By: Marikay Shellman BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024) 

Ways to get the word out on the environment on social media. 

By Susan E. Oser/Michigan Affiliate 

To get some advice and an idea on what we could do as a committee or in general, how we should get the word out on the environment on social media, Suzette Cotto, PR Chair was consulted for some basic ideas on what to do.  She was very helpful in brainstorming this article and thanks to her, I am hopeful that these ideas can help you as well in our committees or on your own social media posts. 

First, know what information you want to share.  With all the information out there concerning the environment, it’s best to put a focus on at least one thing that is prominent in the news or that one thing you really care about.  For example, right now, everyone is talking about microplastics.  With this focus, why not give your opinion on your experience on the matter?  Maybe you can discuss what people are saying about the news and who are downplaying the issue.  Interviewing someone and putting the interview on YouTube, snippets on YouTube shorts and TikTok and promoting that interview will drive traffic.   

Note:  If you are using video from another source for your posts, please ask for permission, especially if you are part of an organization trying to get the word out on the Internet. 

You might also want to make sure that when you post up about an issue that you give a reason why your audience should act.   Perhaps it’s an urgent matter, such as a petition that needs to be signed.  Maybe you want them to check out a video related to your post.  Perhaps you want to encourage interaction and conversation (if it is not too combative). 

Remember that no matter what you do, your posts should be short with references, keywords, and hashtags.  If you post a link that is too long, you can look for websites such as tinyurl.com to help you.  Sites like X (Twitter) are quite limited in the number of characters you should use.  So, be careful.  Most people do not have a big attention span, so the shorter the better. 

No matter what you are doing online, make sure to get online every day for a few minutes to at least an hour or so to see what topics you’ve posted have engaged your audience.  You do not want to stay on too long or get too overwhelmed.  Give yourself a break and take a breather if you must.  It’ll be good for your mental health and help curb any burnout you might be experiencing.   

To get a clearer idea of what posts are making waves and grabbing attention, check your analytics if you can see what topics are getting the most hits and find ways to keep that engagement going.  You might also want to consider what kind of audience you want to attract with your message.  Perhaps you have a connection with an organization that you might want to quote or repost your support of.  Sometimes you can gain attention and new followers that way. 

So, what are some things that you do now to get the word out about the environment?  Keep your eye on your news feeds.  If there is something you think your followers should know, just retweet it.  If you want to make a comment, just respond to it.   You can even do a search on a topic and see what comes up.  It is all up to YOU and what YOU are passionate about in relation to the environment. 

For example, on X (Twitter), if you click on Explore on the left side, you will see a search screen at the top where you can type in a topic or scroll through the For You, Trending, and News headings to see what’s going on and if anything on the environment pops up.  If not, just click on the search bar and type in a word or phrase you want to research. 

So, let’s go back to our earlier topic microplastics.  In the search button type out that term.   

You might see something like this:  

But then if you just click on the bar and hit return you can see all kinds of entries related to the highlighted key word of microplastics.  You can choose if you want to find them from the Top, Latest, People, Media, or Lists. Clicking on the Latest tab and scrolling down, this entry came up that you can click on directly: 

Clicking on the heart will like it, which is always a good idea to do.  You can also retweet/quote your thoughts and tag someone with a @ (for example @ (insert your state senator) ) so you can get the message out there.  It would also be a good idea to follow the poster since they put up such great information about the issue. 

Note that whatever you do online in the environmental spectrum, it needs to be respectful and engaging.   That’s not only how you gain followers, but you will get repeat responders getting involved in the conversation.  And who knows?  You might just inspire someone to quote you or get just as involved if not more so with an environmental cause. 

Please note that the ESD Committee will be hosting a special Earth Day event on April 22, 2024, at 5:30 MDT titled the Pulse of Earth Day.  It will be an interactive discussion about environmental awareness that has affected you and if anything has inspired you to act.    Please stay tuned for future updates and details and the date gets closer. 

 

 

 

By:  Marikay Shellman
BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

With all the weighty news of the world and climate crisis, gardening can bring emotional refuge and physical health. With January, the excitement of seed catalogues arrives with promise for the upcoming planting season. Research has found that the benefits of conservation in small spaces such as gardens have “real, quantifiable effects.” By restoring yards with native plants (https://www.nwf.org>nativeplantfinderand https://www.audubon.org>native-plants), researchers found that within just 3 years a large increase in both the diversity and abundance of invertebrates occurred. Having the goal of providing habitat for native bees, butterflies, and birds while growing vegetables and flowers will have the additional benefits of reducing water use on your lawn while maximizing climate benefits.

