Sunday August 3, at 2:30 p.m. upstairs at the Orcas Food Co-op
— by Chom Graecen —
Gardeners beware. Some “bee friendly” plants that you buy may end up harming, instead of, helping bees.
The health of honey bees, bumble bees and other pollinators have been under serious threat and their populations in decline worldwide.
Without pollinators, production of two-thirds of the food crops that humans eat would also be in danger.
The fastest growing class of synthetic pesticides, neonicotinoids (or “neonics”) have been identified as a major contributing factor of bee colony collapse disorder. Based on a growing body of scientific evidence the European Commission recently issued a moratorium on the use of three neonicotinoid compounds.
The U.S. EPA has yet to take a similar action or inform the public of the potential risks, however. Consumers are thus mostly unaware of what danger might lurk behind their plants, flowers and foods contaminated with neonics and other pesticides.
Unbeknownst to consumers, some plants, such daisies and tomatoes, marketed as “bee friendly” and sold at retail outlets including Home Depot and Lowe’s, have been found to contain neonicotinoids that sadly end up poisoning, rather than nourishing, bees.
To protect the future of pollinators and the future of our foods and human survival, it is necessary for citizens to be better informed about what is hurting our bees, and what we can do to make our gardens and our islands safe for the pollinators.
Fortunately for Orcas residents and visitors, a leader of fast-growing Bee Safe Neighborhood movement is coming here to join the conversation on the island as a special guest speaker. A Boulder, Colorado native, Molly Greacen will share her experience in mobilizing different communities to become “Bee Safe”.
“Starting in my neighborhood, the Bee Safe Neighborhood movement has now gone viral in Colorado. I am excited to visit Orcas and help contribute to the conversation to make Orcas and the San Juans “Bee Safe”.
Russel Barsh, Director of Kwiaht San Juans scientific research and educational non-profit with a wealth of knowledge about local pollinators, will join Molly Greacen in leading an informative evening discussion.
All are invited to learn about and participate in the Orcas Bee Safe conversation, Sunday August 3, 2.30PM at the upstairs of the Orcas Food Co-op. The event is free to the public, sponsored by Orcas Food Co-op. For more information, contact Regina Zwilling at 376-2009 or visit www.bee-safesjc.org.
I am so happy to see this coming to attention in the San Juans.
The first time I read about neonictinoids was in an issue of Mother Earth News in 2012. At that time I called local organic growers in Skagit County that we frequent and was met with distrust and a bit of anger.
In February my husband and I went to Lowes and Home Depot, the two biggest offenders according to Mother Earth for the “Swarm” event, my husband and I were the only two people there. We spoke with the garden manager and were met with lip service but no action.
I posted a link above but incase that does not work I will repost it here for… Saving America’s Pollinators Act of 2013 H.R. 2692. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr2692/text , which was introduced by two US Senators, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and John Conyers Jr. of Michigan
This particular pesticide is made by Syngenta and Bayer in Germany, yet, ALL neonictinoids are banned in Germany. What the act proposes is that neonicotinoids be suspended on bee attracting plants in the US until further research is conducted.
Syngenta who of course stated that neonicotinoids are safe for human consumption…but a 2012 Japanese study showed that neonicotinoids may pose potential human risk. Hence more research needed.
Please read the bill if you have time…#8 brought me to tears… “(8) Recent science has demonstrated that a single corn kernel coated with a neonicotinoid is toxic enough to kill a songbird.”
This topic is near to my heart and I could post on but I will stop here and simply say thank you.