Can We Save Our Bees and Our Butterflies?

“Can anyone believe it is possible to lay down such a barrage of poisons on the surface of the earth without making it unfit for all life” Rachel Carson

Our pollinators are declining at a rapid rate.  Yes, there are things that each one of use can do.  Calling for more research is a waste of valuable time.  It is time for everyone to act.

Below is a good commentary on the loss of our bees:

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/206997751.html

So what can you do?  We are so awash in chemicals we aren’t even aware of them anymore. Below is a list of things that can make a difference for pollinators and for your health, also.

1. Reduce all yard chemicals, and reduce the size of your mowable yard with flowers that pollinators love.

2. Plant more flowers that attract a variety of pollinators.  My favorite for Minnesota and

Wisconsin are: Bee Balm, Culver’s Root. Cone Flowers, Hyssop, chives, Russian Sage, Liatris (blazing star), wild geranium, and golden rod.

3. Buy organically produced food, and reduce the beef you eat.

4. Reduce the amount of chemicals in your home for cleaning and construction.

5. Support candidates and elected officials that believe in global warming.

6. Never throw chemicals, worms or fish(they can be invasive) into our streams, lakes or storm drains.

7. And..basically anything you do to for clean air, clean water. and save energy  helps all wildlife and humans.

http://www.queenofthesun.com/get-involved/10-things-you-can-do-to-help-bees/

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/26/environment/pesticides-suspected-in-minnesota-bee-deaths

http://www.xerces.org/bringbackthepollinators/

http://www.restoringthelandscape.com/

http://www.backyardbrevard.com/2013/05/celebrate-national-pollinator-week-in-june/