When ordering your seeds and plants, plan for flowers to bloom throughout the seasons. Springtime bloomers include yarrow, bluebells, penstemon. Summer has milkweed, flax primrose beebalm blossoming. Don’t forget those end of season flowers, blanket flower, goldenrod, asters. By allowing your plants to go to seed, you will provide food for birds throughout the fall. Sunflowers are the best as they provide

pollen and nectar for native bees and hummingbirds, are host plants for moths which are a declining pollinator species, in addition to food for birds.

Yes, we need to push for stronger legislation to protect biodiversity and natural lands and to change the way we farm, no-till, cover crops and little to no pesticides. Meanwhile we can add to our own peace of mind by planting gardens.

By:  Marikay Shellman,
BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Happy New Year to all of our NFBPWC members! Time for those New Year’s resolutions. And to keep it easy, we are suggesting 12 Simple Solutions that address Climate Crisis from which you can choose, one from each month of 2023.

1. Join an environmental organization. Friends of the Earth (https://foe.org), 350 cofounded by Bill McKibben (https://350.org), Audubon Great Lakes (https://gl.audubon.org), 52 Climate Actions (https://www.52climateactions.com), The Nature Conservancy (https://nature.org), The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (https://xerces.org).

2. Reduce food waste. Make the freezer your best friend. (www.foodprint.org)

3. Prioritize sustainable development and poverty eradication by financing environmental justice. Join local and community-led fights.

4. Eat what is in season. Shop at Farmers Markets. Join Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). Choose organic.

5. No Mow Spring whether it be April, May or June. Don’t jump into spring clean-up. Re-think your lawn. (https://beecityusa.org>no-mow-may)

6. Educate yourself about water. The earth is running out of clean drinking water. Learn about the importance of protecting our rivers and streams, our wetlands, and our sustainable water supply. (https://tinyurl.com)

7. Curb your carbon emissions. Park your car and walk inside skipping the drive-thru. Avoid running late, you’ll burn less fuel. Park in the back of the parking lot instead of driving around and looking for the closest spot.

8. Be a “plastic-hater”.  Avoid the use of plastic whenever possible. “1 million plastic bottles are used around the world per minute… 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide per year.” (Greensanity Designs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v+7sjBbs3BOfY).

9. Become a backyard gardener. Home-grown food reduces carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels by reducing food packaging, refrigeration, and transportation. And no plastic packaging is required.

10. Use eco-friendly menstrual products. These products are free from toxins and   chemicals that harm our bodies and our environment.

11. Recycle the correct way. Don’t recycle anything smaller than a credit card. Empty, clean, and dry should be your household motto. When in doubt, throw it out.

12. Remember Nature Boy and his message of the “Earth Box’. Spread peace and love to the Earth. Treat earth like your own bed, keep it clean and tidy.

By: Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual
Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

The Adventures of Nature Boy and how he helped the ESD Committee

Story written by Susan E. Oser

There once was a not-so-well-known superhero named Nature Boy.  He was a tall, slender man of 6ft 2in with dark hair, brown shoulders, and muscles like superman.  His mentor was the infamous Captain Planet that a lot of us remember from back in the 1990s or so.

He had not seen a lot of action lately as his time saving the planet was getting weary on him.  Almost every day he was busting someone for illegal dumping, hunting, and/or cleaning the water of something.  So, when Nature Boy got the call to help a small environmental committee on the Internet, he could not resist.  

It was a little environmental committee called the Environmental and Sustainable Development Committee from the National Business and Professional Women’s Club.  They were looking for help in spreading the message about the environment but could not think of an effective way to do it.   Nature Boy knew exactly who to talk to.   The old guy himself, Mr. St. Nick along with some help from his girl Mother Nature.

When Nature Boy travelled up to the North Pole, his trek was not too bad, especially with global warming on the rise.  However, at the same time, he wished he could’ve seen just a little bit more snow than he wanted.

Once he got up to the North Pole, he noticed that Santa needed a bit of environmental education on light pollution and a few other small things he could talk about with him…especially when it came to the new toys on the market that he didn’t feel were exactly environmentally friendly.

