Bee aware: we are likely destroying our ecosystem

[hoya]

I'm doing my part. Not only do I not water my lawn, I haven't mowed it in like a week and a half either.

[Just the facts]

Based on the last 10 posts I think it safe to say "nothing is being done" is not an accurate statement. More can be done sure, but even a 1,000 mile journey begins with a single step.

[RadicalModerate]

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%.

This reminds me of the giant garbage cans adjacent to the exit door of the lunchroom/cafeteria of the University Hill Elementary school I once attended. The problem was that the vegetables were overcooked. I guess. Thankfully, I once noticed a guy with a big truck picking up the leftovers. Probably to feed his hogs or whatever. And this would have been back in about '60. So, even then there were Environmentalists. =) Even before the first "Earth Day".

[Just the facts]

For those who haven't read it, the first 6 chapters of Howard Kunstler's book The Geography of Nowhere does a pretty decent job of explaining the destruction of the American family farm and local food supplies.

[RadicalModerate]

Based on the last 10 posts I think it safe to say "nothing is being done" is not an accurate statement. More can be done sure, but even a 1,000 mile journey begins with a single step.

One of only two trophies I ever actually won in my life was for "Second Place in the Optimist's Club Oratorical Contest".
The Speech Topic was: "Optimism: Spirit of Youth"
The other one was for "Being on The Sorriest Bowling Team at Olympic Lanes with the Most Improved Score".

[Just the facts]

The Optimist Club should have give you a second award for winning the "Being on The Sorriest Bowling Team at Olympic Lanes with the Most Improved Score" award.

[RadicalModerate]

The Optimist Club should have give you a second award for winning the "Being on The Sorriest Bowling Team at Olympic Lanes with the Most Improved Score" award.

That would be redundant. Wouldn't it? =)
(Kathy lee and Hoda are commenting on "Esquire Magazine Beauty at 42" and "Weird Al's Latest Vid" . . . hush up. =)

And this is exactly why our ecosystem is likely "Bee"-ing destroyed.
Distraction from what really matters, right now.
(or left now, if you are of the "Democrat" genome) =)

Sorry to interrupt the flow of idealism here . . . yet . . . (simply as a reminder) . . .

[Dennis Heaton]

For those who haven't read it, the first 6 chapters of Howard Kunstler's book The Geography of Nowhere does a pretty decent job of explaining the destruction of the American family farm and local food supplies.

My Great-Great-Grandparents (Pierce/Hanlon) had 160 acres in Iowa. Sure wish that was still in the family. Now, it's probably a Walmart Supercenter.

[Just the facts]

Well if it helps, the 2,000 people who end up living in the 70 acres of Wheeler Park won't be living on 500 acres of plowed over nature at the suburban fringe. Turns out, living in a City is the most 'green' thing you can do.

[Just the facts]

My Great-Great-Grandparents (Pierce/Hanlon) had 160 acres in Iowa. Sure wish that was still in the family. Now, it's probably a Walmart Supercenter.

Funny you say that because I have friend whose family farm in 1996 is now a Pep Boys, Chase Bank, Aldi, and BJ's Wholesale Club. You can see it yourself with the magic of Google Earth at the corner of Henderson Lane and Monroe Road in Sanford, FL. Where their house was is now a shopping cart return stall for the BJs. No word from BJs and Aldi on how far the food they are selling travels to get there. Of course, they probably killed their fair share of bees so maybe on the bee front things are a wash.

[RadicalModerate]

Perhaps all further future "development"--on the Fringes of Urbanity--within The Vast Realm of OKC, for example--should include mandates for proper sidewalks and public beehives with keepers? Not to mention drainage concerns? Especially if heavily laden (money-wise) lawsuits begin to be filed at the grassroots level?

(okay . . . okay . . . that is subliminal optimism combined with bad bowling . . . and so it goes . . . =)

[ctchandler]

RM,
I read somewhere that the "horned frog" population in Oklahoma was pretty much eradicated by a disease (I believe they said it was similar to leukemia). You still find them in Texas, but not many, if any in Oklahoma.
C. T.

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?)

