In Magog, a family has made it its mission to green their yard in order to reduce their ecological footprint. However, the grass is too long to comply with municipal regulations.
Mathieu Roy and Amélie Prévost-Michaud acquired land in Magog in 2017.
When I bought this land, there were no trees anywhere. It was only asphalt on part of the ground.
Mathieu therefore removed the asphalt from the land and insisted on adding plants. Every inch of asphalt I tear off, I’m giving back to nature
, he adds. Trees, flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables: he wants to have the most diversified vegetation possible.
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Amélie Michaud-Prévost and Mathieu Roy have made it their mission to green their land.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Yannick Cournoyer
The couple, however, jumped when they received a first notice of violation from the City of Magog on Friday. Indeed, the height of the grass exceeds 15 cm and overflows on the public road. If the two owners do not make changes to their land, they are liable to a fine of between $50 and $600, the notice states.
You must cut tall grass and brush on your entire property and plan a few annual mowings in order to comply with municipal regulations.
, can we read in this opinion. This vegetation is described as a nuisance.
I don’t understand how it’s a nuisance
asks Mathieu. It allows me to enjoy where I live and help nature.
He feels that maintaining the lawn is more harmful than maintaining his grounds. The shorter the vegetation, the more water is needed, the more often the mower has to be taken out and the more noise it makes.
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Vegetation provides shade on the ground and avoids heat islands.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Yannick Cournoyer
Me, they’re going to send me to prison before I pass the mower in front of my house. This is a project that took me six years to develop. It doesn’t look like much because it just looks like a wasteland, but when you start to lean over and look, you realize how rich in diversity it is.
Mathieu does not want to remain passive and wishes to find common ground with the City.
The owners want the rules to be more flexible.
No one at the City of Magog was available to comment on the situation on Sunday, but details should be made this week.
The environment at the heart of concerns
I want to promote biodiversity and I try to do everything within my human reach to reduce my environmental footprint and pass on this value to others.
, underlines Mathieu. He explains that there is a balance to be had and that nature must occupy part of his land.
Mathieu hopes that his negotiations with the City will help advance the cause. I am negotiating with the City of Magog, but this process could also work for other cities.
He is aware that it does not appeal to everyone until now. He still thinks that there is a fairly large mass [de gens sensibilisés] to change things
.
