Health4earth

The Best Place on Earth in August, Lake Superior!

Perfect Weather and Great Views

The air is dry and temperatures are comfortable with a slight breeze. Most days the sun shines, and the big lake moderates the hot extreme. Daylight still hangs on until about 8:30PM. It is perfect kayaking weather and the big lake is a rich blue hue. Breathing the refreshing air feels healthy, and you wish for these marvelous days to linger forever.

The ripe red elderberry berries bring a family of hairy woodpeckers, red-eyed vireo and some very noisy blue jays to our yard. The hummingbirds love anything red, pink or purple. The call of loons, sand hill cranes, and pileated woodpeckers haunt the air.

St John's Wort with vervain — St John’s Wort with vervain

Best pollinator plants blooming now are the common milkweed, thistle, and the St John’s Wort. The native bee balm hasn’t bloomed yet, and the hyssop and golden rod are a few days away from vying for best pollinator plant!

Our friend, the fox, visits daily, stares at us for 2 minutes and then trots off. Some days he brings a mate. Sightings of does and her babies are unusually rare.

Yikes, Too Many Chemicals in our Lakes

It is August and August is the best month of the summer. The air is dry, nights are cool, and daylight still dominates. Sunsets are magnificent.

It is disheartening to hear the discussion of all the nitrates that are being deposited in our Minnesota lakes including Lake Superior. Nitrates poison the lake, and cause thick algae to grow choking out good plants and light for the fish and other aquatic animals. Nitrates in the lakes are caused by fertilizers on our lawns and fertilizers in the production of crops. What we put on our lawns and fields ends up in our lakes and streams. Is this why some call August the “Dog Days of summer” because we have spent the summer poisoning our lakes?

Those of us who live in the land of lakes forget how lucky we are to have our beautiful lakes, and we all need to work for good lake quality whether it is being careful not to spread invasives or being aware of the chemicals we use. With climate change Texas and the Southwest USA are dealing with severe water shortage(see articles below). Let’s take care of our wonderful water resource!

The below ideas for protecting our lakes is from the Superiorforum.org , Sigurd Olson Institute, Northland college, and the EPA, and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative:

Be conservative with your water use.
Recycle as much as you can with the 4 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and repair. And….NEVER burn trash.
Curb Yard Pollution. Put your lawn on a chemical-free diet!!
Stop aquatic invasives by cleaning plants and animals off your boat.
Plant native plants, and reduce turf grass.
Plant native trees According to Audubon, oak trees are the best for attracting insects and birds.
Install a rain barrel
Create an energy-efficient home.
Bring hazardous waste to waste collection sites.
Love our lakes!

I would add several more:

Rain gardens are excellent for capturing harmful water runoff.
Keep leaves and trash out of streets and storm drains-Adopt a storm drain!
Never use cleaning products or hand sanitizer with triclosan.
Reduce all plastic use–If you must use plastic bags and bottles, be sure you recycle them.
We love playing in our lakes

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/about-mpca/mpca-news/current-news-releases/mpca-study-confirms-suspicions-high-nitrate-levels-in-southern-minnesota.html

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/11/211130501/the-algae-is-coming-but-its-impact-is-felt-far-from-water?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/about-mpca/mpca-news/current-news-releases/mpca-study-confirms-suspicions-high-nitrate-levels-in-southern-minnesota.html

http://unconsumption.tumblr.com/post/58098198181/plastic-beads-are-the-latest-pollution-threat-to-great#

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/11/texas-tragedy-ample-oil-no-water

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/35bdf2381af844658d7a5b5943ba38c5/NV–Western-Water-Colorado-River

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/219989751.html

Climate Change is Frightening

Climate Change is Real, and it is Frightening

What changes have you seen the past few years because of our changing climate? Some of the following have frightened me:

– In one year my pollinator plant yard has gone from many beautiful monarchs watching daily hoping they will appear.. Just last year my neighbors said to me, “We enjoy watching all the monarchs in your yard!” This year, not one monarch. The bees have just appeared–In August?

– My rain barrel can’t handle the downpours of rain anymore, and he heavy rains run off instead of soaking the plants that need the moisture.

– In between the rain storms is drought.

– I experienced the big June Duluth storm last year: The thunderstorms just kept rolling through for 36 hours washing out roads, bridges and homes.

– The costs for insurance and rebuilding are more than we can comprehend.

– We are insecure about the next big storm or drought!