[RadicalModerate]

RM,
I read somewhere that the "horned frog" population in Oklahoma was pretty much eradicated by a disease (I believe they said it was similar to leukemia). You still find them in Texas, but not many, if any in Oklahoma.
C. T.

Glad to read that it wasn't Human Interference with The Environment that caused their demise.
They were about the only winsome lizards I can recall from my childhood.
Sort of like . . . The Guinea Pigs of Reptiles. =)

No kidding: There used to be hundreds of them around here (back in the late 50's to early 60's) and then there were none.
Is leukemia contagious? I don't think I've every encountered that theory . . .

[Just the facts]

Maybe you guys can start a horned frog repopulation effort. Go down to Texas, round up as many as you can, and bring them back to Oklahoma. Just let them go in your yard and see if the population increases.

[mkjeeves]

The last one I have seen anywhere was in my yard in NW OKC, but that was about twenty years ago.

[Stew]

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.

You can have my avocados when you can pry them from my cold dead hands... Aside from avocados I agree with you and appears we are nudging ever so slightly in that direction.

[RadicalModerate]

You can have my avocados when you can pry them from my cold dead hands... Aside from avocados I agree with you and appears we are nudging ever so slightly in that direction.

Can I have your discarded Weird Al Yankovic 8-Tracks too? =)
(the one's with the unsimulated accordion soloriffs . . .)

[betts]

Here's a Scientific American article about RoundUp. Make your own conclusions. I will never touch the stuff again.

Weed-Whacking Herbicide Proves Deadly to Human Cells - Scientific American

[Urbanized]

...Urban Agrarian and Native Roots carry meat which I suspect is produced in this state (I will check)...

Native Roots carries Wichita Buffalo Company meats (I think UA does too). Yes, as the name suggests they carry tasty, lean bison meat, but they also have great beef (I'm particularly fond of their ribeyes and filets). All of their meat is raised on a great ranch down near Hinton, which is itself worth a visit if you ever get a chance. It's not cheap of course, but rarely is anything that's actually worth consuming.

[Wambo36]

RM,
I read somewhere that the "horned frog" population in Oklahoma was pretty much eradicated by a disease (I believe they said it was similar to leukemia). You still find them in Texas, but not many, if any in Oklahoma.
C. T.

Was told sometime ago, by a friend who works in the wildlife dept., that the demise of the red ant population in the state is the main reason for the declining population of horned toads. The red ant was the main food source and when they started being killed out, so went the horny toad. I've assumed this to be true since I know there are nowhere near the amount of red ants around as I remember growing up. Red ant hills were pretty common, even in our neighborhood environment, when I was growing up. Now if my kids see one it's cause to stop and stare. I wonder if the fear of "fire ants" moving into Oklahoma was responsible for killing them out? If this was coupled with some sort of leukemia like disease, it would explain the absolute decimation of the horned toad population in these parts.

[betts]

I suspect insecticides played a part. I don't know how common fire ants are around here. I haven't had the "pleasure" of disturbing a fire ant nest in OKC, but have in Atlanta. That's a memorable experience.

[Wambo36]

I haven't heard of any this far north but, yeah, I think the fear of them led people to wipe out most of the red ant hills around here.

[HangryHippo]

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%.

I normally agree with a lot of what you say, but wouldn't you prefer we not cut production but make better use of what we grow and then cut production by 10%?

[betts]

From the National Institutes of Health: "It is commonly believed that Roundup is among the safest pesticides. This idea is spread by manufacturers, mostly in the reviews they promote [39, 40], which are often cited in toxicological evaluations of glyphosate-based herbicides. However, Roundup was found in this experiment to be 125 times more toxic than glyphosate. Moreover, despite its reputation, Roundup was by far the most toxic among the herbicides and insecticides tested. This inconsistency between scientific fact and industrial claim may be attributed to huge economic interests, which have been found to falsify health risk assessments and delay health policy decisions [41].

Http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC395666/

[Dubya61]

I don't really consider myself much a tree-hugger (although I'm def trending in that direction), but relying on well water has made me really hesitant to employ any chemicals around my property. I'm finding myself more and more opposed to using pesticides and herbicides as time goes on.