Nature Boy arrived in the North Pole area and walked towards the house in which he could smell cookies and hot chocolate emanating.  He walked up and rang the doorbell that sang the Jingle Bells song.  Within a few minutes, the door opened and a sweet old lady in a red dress and glasses opened and stepped forward.  It was Mrs. Claus.

Nature Boy was very grateful for the warm welcome.  He felt very cozy inside as he walked in, took off his coat and sat down by the fire. After about 10 minutes later, Santa came into the room, also served a few snacks by an elf that Nature Boy had not seen before along with Mrs. Claus who sat across from them.

“So, who is this strange person joining us today?”

“Allow me to introduce myself,” Nature Boy stood up.   My name is Sir Nature Boy and I come on behalf of a small environmental committee that needs some help to spread the message on the environment to kids and families around the world.”

“Oh!”  Santa exclaimed, “And what do I have to do with it?”

“Well, since you make gifts, and toys and things and the world look up to you,” Nature boy answered, “I thought you would help create something to get the message out.  Besides, there are a lot of people that are always asking you for things!”

“Well, that’s true.”

“And…instead of always making all these new shiny things, why not recycle or create something to show people how to recycle and make gifts!”

“But new is what I do!  And I don’t think I have time since it is so close to Christmas!”

“But dear,” Mrs. Claus said, “You know most parents can’t afford what the kids ask of you.  That’s why they hope to ask you, so you help them.”

“But won’t they be angry at me?  I sometimes get hate mail and must put them on the Naughty List.  I already have a list that’s as tall as me.”  Santa said.  He sounded a bit worried.

Nature Boy assured him, “Sir.  If you put a special message with the gift, along with a message from Miss Mother Nature, not only would it be a gift to the world, but also a gift to you!  I mean have you seen how smoggy the air is when you travel with your reindeer!  You would want some cleaner air to travel in during the night to keep you and the dear healthy.”

“That’s true,” Santa sat in contemplation, “And you said that you knew Mother Nature herself and she could give us a hand.”

“Sure thing!  Once we get our gift ideas together, I’ll give her a call.”

“Fine.  So where do we start?”

Nature Boy and Santa sat up all night talking about this special environmental gift.  Twinkles, one of Santa’s elves was summoned to sit down and take notes.  He was dressed in a 3-piece green suit and wore thick red glasses.

As Nature Boy and Santa chatted, they were braining storming a lot of ideas over hot chocolate and cookies.  Nature Boy mentioned how Santa could create recycled wrapping paper instead of using shiny, new non-environmentally friendly wrapping paper, as well as the light pollution that he first noticed when he stepped in the realm of the North.  It was an eye-opening education for Santa.

When the project got underway, Santa was a bit skeptical, but when he saw how the product came together, he realized how precious a gift it was going to be.  Mother Nature was contacted to write a special message and after a few days, it was sent.  When Santa read it, he had a tear in his eye and decided that he too would put a message in the box as well.

When Nature Boy attended the next ESD meeting, he did a show and tell of the “Earth Box”.  It was a shoebox wrapped in a used magazine.  Inside, there was a mask made from a handkerchief, a small bunny named from an old rag, a painted jar with instructions inside for how it could be used (coffee storage, egg mixer), and a reindeer made from used socks.  There were also two messages inside.  One from Santa and one from Mother Nature.   

The ESD Committee was pleased.  They thanked Nature Boy for his help, and a few days later they received their own “Earth Boxes.”  Each member found their own special use for the jar.  They also decided to share the messages from Mother Nature and Santa that were given to them.  These messages are below:

Mother Nature’s message:

If I were you, I’ll treat the earth like my own bed.

Make sure it’s clean and tidy, yes that’s what I said.

There’s a hole in the ozone and like your favorite sheet,

You need to hold it tight, so we won’t lose or gain any heat.

Protect the wilderness and give it care.

Don’t mess it up, like it as your hair.

This is my advice, spread it across the land.

Before everyone dies, and the world disbands.

Santa’s message: 

My dear children and families around the world.  I never realized how much the Earth needs our care until I met a special friend.  He taught me about how I should really look around me and be careful about my travels so I can be safe to drop off your gifts to you.  I didn’t realize that I do have to wear a mask as I travel through the air to some of your homes.  A few of my reindeer always get sick for some reason when I return from my travels…and now I know.  I also didn’t realize that I can see the stars more and I don’t need so many lights to be shiny outside.  The stars are their own Christmas lights.  