– Ticks: Many have struggled with Lyme’s Disease.

– Asthma and health problems are worse in the vulnerable.

-The beautiful Paper Birch trees of Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are dying.

Climate Change is here, it is real, and 97% of climate scientists say it is caused by human activity. If we act quickly we can slow the terrible effects for the future.

Instead of just talking about it we all need to act. Just by doing one or two of the following will make a big difference:

Combine your driving trips, walk, bike, car pool and take the bus whenever possible.
Turn off lights and electronics when not in use, and reduce the amount you use your air conditioner.
Look for ways your energy use can become more efficient such as insulation, and energy efficient appliances, cars, windows and doors.
Cut your meat consumption, especially beef!
Purchase organic food, and do not use pesticides!
Punish those that pollute: Call your members of Congress and ask them to pass carbon tax legislation to punish those that are polluting our air and water. Support only candidates that believe in climate change.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usepagov/sets/72157635037133053/

http://blog.ucsusa.org/rising-seas-and-worsening-storms-require-rethinking-flood-and-wind-insurance-203?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tw&utm_campaign=tw

My letter in the Star Tribune

My letter published in the Minneapolis, Star Tribune August 7.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Where are our monarch butterflies? The droughts, alternating with heavy rains and pesticide use, have destroyed a lot of their habitat.

In response to the Aug. 6 commentary, “We’re free-market Republicans, but action on climate is urgent,” yes, climate change is real. We can all see it. To expect this Congress to act is hopeless, but luckily with the leadership of former State Sen. Ellen Anderson and Gov. Mark Dayton, Minnesota is on its way to national leadership in renewable energy.

Most important, we can all make a difference by reducing our carbon output by driving less, turning off lights and electronics when not in use, and reducing the chemicals we use. Our monarchs and children are depending on us.

Below is the op-ed to which I was responding:

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/218437091.html

Do We Want Clean Air and Clean Water?

I am on my way to Climate Reality Leadership Training in Chicago, and hope to learn to communicate what we need to do if clean air and clean water are important to us!

Below is from Steve Hogseth of Utah:

When our industrial age began, few could have projected today’s predicament. For decades, the wake-up call has been ringing. We need to utilize fossil fuels in the foreseeable future, as we must maintain our economy. We need to taper off on fossil fuels and embrace gentler energies. Through man’s innovation, greener energies will gain efficiency, mitigating fossil consumption. We need to stop blindly “believing the words” of self-interest lobbyists, greed mongers, oil/coal advocates, and political pundits. We must personally become scientifically attuned.

A question for naysayers: “Even if you do not believe in global warming, why would you not want to address the source of dirty air and water?” Steve Hogseth, Utah

http://www.leadertelegram.com/opinions/letters_to_editor/article_5e9ce4cb-878c-512d-927a-34095ef07bb6.html Steve Hogseth on climate change

https://realitydrop.org/

Superior Views, Hoping for that Lake Superior Breeze

“The fog was lifting off the water. It was just magical.” Jennifer Granholm

No monarch butterflies to enjoy, but the white admiral, fritillary, northern pearly eye, and lots of skippers are happy and beautiful.

It has been a great year for blue flag iris. and I am thrilled a painted lady butterfly has laid eggs on the pearly everlasting. The daisies and buttercup are the dominant roadside flowers.

The northern parula, red-eye vireo, and song sparrow serenade me as I work in my yard.

On hot days there is a fascinating struggle over the lake between the hot and cold air and it looks and feels like a thunderstorm is being created over Lake Superior with the very hot and cold air mix. The perfect place to be on a hot summer day, especially when the wind is off the lake.

Habitat loss, No Monarchs this year

Asclepias syriaca COMMON MILKWEED (Photo credit: gmayfield10)

There just isn’t enough milkweed!

The monarch butterfly numbers have plummeted, and experts tell us it is habitat loss due to bad weather(climate change), mono-cultures of corn and soybeans, and pesticides.

Why can’t you purchase common milkweed at garden stores? The experts say we should be planting common milkweed. For the past two summers I have been trying to purchase milkweed. Even native plant stores say, “Our supplier doesn’t carry common milkweed” They consider it a weed.

For years I have been scattering seeds, but have not seen any results.

A garden store 3 hours from my home dug some out of their garden for me. It was wilted by the time I was able to get it planted, but I cut it off and stuck in the ground. Two weeks later it has some new growth and I am thrilled.

