How to create a firefly sanctuary, plus, an announcement

A quick announcement, then fireflies, food maps, and the Farm Bill.

AuthorAuthor

Lena Beck & Modern Farmer
October 27, 2024

Hello! Lena here, staff writer at Modern Farmer.

A quick announcement before we dig in: As we settle into autumn, the Modern Farmer team is taking a break to slow down, take a breath, and plan for Modern Farmer’s future. As such, we’ll be reducing the cadence of this newsletter from weekly to bi-weekly for the time being. Starting today, look for us in your inbox every other Sunday sharing recently published stories, gems from the archive, and more.

And speaking of recently published stories, one of my favorite pieces from this past week centers on the ever-charming firefly. In some parts of the country, fireflies are a hallmark of summer. But did you know that making your backyard firefly-friendly is something you can do in every season—including the fall? Get all the details here.

With patience and some intentional garden work, you can help the iconic creatures thrive.

A constellation of fireflies glowing against a darkening sky

Photography via Shutterstock/REC Footage

Also fresh this week

A farmer stands in a green field in a group of pigs

Russ Kremer of True Story Foods on his farm | Photo via True Story Foods

California’s Prop 12 made it illegal to sell pork that had been raised in gestation crates in the state. But if the next Farm Bill repeals this law, farmers could end up paying the price.

Bonus: For more on this topic, check out this feature from our friends at Sentient Media: Meet the Farmers Supporting Prop 12 Despite Pork Industry Pushback

A map of the US in shades of green

Map the Meal Gap | Image via Feeding America

If a picture paints a thousand words, then a food map speaks volumes about the gaps in a community’s food ecosystem.

A leafy green blueberry bush laden with pale blue berries

From a distance, blueberries look like any other common hedge plant, but come with the bonus of edible fruit.

This fall, try an apple tree instead of a dogwood or a row of blueberry bushes instead of hydrangeas.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you in two weeks!

~ LB

Weekly Action | Next time you see a firefly, contribute to this community science Firefly Atlas.