Bee aware: we are likely destroying our ecosystem

[betts]

Another Silent Spring? | George Monbiot

I posted this on facebook, but am going to do so everywhere I can get people to read.

This might be a long post, but bear with me if you would. Tonight I took my dog for a walk. It's our usual route and one of the evening's enjoyments is watching a family of toads that live in a nearby group of houses. They hang out near the streetlight, presumably to catch insects. But tonight, as I walked down the sidewalk, I saw one of them lying dead. Another was sitting there, I thought, but when we got close it barely moved. It was clearly sick. The third we didn't see at all.

This follows a day in which I sat on the bench outside my house. We have lots of flowers along our street and last year I saw many butterflies visiting them" red admirals, painted ladies, sulphurs, skippers and the occasional Monarch. This afternoon I watched for a long time and all I saw were a couple of the common white cabbage butterflies.

This week, Time Magazine's cover story is about our bee problem. I don't know if the article will talk about the mysterious deaths of so many of our bees, because I'm not sure it's a mystery. Yes, there are bee viruses and fungi, but I think people are finally figuring it out.

Our obsession with perfect lawns, loading them down with insecticides and fertilizer, killing any grass that invades the sidewalk with Round-up, as well as treating weeds the same, is a good place to start. Things that kill are poisons. What might poison a bee, a butterfly or a toad can kill us as well. Maybe not quickly, but the bees didn't die quickly either. We've been spraying our crops and lawns with poisons for several decades. Or, perhaps it's the new genetically engineered plants that have insecticides built into them that are causing the problem. Regardless, I think we have to act, if we love our children and our grandchildren, or our hope of future grandchildren.

Companies that manufacture insecticides and herbicides don't care about our children and grandchildren. They don't even appear to care about their own. But they do care about money. The only way to change large companies' behavior is to cut off their supply of money. So, the next time you see a bare spot in your lawn, don't rush to the garden center to buy grub killer. The next time you see aphids on your roses or other flowers, don't grad the insecticide. The next time you see weeds in your flowerbed or in the cracks in your sidewalk, don't grab the Round-up. Get the weed wet and you can easily pull it out by the roots. Research natural ways to get rid of pests or wait for another beneficial insect like a lady bug or praying mantis to do it for you. Pay a little extra for organic vegetables and avoid genetically modified foods. I'm fine with genetic modification, but not at the expense of our beneficial insects. It might take a little more work, it might cost a little extra money, but aren't our children and their health worth it?

[bchris02]

Large agricultural corporations like Monsanto would completely kill the planet if it would make them a few more bucks. Not buying Round-up won't do any good because Monsanto doesn't make most of their money through the consumer grade product. The big bucks are in the industrial product, which is used by most farmers and most of the food you eat has been genetically engineered by Monsanto to be Round-up resistant (they call it Round-up Ready). Unfortunately I don't see a solution unless everybody starts buying organic, which isn't going to happen. Americans are too addicted to getting things as cheap and as processed as possible. I am afraid the piper is going to have to be paid sooner or later. Every time humanity pushes too hard against nature, nature pushes back with a vengeance.

[Dennis Heaton]

Betts...I swear, when I first moved to where I am living now (open fields on the N, S & W), there used to be hundreds of toads in the breezeways at night. We have a creek that runs along the East side of the apartment complex. So far this year (9 years later) I have seen 2 toads. I saw one Monarch butterfly in the past week. And I have seen only one Dragonfly this year. I am happy to report though, we (myself and 5 youngins) did capture about 200 or so Fireflies a few weeks back, before we set them free. I have also noticed that a lot more trees (in the square mile) are gone this year. Sad.

[Just the facts]

On the Roundup front, I checked about a year ago to see if Roundup could have a negative affect on bees (or any other critters for that matter) as I use it around the house. From everything I could find Roundup becomes inert the second it hits the ground. I would have to spray it directly on the bees to harm them - which might be happening if Roundup is being sprayed by the thousand gallons from a high pressure aerial sprayer.

[kelroy55]

On the Roundup front, I checked about a year ago to see if Roundup could have a negative affect on bees (or any other critters for that matter) as I use it around the house. From everything I could find Roundup becomes inert the second it hits the ground. I would have to spray it directly on the bees to harm them - which might be happening if Roundup is being sprayed by the thousand gallons from a high pressure aerial sprayer.

Lots of farmers and other ag. folk spray from planes and even though they fly low that stuff drifts and gets into the water supply.

[betts]

I have stopped buying any fresh food that is not organic, and I'm trying to avoid processed food as much as possible. For people who think pesticides are safe for people, I would ask: Are you sure? Is it worth the risk?