And there is so much more that I have learned.  And because of this, the “Earth Box” was created for you to enjoy and to share with your friends and neighbors.  Just as we spread peace and love for each other, we should also spread peace and love to the Earth and our homes.  

May our Earth be around for years to come and for me to visit every Christmas!

Enjoy your gift and have a Merry Christmas and other Happy Holidays!

By: Laurie Dameron
BPW Colorado Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development

Dear Business and Professional Women colleagues,

As of November, I have officially retired from my position of Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development for BPW Colorado.  It’s truly been an honor and privilege to serve BPW since 2015.

 

I have learned so very much as a member and this position and have so much gratitude for being able to represent our phenomenal organization in Cairo, Egypt at the 2017 BPW International Congress. Also, I got to do a cruise with BPW in the Caribbean and attended other conferences over the years and met so many incredible women!

It’s possible I’ve found a replacement for this position, and I will keep you updated on that. 

My final “Green News,” “Simple Action” is this: 

Raise your environmental awareness - Every time you buy something and every time you throw something away - think about where it is coming from and where is it going. 

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!

To sign up for Laurie’s monthly music and “Green News,” write to WindchimeL@aoL.com

Or visit www.LaurieDameron.com

Please visit and LIKE https://www.facebook.com/WhatCanIDoSpaceshipEarth

By: Laurie Dameron
BPW Colorado Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development Dear Business and Professional Women colleagues

I will be stepping down from being BPW Colorado Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development. It’s been a privilege and honor to serve BPW, humankind, all creatures, and our beautiful planet for so many years! I feel it’s time for some new energy and direction. I’ve tried very hard to find a replacement. If you have anyone in mind, please do let me know. I have a “Job Description” document I can send to anyone interested.

Just to mention one of many perks of the job was getting to represent BPW Colorado and NFBPWC at the 2017 BPW International Congress in Cairo, Egypt. We met women from all around the world! My colleagues and I stayed an extra week and sailed the Nile River with Luxor Sail the Nile owned by our BPW Germany colleague. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!

My “Green News” and “Simple Actions” may be coming to an end as well. I am making a final attempt with the

below document and have sent it out to all the Aides for Representatives and Senators at the Colorado capital. I will also be sending this to any other people or organizations that have a newsletter or regular e communications and also to news and media.

Please feel free to use the following as a template or edit it to use in sending any other persons or organizations that you are connected to.

Hello to my Colorado Representatives and Senators,

First of all, thank you for all you do to make our world a better place!

Psychologists have come up with a term "Eco Anxiety." With all the climate disasters in the news every day folks are feeling the impacts of climate change. I believe by focusing on solutions, folks will feel empowered like there's something they can do instead of feeling despair and helplessness of our situation on this beautiful planet.

I've been thinking of ways to address climate change as we need to take drastic action. I'm sure you are aware of the seriousness of our situation and that humanity (and all species) are at stake.

I started sending eco-suggestions out when I was motivated in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire that occurred in Boulder County, Colorado, where I reside. Over one thousand homes burned, and thousands of people lost everything. I am still affected with PTSD even though it’s been nearly two years ago.

As an organization or person sending out regular e-communications, you have the opportunity to reach many people. I'm urging you to include the "simple action" of the day, or week, or month in your communications.

For example, the majority of regular citizens don't know many simple things, including that idling their cars puts out a lot more CO2 than when driving, and lack the knowledge about phantom or vampire energy. YOU can help educate people.

Almost every day in the news, I read or hear of yet another climate disaster. But what about solutions?

Wouldn’t it be great if your newsletters and news outlets and media helped us to do that by sharing a

simple environmental action of the day? For example:

• Don’t allow your car to idle

• Avoid using drive-throughs

• Have no-drive days every week

• Shop and bank locally and divest from big banks that support oil and gas

• Turn down the heat

• Turn off lights when you leave a room

• Use power strips and leave off when not in use to fight “vampire energy”

• Minimize using single-use plastics

• Bring your own cup to your coffee shop

• Use a reusable water bottle wherever you go

• Strive for zero waste

• Hang-line dry clothes

• Join Climate Citizens Lobby

• Get the Climate Action Now CAN app (spend only 5 minutes a day to send emails to companies that are harming the planet or supporting oil and gas such as big banks. CAN provides the text and email addresses all one needs to do is click send)

There are SO many actions we can take. They may be small changes but can add up to make a big difference. I can send you a list of simple actions with links that are ready to send. (All you need to do is add a text box to your newsletter).

