Bee Lawns

​​If you share my passion for sustainability, you may be interested in learning about bee lawns also commonly referred to as pollinator lawns. I recently attended a webinar hosted by UW Extension where Kristine Moncada, from the University of MN Department of Horticultural Science, shared valuable insights on bee lawns. She covered topics such as the benefits of bee lawns, using bee-friendly plants, and how to care for them.

You might be curious about the connection between bee lawns and sustainability, and that's a valid thought. According to Moncada (2021), bee lawns are eco-friendly because they employ low-input methods that require less fertilizer and pesticides. This means that fewer helpful insects, like pollinators, are harmed or killed. Moreover, the beneficial microorganisms in the soil are not adversely affected, and there is less worry about pesticide runoff in bodies of water.

As I have discussed, pollinator lawns are a great way to support bees and other pollinators. But what exactly are they? Essentially, a bee lawn is a mix of different flowers and turfgrasses like fescues and Kentucky bluegrass. The specific flowers you use can vary, but it's important to choose plants that are low-growing, can handle being mowed and walked on, provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, won't let the turfgrasses take over, and are perennials. Some examples of pollinator-friendly flowers include Dutch white clovers, self-heal, creeping thyme, ground plum, laceleaf tickweed, and calico American aster. You may already have some beneficial plants on your lawn, like common violets and dandelions.

Not only do pollinator lawns promote a healthier environment, but they can still be used like a regular lawn. After-dinner games, summer water fun, and BBQing can all be enjoyed while maintaining a bee lawn. The only difference between a regular lawn and a bee lawn is that you will mow a little higher than you normally would. This ensures that flowers can attract pollinators, but it has also been found that mowing encourages blooming. Some pollinator lawn owners choose to partake in "slow mow summer" (mowing higher and less often), but it is not necessary. Bee lawns are flexible and a manageable alternative to traditional lawns. 

If pollinator lawns are something you are interested in, check out the University of Minnesota Extension page for more information. The website goes into more detail about which plants to use, how to establish and maintain a bee lawn, as well as observing your bee lawn’s pollinators. In addition, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension page has a link to the webinar recording as well as a handout with links to various articles.

Happy summer and happy planting!

AmeriCorps Farm to School Member Rebekah Herring ‘23

Resources

Moncada, A. K. (2021). Planting and maintaining a bee lawn. UMN Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/landscape-design/planting-and-maintaining-bee-lawn#:~:text=Bee%20lawns%20are%20environmentally%20friendly,household%20like%20a%20regular%20lawn. 

Thanks to the efforts of the OSD Farm to School Program, ground beef used in school meals is sourced from Greenfield Farm in Iowa County, less than an hour from our schools.

Farm Spotlight: Greenfield Farm is owned and operated by the Gruenenfelder family (pictured below). Their first generation farm began as a dairy cow operation, but they have recently started raising pigs, cows, and other animals for meat as well. Jason and Kris Gruenenfelder are committed to sustainability in their agricultural practices. They have worked over the last few years with the National Resource Conservation Service to transition to regenerative grazing for their animals. This method helps to build soil and store carbon, as well as keeping the animals happy and free to roam. They are also big believers in our Farm to School and local food goals, and are excited to be providing local food for school meals. They already work with other regional school districts to provide local protein to kids, and we are happy that they will be working with us as well! In a few weeks, the Farm to School team will have the opportunity to visit Greenfield Farm and learn more about their operation. We will take notes and videos and share them with students so that they can get to know the people and processes that bring food to their lunch trays.

All About Beef: Our new weekly deliveries of ground beef from Greenfield Farm will play an important role in the meals and nutrition of Oregon students. Ground beef is used in a number of different school meals week to week. Meals made from scratch in our kitchens that will now include Greenfield Farm’s ground beef include the Sloppy Joe, Beef Tacos, Breadsticks with Italian Meat Sauce, and the Homemade Lasagna. In these meals, Greenfield Farm’s ground beef will serve as an important source of protein, which helps build muscle and keep kids energized and focused throughout the day. It also is a good source of iron, which supports red blood cell growth, as well as B vitamins and zinc which keep the immune system healthy.

Local Yogurt in America's Dairyland:

Farm to school has been hard at work after the introduction of local beef into school lunches earlier this fall, and we have another local food addition to report!

Yogurt at school breakfasts and lunches will now be sourced locally from Odyssey Brands. Odyssey is part of the Klondike Cheese Company, a 3rd generation business located in Monroe, Wisconsin, which also sources dairy from nearly 100 local Wisconsin farmers. The company makes various types of cheese, dips, and yogurt, but when they started producing 4 oz yogurt cups they reached out to OSD to see if we could use them in that size. Of course we were interested: their yogurt is award-winning and the new 4 oz yogurt cups are perfect for school meals. We are so excited to be working with them and getting delicious, local yogurt to our students starting on January 18th, 2022!