This fall, the City of Ypsilanti is urging residents to "Leave the Leaves." The fallen leaves provide food and shelter for bees and other insects.
There are a few different ways to participate in the Leave the Leaves movement. Residents can leave the leaves where they fall, rake them into piles in the back corner of the yard or use the leaves to mulch garden beds. However, leaves cannot be left on the sidewalks; the city requires leaves to be raked or blown off the sidewalks. The most important thing is not to shred the leaves, so no pollinators are harmed.
In 2015, the City of Ypsilanti became the 12th certified Bee City USA affiliate. Bee City affiliates make commitments to help make the community better for pollinators. As part of its commitments, Ypsilanti passed a resolution.
It’s not a regulation or a rule, said Bonnie Wessler, director of Ypsilanti's public works. Instead, Wessler described it as an expression of support toward pollinators.
Council Member Desiraé Simmons put the resolution forward to connect to the Sustainability Committee and the commitments of being a Bee City.
"The resolution is meant to be an educational tool primarily, and to help shift attitudes and behaviors regarding sustainable living," Simmons said.
The resolution is part of other measures by the city to be more sustainable.
"I do hope that, along with things like low-mow May, that this opens a wider look at our ordinances and makes sure that we are in line with the cultural shift, our holistic goals and managing City resources," Simmons said.
Simmons wants to encourage residents that it’s not an all-or-nothing effort; residents can start with smaller practices of sustainability first and then add more over time.
The ultimate goal is to help educate people on the importance of bees in the environment and what they can do about it.
“I hope it will help people have more awareness on their role in the ecosystem," Wessler said.