Switching to renewable energies, transitioning to regenerative agriculture practices, and passing legislation such as the Green New Deal, and a carbon pricing bill, are really important. However, these things take time

-- time we don’t have. I feel that every citizen needs to be environmentally educated and be part of the

solution.

I think Colorado Governor Polis and President Biden missed a huge opportunity to reach millions of households when they gave speeches for the Marshall Fire press conference which aired on television in January of 2022. They spoke at great length on the many climate disasters that are increasing but barely a word about solutions.

I urge our elected officials and others to use media opportunities to an advantage.

I believe what the EPA says: “Over 40% of our greenhouse gases come from the way products are extracted, produced, transported, used, and even disposed of. Striving for Zero Waste is one of the quickest and easiest ways to address climate change and build healthy communities.”

I also agree with Bill McKibben when he said: “We're under attack from climate change — and our only hope is to mobilize like we did in WWII.”

Again, thank you again for all you do and your time here. We can make this happen! I look forward to hearing from you!

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!!!

Laurie Dameron Climate Reality Leader

Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development BPW Colorado

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!

To sign up for Laurie’s monthly music and “Green News,” write to WindchimeL@aoL.com Or visit www.LaurieDameron.com

Please visit and LIKE https://www.facebook.com/WhatCanIDoSpaceshipEarth

By:  Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual Chair
NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Many of us are feeling overwhelmed by the immense weight of news about Climate Change. To add a lift to our spirits, I thought I’d write about the amazing annual journey of the Monarch butterflies. Between August & October, North American monarchs migrate south. Most monarchs who spent summer months west of the Rocky Mountains migrate to California coastal areas while those monarchs who breed in the east migrate to Mexico.

• Coasting on air currents these migrating monarchs can travel up to 100 miles in one day, a total of 2500 to 3000 miles to reach their winter sites. We can’t see these migration patterns from the ground as they often fly at elevations of 800 t0 1200 feet high.

• Scientists theorize that monarchs must use cues like sunlight & magnetism to navigate directionally, because none of these fall migrating monarchs have ever been to their destination before. When they head north in the spring, they will breed & die.

• While a monarch’s lifespan is 2 to 6 weeks, a migrating monarch’s lifespan is 9 months. This lifespan is spent migrating south, clustering in large groups to survive the winter, migrating north, and breeding in the spring.

• Some species of monarchs don’t migrate, such as those monarchs living in southern Florida. Scientists are

still studying- is because of the milder winters or genetics or both.

• Much of the data about migrating monarchs is from community scientists who have been tracking, counting and photographing monarchs for decades. Anyone can be involved. Contact Xerces Society to be a community scientist to help with research of these beautiful animals.

Remember to LEAVE the LEAVES!

Most insects & invertebrates spend their winter right where they spent all summer. They rely on fallen leaves and other organic debris to cover and insulate them from the winter weather. Before you rake or blow those leaves, remember these are resources for nests and overwintering habitat.

By:  Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual Chair

NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Simple Acts: Recycling the Correct Way

Despite being taught to recycle everything, everything cannot be recycled. About 30% of what ends up in our recycling containers doesn’t belong there. Contaminated materials being tossed into recycling bins are causing recycling centers to dispose waste by the truckloads to landfills. Some simple recycling Do’s and Don’ts

1. Don’t be a “Wish-cycler”. While tossing items like shoes, bicycle tires, old garden hoses, Styrofoam coolers, & plastic toys into the recycling bin might be done with the best intentions, these bad recycling habits are counterproductive. “Wish-cycling”, tossing non-recyclable materials into recycling bins, adds financial expense & labor to every system in the world. Someone has to manually pull these things off the conveyor belt & send them to the landfill. What can be recycled varies from community to community depending  upon  how  far  away processors are located. When in doubt call your local recycling facility or throw it out.

2. Do recycle all clean, dry paper & paper board products. Shredded paper can be recycled in paper bags, but not loose. Don’t recycle any soiled or coated or sticky paper, examples being envelopes with a clear plastic windows or sticky notes. Cracker, cereal, cookie boxes are okay as are the non-greasy side of pizza boxes. Rinsed out milk & juice containers are dependent upon where you live. Used coffee cups are a no-no!

