Liam Tobin present their No Mow May proposal to Renfrew Council on Tuesday, March 25th.

The Town of Renfrew is mulling over a proposal to let Mother Nature improve our local environment later this month.

Renfrew Collegiate Institute sent a delegation to meet with town council on Tuesday night to discuss the concept of “No Mow May,” a movement where people are intentionally avoiding mowing their lawns for the benefit of the area’s wildlife and ecosystem.

Teacher Adam Noack questioned council on how they could help grow the movement’s roots in Renfrew.

Liam Tobin, an RCI student, would go on to explain that creating the opportunity for residents to go low-or-no mow for the month of May would not only improve conditions for pollinators like bees and butterflies, it would also improve the quality of the lawn and soil and help lower the town’s carbon footprint.

When pressed by councillors for a possible way to give the community some leeway to take part, Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Raybone laid out a small fix to the local by-laws that could be the solution.

Town staff tell myFM that council is expected to bring a motion forward on the matter at their next regular meeting on April 8th.

(written by Kasey Egan)