Note that this is from 4 years ago.

https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/danish-farmers-are-not-required-by-law-to-grow-flowers-for-bees-idUSL1N2P916A/

but encouraged.... "While farmers in Denmark are not required to plant flowers for bees, they can voluntarily dedicate a portion of their land to growing crops meant to boost biodiversity in exchange for a grant."

would be wonderful if we had that ideology

As it can't be done shoddy. To earn the grant requirements need to be met. Small speciality farms can skip if they wish.

They think human beings are the only important living things on the planet. And only Americans at that, white Americans.

crap sparrows. i did see 2 maples at an old church tho.

re-wilding happening tho.

Do any farmers really cultivate that stuff? On the other hand, you'd sure save money on fertilizer.

Also roadside embankments, for low-maintenance erosion control

Not well-tested before being implemented.

a background in textiles. Apparently kudzu can be made into fabric and/or paper, although AFAIK no one here does it.

Thanks for the tip! I'll look for it.

Back in the day, there were vast swatches of kudzu in and around Raleigh, North Carolina. My favorite patch was the one that was trying to swallow the Lake Boone Trail exit. As I understand it, none of that stuff is there any more, but back in the day, it reached the tops of the trees. There were whole houses buried in that stuff.

Last year, I added mixed wildflowers to my flower & shrub garden in the front of my property and have enjoyed them more than my other flowers due to what they attract.

I enjoy just standing out in the middle of the plot, watching dozens of bees and other pollinators and even witnessed a juvenile Monarch this spring. I'm sure the neighbors think I'm crazy and say "what the hell is that old man doing?"

But the most joyous moment this year was a flock of goldfinches that come to feast on the Black-eyed Susan plants every day, as I can watch through my front windows.

Highly recommended for any garden although they can overshadow other plants with a lot of shade. Most are perennials, propagate on their own and are tough as nails.

Out standing in his field????

KY (34 years sober)..........

When Mom told me what they were called I had loved all types of sunflowers. And the name has a special reference to me.

The goldfinches are amazing as they hold on to the flower's stem, then reach around and peck out the seeds.

My small plots are filling up fast, with thousands of flower and shrub choices.

I think I can make room for several of the Butterfly Weed variety. I like that short variety (2 ft. to 2-1/2 ft.) considering I've got too many tall pollinator plants now.

Bookmarked those two sites for winter gardening study!.........

I run community gardens (which become STEM gardens in the school year) and I "mandated" we use a certain amount of beds for flowers bees love.

Had to laugh when I recently looked up at a raised bed of sunflowers. There appeared to be a black or gray cloud over it! It was bees!

Hey, this is only 3 gardens of around 70 raised beds in Northern NJ, but maybe it will be an inspiration to others.

Thanks, LMSP!

Here's a pic from last year. The bed where the sunflowers are this year is the first one on the right, where you see the tomatoes growing.

This year we also have them in the bed closest to the greenhouse by the fence.

We live on a paved road but in a rural area. Driving down you see a dozen houses, all on acreage, all perfectly manicured lawns. Then you see our 5-6' tall jungle of bluestem, compass plant, coneflower, beebalm, phlox, Culver root, etc.

Pretty sure my retired neighbor doesn't like it, and I have to watch for herbicide drift from his yard, but fuck it. My yard has so much wildlife, it's insane. At least my other neighbor thanked me for all the songbirds and butterflies she sees in her yard thanks to me.

I'm grateful I live in a low-income suburban non-HOA neighborhood where there are always lawns that looks far worse than mine which has beautiful wildflowers and I only mow when I feel up to it......

At 77, I'm like you and don't give a shit........

It adds so much beauty to the countryside and benefits pollinators. Sounds like a win, win idea. Our country should do the same.