[betts]

Pesticide exposure during pregnancy may increase autism risk ? The Chart - CNN.com Blogs

This is some interesting new research that's out.

[Plutonic Panda]

Betts, thank you for posting this. I was actually going post something similar to this when I add a chance. This a serious problem that is going to have serious effects here pretty soon.

[Just the facts]

I would have no problem if our food production was cut in half.

[Martin]

I would have no problem if our food production was cut in half.

[Just the facts]

Over 60% of the food grown in this country either spoils before it reaches the market or is thrown away by the end consumer. If we cut our production in half we would still be throwing away 10%.

[Dennis Heaton]

I do know this for a fact...If the Walmart Neighborhood Market I grocery shop at from time-to-time didn't charge so much for avocadoes, I'd buy more and they wouldn't have to trash so many each week. And, yes, I do use ad match if the local ads have what's on my shopping list.

[RadicalModerate]

This is all just so sad. And the saddest part of all is that absolutely nothing will be done about it. Nothing.
(Speaking of disappearing "wildlife" . . . What ever happened to the hundreds of horned toads (a.k.a. "horny toads") that used to populate the local landscape?)

[Just the facts]

This is all just so sad. And the saddest part of all is that absolutely nothing will be done about it. Nothing.
(Speaking of disappearing "wildlife" . . . What ever happened to the hundreds of horned toads (a.k.a. "horny toads") that used to populate the local landscape?)

The solution begins in all of us. All you can do is look at your own life and the way you live, adjust accordingly, and then spread the word. If you are waiting for the 'rollin coal' types to go first then your right, nothing will be done.

Dennis brings up an interesting topic with the avocadoes. Since he lives in Oklahoma, and avocadoes aren't grown there should he be eating them at all? Does it make good use of the earth resources to move food around the planet vs. eating locally sourced foods? BTW - there are ways to grow any food in Oklahoma, it's just much cheaper (thanks to federal subsidies) to move food 3,000 miles than it is to grow it where the consumer is.

[Dennis Heaton]

This is all just so sad. And the saddest part of all is that absolutely nothing will be done about it. Nothing.
(Speaking of disappearing "wildlife" . . . What ever happened to the hundreds of horned toads (a.k.a. "horny toads") that used to populate the local landscape?)

I believe they are hanging out along Robinson Avenue now.

[Dennis Heaton]

JTF...And I would love to buy my avocadoes from a California grower instead of Peru or Chili...or where ever they come from now (some do come from Mexico). Nothing beats a California grown avocado!

[RadicalModerate]

The solution begins in all of us. All you can do is look at your own life and the way you live, adjust accordingly, and then spread the word. If you are waiting for the 'rollin coal' types to go first then your right, nothing will be done.

That is exactly the problem. Most people don't seem to care about these types of issues at all. My wife and I don't use pesticides or herbicides. We don't waste water on a pet lawn. We've done some xeriscaping to make the lack of a lush lawn visually appealing in its own way. We even use the recycling bin provided for pickup by the city. If everyone played the game the same way our collective efforts might make a difference. The fact is, everyone doesn't and it is unlikely that fact will change in the near future. I hate to be so cynical and pessimistic here, yet all of our "personal" efforts in this connection are like the fable of that kid sticking his finger in the dike to prevent the ocean from flooding in while just down the road someone else is attacking the dike with a steam shovel.

p.s. I miss seeing the honeybees even though I'm highly allergic to their stings. Wasps, on the other hand, could all go extinct tomorrow and it wouldn't bother me a bit. =)

[RadicalModerate]

I believe they are hanging out along Robinson Avenue now.

I wonder if Bro. Brian has any videos documenting that . . . =)

[betts]

By using farmer's markets for produce and local bakers for bread you can eat a lot of locally grown food. Urban Agrarian and Native Roots carry meat which I suspect is produced in this state (I will check). Spend a little extra for healthy food and cut costs elsewhere (by driving less perhaps?). Economic pressure is one of the few drivers of behavior we have as individuals.

Don't buy plants at Home Depot, Lowes or Walmart: they're impregnated with pesticides. Home Depot is already responding by saying next year their pesticide impregnated plants will be so labeled. I'm not buying any until there aren't any that need to be labeled. Any plant with the logo "Proven Winner" is impregnated with pesticides as well. I'm also going to buy all plants from local markets. The caterpillars eating your plants are likely to grow up to be butterflies. They won't kill your plants. Tolerate a bit of messy vegetation. Those are all things we can do.