3. Empty, clean & dry should be your household motto. Food residue of any kind, just one empty jar of peanut butter can contaminate an entire truckload of recyclables. Aluminum soda cans & tin cans can be recycled if they are empty, clean & dry. (I put mine through the dishwasher.) Aluminum foil with food stuck to it, bottle caps, soda can tabs & razor blades should never be recycled. Once again, when in doubt, throw it out!

4. Don’t recycle anything smaller than a credit card. Small items like bottle caps or tiny pieces of paper can become stuck in recycling processing machines.

5. Try the “poke test” with plastics- if you can press your finger through the plastic, it doesn’t belong in the recycling bin. Sandwich bags, plastic wrap, plastic grocery bags, produce bags, newspaper bags, & most cereal bags do not belong in the recycle bin.

6. Whether it’s broken window glass or a broken beer bottle, never put broken glass into your recycling bin. It can clog machinery and/or be dangerous for employees handling recycling.

7. Don’t assume all plastic is single-stream recyclable. The number inside the triangle of chasing arrows, called Resin Identification Codes, were not designed for consumers, but rather for processors to bale recycling materials with consistency. Ignore the numbers & recycle single-use rigid cleaned plastic containers only: water, salad dressing & shampoo bottles.

While almost anything is technically recyclable, processors need to have enough of a homogenous material supply to make it worth their cost for labor, space & marketability. Recycling is based on supply and demand. Processors need to be able to purchase materials and break them down for reuse at a cost that will sufficiently pay for labor & transportation and still make a profit for them.

By: Laurie Dameron
BPW Colorado Chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development

Another Way to Cut Down on Single-Use Plastics!

Along with your reusable shopping bags in your car, keep small containers for leftovers at restaurants.  Since most places use Styrofoam, which is very bad for the planet and is not only not recyclable but takes years to decompose and has many harmful chemicals, your simple action can make a huge difference!  Even if a restaurant uses other plastics and even compostables, it’s still “single use.”  And it encourages more plastic to be produced or uses paper made from trees.  

If I’m going out for Chinese, I know I’m going to have leftovers and take Tupperware or glassware with.

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!

To sign up for Laurie’s monthly music and “Green News,” write to WindchimeL@aoL.com

Or visit www.LaurieDameron.com

Please visit and LIKE https://www.facebook.com/WhatCanIDoSpaceshipEarth

By: Marikay Shellman
BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Simple Act: “Do a whole lot of nothing”

I was amused to read this headline: “Don’t you dare rake your leaves this fall.” by Dana Milbank, author who typically writes satirical political articles.  A recent transplant to country living, he was perplexed to find few pesky bugs bothering him.  After spending years trying to destroy the bug populations in his city yard- citronella tiki torches, garlic-based repellents, fogging screened in porches, & resorting to chemical insecticides- he learned from entomologists that cities & suburbs, due to abundant use of insecticides & destruction of habitat, have created “insect wastelands.”  In the country (& wilderness) the eco-system is in better balance with birds & frogs, snakes, fish & spiders keeping insect pests in check.  “The problem isn’t that we have too many bugs in cities & suburbs: the problem is that we don’t have nearly enough.  We’ve been so successful at vanquishing the little critters that the entire insect world is in big trouble…”   The insect population is declining by 1-2% per year leading to the loss of 1/3 of the insect population by 2040 according to Scott Black of Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  Our entire food chain is dependent upon insects for crop pollination.  We are already seeing the decline of bird & mammal populations.  

• Allow your lawn to be shaggy, leaving it at least 4” high for overwintering.  Cutting your lawn too low in the fall weakens the grass and makes it vulnerable to dry and cold weather.

• Don’t rake & bag your leaves, allow them to nourish the soil as they decompose and help protect your lawn & shrubs from harsh winter & spring conditions.  Leaves provide habitat for insects.

• Don’t cut back your perennials or deadhead your flowers.  Not only will the stems provide nesting for insects, perennials have more resiliency when their stems are left to overwinter.  

• Don’t use pesticides which include fertilizers.  Pesticides kill beneficial insects, one key example being caterpillars which are an essential protein for many birds.  Many pesticides are approved by the EPA despite the harm they pose to insects.  Testing occurs only using the European honeybee, not the more sensitive native bee, butterflies, moths, lightening bugs, or other invertebrates.  The combination of chemicals used in the “real world” can be much more toxic.  

• Turn off exterior lights at night.  

So do a whole lot of nothing & allow your yard to be shaggy.  You’ll be helping out a whole lot of insects.