Avant Gardener: Smart gardening and shopping can help wild pollinators to flourish.

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • March 5, 2013
  • 294
                        
Summary: The role of wild pollinators is becoming clearer as bee populations decline and crop yields are reduced around the planet. Some of us are old enough to remember when the bald eagle nearly became extinct. After World War II the use of the chemical pesticide DDT in the U.S. as a pesticide contaminated fish, a primary source of food for the giant birds as run-off from over use spread into waterways. DDT poisoned the birds and made it impossible for them to produce eggs with strong shells. Baby eagles died during incubation and never had a chance to hatch. The very symbol of our nation was nearly wiped out because we didn’t comprehend the dangers of dispersing large amounts of chemicals into the environment before we fully understood the effects on ecology and human health. While the loss of any creature is tragic it also disrupts the natural balance of the planet. Once again the over use of chemical pesticides is thought to be the cause of a decline in the numbers of wild pollinators. Other factors play a role in the declining number of wild pollinators that include loss of habitat, susceptibility to disease, fungal infections, mites and climate change. Wild pollinators are far more important than most people realize. Casually spraying them with poison so they don’t disrupt a picnic or party on the patio does more harm than good. Pollinators are responsible for nearly three quarters of the global food supply. Without them we wouldn’t have nearly the abundance of coffee, onions, tomatoes or strawberries. Our kids would never have the opportunity to turn their noses up at broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage without the help of wild pollinators. Fruits, vegetable, spices, herbs and nuts are all a result of wild pollinators instinctively travelling from plant to plant in search of nectar and spreading pollen. As wild pollinator numbers have declined farmers have had to transport managed honeybee hives to crops. Unfortunately the managed honeybees are not nearly as efficient as wild pollinators and they too are in decline for the same reasons. As home gardeners we can do our part to protect wild pollinators by abstaining from using chemical products that even when used as directed contribute to the problem. Using organic gardening and lawn care methods as well as buying organic produce from farmers helps protect wild pollinators. Our buying habits support or reject agricultural practices that affect the whole planet. Include plants and trees that attract wild pollinators in your yard and garden. They will flock to places that are pesticide-free and thrive in an environment that offers food and shelter. Tolerate weeds that do not displace native species. Choose plants that will prevent invasive species from taking over. Keep parts of your yard natural and learn to live without a toxic cookie-cutter landscape that only contributes to the problem of wild pollinator decline. Reach out to others and tell them how wild pollinators are at risk. Urge the Environmental Protection Agency to enact measures to protect bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles and flies that play a huge role in food protection. Urge Congress to do the same between rounds of golf and television appearances. Wild pollinators, like humans do not live in isolation. They are a part of a complex system of relationships that thorough management and conservation can be restored and flourish.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load