Kathy Tidwell remembers when native flowers such buttercups could be seen for miles. Now she is looking at miles of mowed ditches and roadsides and is speaking out against destructive mowing.
Rural Emporians Kathy and Bill Tidwell have made it a mission to help preserve habitat for wildlife, including getting the message out that over-mowing rural ditches and land destroys valuable habitat and is causing a decline in wildflowers and pollinators, which hurts farm economy and tourism.
Kathy Tidwell said too much rural mowing also brings an increase in pollution from machinery, depletion of resources such as gas and oil and loss of desirable plants specific to this area like butterfly milkweed and native grasses such as big and little bluestem and Indian grass. It also hurts tourism as native flowers and plants that people come to Kansas to see decline.
Tidwell said there are very few public areas in Kansas for people to see native plants. When the roadsides are being mowed down, there is no place for people to go.
“It is a loss upon loss upon loss,” Tidwell said. “And all we need to do is stop mowing. To mow one to two times a year is plenty. What I’m concerned about is people who mow their roadside like it’s an extension of their yard.”
Tidwell said she sees a huge amount of destructive mowing, especially along roadsides, which is a favorite area for wildflowers to grow.
“I see places where for miles people have mowed,” she said, adding that she understands why people need to mow along fence rows. Tidwell said she doesn’t see a need for excessive mowing of property.
The Tidwells don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk with their mission to restore habitat. They own 110 acres in this area and 200 acres in Allen County, 109 of which are in a wetlands restoration program. More than 3,500 trees were planted in this area by the Tidwells.
At their home in Lyon County, the Tidwells have planted about 40 acres back to native grass. The area north of their home is about two acres and has been transformed into a wildlife sanctuary filled with native flowers and grasses that were planted about five years ago. This area also is bordered by bushes including American plum, cottonaster and golden currant that produce food for wildlife. They also produce shelter for smaller animals trying to get away from predators such as hawks.
Further back from the Tidwell home is the river. As part of a repairing program, rows of trees have been planted to help prevent erosion along the river’s banks.
The Tidwells have a view of the two-acre area from the deck on their home. They have seen many different kinds of wildlife including birds, turkeys, red fox, deer, raccoon and opossum. They have had as many as a dozen deer and eight to 10 raccoon and opossum at one time. Bill Tidwell said their normal flow of birds is about 20 different species.
Kathy Tidwell said the use of native plants in gardens and in yards makes economic sense. Native plants are adapted to the area and don’t require a lot of water. Instead of buying pampas grass, native bluestem grass could be used instead.
“It really is an economic issue,” she said. “The more we can use native plants as our decorative plants, the less water and fertilizer we will have to use. It preserves those resources.”
In one of the pastures that the Tidwells own, native grass stands tall. Sunflowers are dotted throughout the pasture. Many other native wildflowers dot the field, too, with shades of blue, purple and yellow peeking out among the grass. Butterflies and birds flit in and out of the field.
“Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder,” Kathy Tidwell said as she gazed out toward the field. Tidwell added that to her, the field was a beautiful piece of prairie that changes with the seasons.
“We hope that people can learn to appreciate the physical beauty of plants and the value of them to (us).”
Flips (anonymous) says...
I agree with the Tidwells 110% & what they are doing-----but I'm also more concerned with all the chemicals that are being sprayed in the road ditches & yards than with the mowing!!!!!!!
We have planted wild flowers in our meadow----& encourage the wild native grasses & such! And have planted tons of trees-----etc/etc/etc------
But I'm more concerned with all of the spraying of chemicals & all of the chemical use!!!!!!!!!
I hope this article will encourage others to follow suit & enjoy the natural beauty & stop the chemical use!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the next time someone thinks about spraying chemicals all over their yard or road ditch-- they will think twice----& I wish most counties didn't think they had to spray the road ditches & plum thickets in the fence rows--- with chemical to kill them all etc/etc/etc-------
There is so much we each can do to stop the use of all the chemicals & enjoy the beauty of nature-----that the Tidwells are teaching about to others! Good article!
October 5, 2007 at 8:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
They have a great idea. I hope others read this and follow suit.
