City of Ottawa By-laws out of step

Regarding Hank and Vera Jones' Allbirch Pollinator Garden and the City of Ottawa's demand that they mow down their "weedy" garden, I'm posting my letter to the editor at the Ottawa Citizen here. Go to the Citizen's story (July 7/09) about the Jones' project and their hopes to have the City retract the Bylaw infraction charge.

Hank Jones in Allbirch Pollinator Garden, Constance Bay Village, City of Ottawa. Image by Eric Fletcher

I believe that the City of Ottawa's By-law 2005-208 is out of step with current ecological, habitat-friendly practices and that it ought to be rewritten.

It is exquisitely ironic that in 2009, the City of Ottawa is charging Hank (Henry) and Vera Jones with a By-law infraction because of weeds and unkempt gardens. This is particularly the case in this day and age when we’re all supposedly looking for eco-friendly solutions promoting biodiversity. And at the very time when Ontario has joined Quebec in banning cosmetic use of chemicals!

On the one hand, we the public are encouraged not to use herbicides and pesticides which enter the food chain by contaminating soil, groundwater, wetlands, and air. Yet, on the other hand, people such as the Jones' are penalized for naturalizing their gardens.

Moreover, we are encouraged by scientific research and such worthy organizations as the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Fletcher Wildlife Garden to “go native” by planting native species in our gardens. This is crucial because some native insects, butterflies, moths as well as other pollinators and wildlife depend upon native species when it comes to their food. Consider the Monarch butterfly and its dependency upon milkweed.

Many of us are aware of the international decline in pollinator species. This extremely serious issue which affects world-wide food security has been widely published in all media for a number of years. How do we, as individuals, assist pollinators to thrive? By encouraging native plants, by creating habitat biodiversity – just like the Jones’.

Spiritwood is a biodivese, wildlife-friendly sanctuary. Eric and I don't use chemicals here in our gardens in the hopes that all wildlife can find a haven where they won't be poisoned.

I believe the Jones’ efforts to create a naturalized landscape and to attract pollinators and other wildlife through their garden project ought to be commended and encouraged.

It is my understanding, after taking the time to visit their garden last Saturday and to speak with them, that theirs is a most worthwhile, long-term project. In fact, they intend their Allbirch Pollinator Garden to become a demonstration garden for schoolchildren, garden groups, and indeed, any interested persons.

Therefore, I encourage the City of Ottawa not only to drop their By-law infringement charge against the Jones, but also to consider immediately rewriting such by-laws so that naturalized landscapes in people’s lawns and gardens are encouraged, not threatened by the application of inappropriate by-laws.