With all this “political noise and chaos” we are not hearing much about “Taking Care of Our Planet!”. I know for many people having anything to do with the environment or ecology just does not seem relevant right now. I have noticed this with some older people who grew up in the 50s, 60s, or 70s. I also know there are numerous well-informed “older folks” gardening and taking good care of the land. And, many of them are being very vocal in support of Caring for Creation. So, I am writing to my friends and neighbors who are still using pesticides and herbicides, and do not seem much interested in the decline of birds or bees, or other small creatures.
We are all aware that the current political turmoil is demanding our attention. We have not seen this level of chaos in our nation or government probably since before the Civil War. (We know it was not a very “civil war" if there is such a thing.) We are also aware that this current turmoil may be very distracting for some time! So, I decided that in the midst of all this upheaval, I would continue my efforts to protect and preserve as much of Nature as I could,
For me, that meant “digging in” literally! I have been learning as much as I can about the land and all Creatures Great and Small where I live. We are not using pesticides or herbicides at home. We planted milkweed and nectar plants for Monarchs and other amazing Butterflies. We are careful with the amount of water we use, and we do recycle. I have also been learning as much as I can about providing safe habitat for birds, bees, bunnies, and all creatures great and small. I also use my articles and podcasts to inform others about being better Caretakers of our Earth Home. Hopefully, I am contributing to a better future for my children, my grandchildren, and all those amazing people who will show up on Earth long after I am gone.
When I was growing up in SW Oklahoma, my family owned a farm supply store and a grain elevator. I grew up with feed and seed, farming and gardening tools, real live bunnies and baby chicks at Easter, and a variety of plants in the spring. The store carried DDT, a very toxic pesticide which was still legal at the time. My dad did not like having it in the store or even using it because it was so toxic. DDT was banned by the EPA at the end of 1972, but is still produced in the US and sold to other countries that continue to use it on their food crops!
Several years ago, I was working at a retreat center in Florida. I usually shopped at the local Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and happened to find a beekeeper with excellent local honey. We talked for almost an hour about the decrease in Bees, and about the problem of pesticides in general. He told me that several countries, including China, have very few Pollinators and are challenged to find ways to pollinate their crops, especially fruits and vegetables.
He said that in the 1990s, the situation was so desperate in China that beekeepers in Florida gathered hundreds of hives with Bees and had them airlifted to China. The Bees were distributed to farmers, hoping to re-establish Bee colonies there. Within a few weeks, all these thousands of Bees had died! The ground and the environment were so saturated with insecticides that the transplanted Bees could not survive. What a letdown and what a tragedy! No one involved had thought the Bees could not survive there! And, such a good lesson for all of us about continuing to use pesticides and herbicides.
As you may know, I am living in Tulsa now. And, Tulsa has several excellent programs such as Master Gardeners, Yard by Yard, and Church by Church. Master Gardeners is an Oklahoma State University extension program. The other 2 programs are part of the Oklahoma Conservation District plan to create yards and church lawns into pollinator-friendly environments. Oklahoma also has a strong and expanding Native Plant Network providing native plants for yards, churches, and businesses! These native plant nurseries are owned by the next generation of growers and are definitely a sign of hope. Every state that I know of has a Native Plant Society as well as local Native Plant Nurseries. They can usually be found on Facebook or by searching the internet. Georgia has a very active Native Plant Society, a variety of excellent Farmers Markets, as well as small organic fruit and vegetable farms all over the state.
I am so impressed by the dedicated owners and growers of native plant nurseries. So, this fall, wherever you are, find one of these nurseries, buy some plants that have been raised with great care, and start returning native plants to your yard! All of us will be healthier! And, we will see more Beautiful Butterflies, Bees, and other Amazing Pollinators every year! Maybe we will all feel a bit more hopeful about the Future!!!