The last few years a monarch sighting was special, but this year, I can count on one hand the number of monarchs I have seen on my daily walks. We all need to act!

What can we all do?

Tell garden stores you would like to purchase common milkweed, and to please find a source so they can sell it to their customers.
Plant other plants the monarchs love: Liatris, cone flowers, hyssop, butterflyweed, swamp milkweed and many smelly orange and yellow flowers.
Reduce the amount of turf grass in your yard, and if possible just leave some wild areas for the birds, bees and butterflies. Bees and butterflies love dandelions
Do not use chemicals, especially neonicotinoid pesticides.
Use as many organic food products as you can, and buy local.

http://www.startribune.com/local/215176011.html Monarch butterfly numbers down sharply

http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/

Meatless Monday: Quinoa Burgers and Corn Casserole

Reducing meat consumption, especially beef, is great for our brains, our hearts, and our earth

Corn Casserole

2 cups any dry uncooked pasta

1 can creamed corn

1 can whole kernel corn (include juice)

About ¾ pound mozzarella cheese (shredded)

1/3 cup water

Place the ingredients in a large casserole dish in the following order: Pasta, whole kernel corn, water, about ½ of the cheese, next the cream corn , and the remainder of the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Allow to sit 10-15 minutes before serving. Children and corn lovers think this easy recipe is terrific.

Quinoa Burgers

1 Cup left over cooked quinoa, barley, bulgur or brown rice(my favorite is quinoa and kale/spinach from this website). Left over grain salads work great!

¼ cup grated carrot

1/3 cup oatmeal

1 egg and one egg white beaten together

chopped onion to taste (I put the onion in the cooking of the quinoa, barley or rice)

½ tsp salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together and drop ¼ cup of the mixture into a hot skillet to saute in olive or coconut oil or place in oiled muffin cups and cook 20 min. at 350 degrees. Place these in the oven the last 20 minutes of baking the corn casserole if you choose the oven method.

“Cooler by the Lake”

Superior Views, First week of July

Summer is late this year because of a rainy cold spring, and the strength of the sun is needed everyday to warm the air near the big lake. Because of the crisis with bees I am closely watching all pollinator plants. Without a doubt I am see more bees and butterflies in Northern Wisconsin than I observe in Minneapolis

Carpets of bunch berries cover the forest floor, wild geraniums, Canada anemone and flowering chives are the first to bloom.

Lupine is not blooming yet along the lake, but dominates the roadsides with the hawkweed, daisies, and buttercup. A magnificent composition!

And everyday day on this big lake ends in beauty.

50,000 dead bees, What next?

The following information is from a press release by the Xerces Society.The Xerces Society is committed to protecting our pollinators and their environment.

After a tragic killing of 50,000 bees at a Target parking lot in Oregon caused by the pesticide neonicotinoid, The Xerces Society recommendations include:

For municipalities

Municipalities should stop using all neonicotinoid insecticides on city and county-owned property, including schools, parks and gardens.
City and county governments should require that warnings be posted alongside displays of these chemicals at hardware stores and nurseries.
Legislators, regulators, and municipal leaders across the country should ban the use of neonicotinoids and other insecticides for cosmetic purposes on ornamental and landscape plants, like the ban now in force in Ontario, Canada

For homeowners

Do not buy products that contain neonicotinoids. A list of products can be found at www.xerces.org/pesticides
Check to see if you have these products in your garage or garden shed. If so, do not use them. Make sure you dispose of them properly or take them back to the store where you bought them.
When buying plants for your yard, ask if neonicotinoids have been used on them. If staff cannot tell you, shop somewhere else.

For nursery and hardware stores

Stores should proactively take action by pulling these toxic and poorly labeled products from their shelves.
At a minimum, display materials should be placed at point of sale so that consumers know that these products kill bees and other beneficial insects, and that they can cause plants to produce toxic nectar and pollen months after treatment.
Nurseries should list plants that have been treated with these chemicals.

For the federal government

The EPA should work with pesticide companies to add clear warnings to homeowner and ornamental neonicotinoid insecticides that are toxic to bees and other pollinators.

For insecticide companies

Companies that make homeowner pesticide products that contain neonicotinoids should add clear language to product labels highlighting that these products are highly toxic to bees and other pollinators, and that treatment to plants may result in nectar and pollen that are contaminated with the insecticide and may kill bees and other pollinators.

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