[BBatesokc]

I think yard chemicals are a huge problem and pretty unnecessary beyond aesthetic value. We spot treat our yard to try and cut down on chemicals being introduced into the surrounding creeks etc. that surround our property. That said, we also water often (from a well), and there are plenty of tree huggers that will find fault with that too - trying to introduce more ground cover so we don't have to water so much or worry about weeds.

As for organic food - seems like everyone I know is organic this, organic that....... When the price is similar (within a few percent) I buy organic, otherwise I'm not convinced the hyped benefits match the price.

We can all point to this study and that study..... The fact is, IMO 'organic' has not been defined well enough legally so as to know you're getting what you think you're paying for.

Organic food still uses pesticides and many of the most popular ones have been scrutinized as being fairly dangerous because they have to be used in such great amounts to do the same job the synthetic pesticides do in a single application.

More than anything we keep our grocery bill as low as possible. We don't buy hardly any processed foods, make our own bread from scratch, and get our eggs fresh from some local hens. We buy as we need, when we need and that means far less is thrown away as spoiled. We also compost - though leaf composting is far more productive than food composting.

[RadicalModerate]

We also visit the local Farmer's Market every chance we get. As a hobby cook I've noticed that there is a SUBSTANCIAL difference in the quality of everything from the chicken to the potatoes that one can get there as compared to what is generally found at the grocery store. It might cost a little more, but the taste and texture makes up for that. And the fresh green beans . . . AMAZING. Plus they have various cheeses that are beyond description in terms of goodness.

I also like the mushrooms that are grown at J&M up there in Miami, OK.
Visiting the plant will convince you that the myth about "not washing mushrooms" is about bad advice. =)

[BBatesokc]

We also visit the local Farmer's Market every chance we get. As a hobby cook I've noticed that there is a SUBSTANCIAL difference in the quality of everything from the chicken to the potatoes that one can get there as compared to what is generally found at the grocery store. It might cost a little more, but the taste and texture makes up for that. And the fresh green beans . . . AMAZING. Plus they have various cheeses that are beyond description in terms of goodness.

Had a neighbor bring us a bag of fresh green beans they had grown and a huge sack of plums. Unbelievable! Ate much of the plums and turned the rest to cobbler.

You just have to know and trust your local farmer who sells at the markets. Most look legit, but there have been several stories (nationally) of farmer's market farmers either using synthetic chemicals on their food or outright simply buying from a wholesaler and reselling as their own.

I can't wait to get our raised gardens in and the green house we've ordered.

[betts]

Urban Neighbors has an organic garden behind Fassler Hall thanks to Midtown Renaissance and Shelley Pruitt. I'm hoping they don't need that land for awhile and it can grow even bigger.

[Dennis Heaton]

Are there any Farmer's Markets out here in far NW OKC (NW Exp and Council)? I know the Children's Center in Bethany used to have a Farmer's Market to help raise funds for the Center.

I have been wanting to ask the apartment complex for years to let us start a vegetable garden out in the lower 40. No water. Folks are now growing tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, etc., in their breezeways in pots, and a few have started a vegetable garden along the outside walls of their apartment building, and simply filling the ole tater boiling pot with water and watering the veggies that way.

Would be terrific if we had a couple Rain Barrels here.

[RadicalModerate]

I've probably mentioned this before . . . Yet, a couple of years ago, my wife and I made a visit to an Organic Farm, in Wisconsin, run by a couple who were her friends and church associates many years ago.

The place was a tiny piece of paradise. It was the first time that I had seen chickens wandering around the yard, unfettered, since the ones that used to wander around my grandparents' place out in Shady Nook (on Old Highway 62). And the dogs and cats that shared the space knew better than to mess with them, partially on account of the roosters guarding their flock.

The "gentleman farmer" and homeowner--who oversaw the operation, mostly by himself--gave us a brief tour.

He raised a few cattle, some sheep and, of course, chickens. In addition to the permanent hen houses, he had these movable enclosures for chickens at certain stages of development. He pointed out the boundaries between the land he tended and the neighboring properties, the owners of which may or may not have shared his personal concern for the environment in terms of being "organic." He had about three John Deere tractors in the shed in various states of repair and restoration.

He explained how all of the butchering of the livestock was done "to order."

The roasted chicken we had for dinner that night was beyond superb--except for a slight glitch in the cooking timing by his sweet wife.
I rarely eat eggs, yet I couldn't resist the perfection of what hit the plate for breakfast the next morning.

I think her husband was able to afford all this by paying his dues working for Honeywell designing more efficient weapons systems.
I'm thankful that he decided to redirect his primary efforts and talents, in his semi-retirement.