Another thing to think about is ethanol. Switchgrass produces it much better than corn, but chemical companies dont want you to now that because you dont need fertilizer and herbicide to grow it.
October 5, 2007 at 8:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tallgrasswi (anonymous) says...
Good conservation practices are not just for rural folks. Although their stewardship of the land deserves to be applauded. Our family's roots grew deep in the land of Fremont Township. I too have plowed the fields and remember fondly the beautiful prairie flowers. Sustainable agricultural practices that the Tidwell's advocate should be on the County Board Agenda at budget time. It saves money and beautifies the countryside.
October 5, 2007 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Flips (anonymous) says...
Kstrebucket-------there is a difference between The Noxious Weeds which I'm sure you & I both can idenfy ------ & spraying everything in sight!!!!!!!!!! Are plum thickets in fence rows considered noxious weeds?????????
October 6, 2007 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I love our wildlife resources too, but have to disagree with the Tidwells' road ditch comments.
1. The last place I want wildlife to seek shelter and food at is in road ditches. I want to able to see right away to right away and know that they are not there.
2. Overgrown ditches at road intersections have caused many fatality accidents blocking line of vision.
3. Overgrown ditches are fuel for grass fires caused by idiots throwing out the cigarettes or when other sparks come in contact with dry grass.
4. Overgrown, unkept areas are breeding grounds for mice, rats, packrats and other such disease carrying vermin. Snakes follow the rodents in, and disease carrying insects lay their eggs there.
By all means, do want you want on your land folks, but please don't go telling me how I should maintain mine. I prefer to mow the ditch in front of my house myself. It has helped reduced the amount of trash I have to pick up thrown out by inconsiderate litterbugs.
I would support having the county stop mowing road ditches, and leaving it up to the individual landowners.
October 6, 2007 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Wow, neighbor, lots of very sensible points. May I also add that those overgrown ditches is where deer can hide before jumping out in front of your car.
October 6, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Flips (anonymous) says...
I still believe there is a difference in mowing & spraying chemicals in all the road ditches & on EVERYTHING ------& the plum thickets in the fence rows!
October 7, 2007 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Most generally, the plum thickets along fence rows and road ditches are sprayed and removed by contractors who maintain rightaways for the electric companies. Any kind of tree is a threat to power lines. IMO, I would rather they totally remove the trees rather than severely disfiguring them like they often do. My parents have plum thickets along their property lines and have had for over 30 years, the county and power companies don't spray all of them obviously.
Um, Create, I believe deer fall in the wildlife category listed in #1.
October 7, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
2-4-D is good for controlling bind weed, milkweed, poison ivy, dandelions, clovers, and ragweed. Grass benefits from not having to compete with the weeds, in fact the chemical actually greens up the grass when applied. Anyone that suffers from allegeric reactions to those weeds can tell you the benefit of ridding them from their property. Ragweed tears my sinuses up and gives me severe headaches. My children get poison ivy easily(I can pull it by hand and not get it). Seeds from both are favorite foods of bobwhite quail and other birds, but around my home it's gotta go. I often have quail and even pheasants show up in my yard, so I am no threat to them obviously by using 2-4-D. I try to avoid use of chemicals as much as possible, in fact Sevin is the only thing used in my vegetable garden, but when it comes to weeds and insects that can only be controlled with chemical that threaten my family's health then they are used.
October 7, 2007 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
neighbor, you're absolutely right. I apologize, sorry about that...
1. The last place I want wildlife to seek shelter and food at is in road ditches. I want to able to see right away to right away and know that they are not there.
I must have been confused when you said "right away." Um, did you mean "right-of-way"?
October 7, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
lol, I sure did mean right of way, didn't catch that. Where's the edit feature?
October 7, 2007 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
lol neighbor. Edit feature, lol. Cute. I honestly thought you meant "right away" as in now. lol
October 7, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I am an impatient person at times, thank goodness for DSL.
October 7, 2007 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Flips (anonymous) says...
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infos...
http://www.safe2use.com/health/2-4d-D...
October 7, 2007 at 10:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )