Your Little Bit of Good - For the Earth June 15, 2024

Prayer

Parable of the Mustard Seed:

He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown, it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” Matthew 13: 31-32

Knowledge

June 17 – 23 is Pollinator Week, an annual celebration dedicated to supporting pollinator health, raising awareness about their crucial role, and promoting actions to protect them. Learn more at the Pollinator Week website.

Pollinators are essential for the survival of many of our crops. Around 75% of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators, with over 200,000 animal species playing this crucial role. Among these, approximately 1,000 species are hummingbirds, bats, and small mammals, while the rest are insects such as beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies, and moths. For more details, see Pollinator Facts for Gardeners.

Entomologist, ecologist, and conservationist Doug Tallamy has found that despite the extensive national parks in the US, they are insufficient to halt the decline of pollinators, a vital component for sustaining human life. The current national park system lacks the necessary connectivity to support the movement and survival of pollinators. In his book, Nature’s Best Hope, Tallamy emphasizes the need to create "corridors" for pollinators and wildlife to thrive.

Here at the sister’s province center, Sisters Florence Maier and Dottie Deger have a St Kateri Tekakwitha Habitat garden. Many come to bask in the peace and beauty of the space. Maybe you can achieve this designation for your own pollinator garden!

Action

The good news is that you can make a difference during Pollinator Week. Here are some actions you can take:

Plant Native Plants: Doug Tallamy's "Homegrown National Park" movement encourages homeowners to plant native species that support pollinators and avoid non-native invasive plants. Reduce the size of your lawn to make space for these beneficial plants.

Conserve Resources: If you don't have space or time to plant, you can still help by conserving resources, using less, and reducing your environmental impact.
Support Local Beekeepers: Buy local honey to support bees and the beekeepers who care for them.

Inspire Others: Reach out to your community and inspire others to take action. Pollinator.org offers more suggestions in their 7 Things You Can Do for Pollinators guide. Share your actions with us at [email protected] to be featured on our website and social channels next week to celebrate Pollinator Week.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUBMISSIONS!

Submission from Teresa Phillips: Phase one is complete. Phase two is in progress. I had to solarize an invasive ground cover because using Roundup was not an option due to poison ivy. While plastic is problematic, it is the lesser of two evils. The plastic will be reused for other solarization projects and stored in a shed when unnecessary.	Submission from Teresa Phillips: Phase one is complete. Phase two is in progress. I had to solarize an invasive ground cover because using Roundup was not an option due to poison ivy. While plastic is problematic, it is the lesser of two evils. The plastic will be reused for other solarization projects and stored in a shed when unnecessary.
Submission from Dick and Rita Rings: We are privileged to have enough yard space for flower gardens and tomato plants. Since 2015 and Laudato Si we do our best to buy native plants. A few years ago, the Cincinnati Zoo registered our pollinator garden. We were lucky enough to get butterfly weed at the Marianist Environmental Education Center Native Plant Sale several years ago and it is flowering well this year. We recommend supporting their sale next Saturday June 22. It is our coneflowers that are attracting pollinators this week. Monday: a Brown-belted BumbleBee We thank the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for their love of indigenous peoples, the preservation of their native lands and for sharing the inspiring story of Sister Dorothy Stang and all of the Sisters work in Brazil.	Submission from Dick and Rita Rings: We are privileged to have enough yard space for flower gardens and tomato plants. Since 2015 and Laudato Si we do our best to buy native plants. A few years ago, the Cincinnati Zoo registered our pollinator garden. We were lucky enough to get butterfly weed at the Marianist Environmental Education Center Native Plant Sale several years ago and it is flowering well this year. We recommend supporting their sale next Saturday June 22. It is our coneflowers that are attracting pollinators this week. Tuesday: a Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly. We thank the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for their love of indigenous peoples, the preservation of their native lands and for sharing the inspiring story of Sister Dorothy Stang and all of the Sisters work in Brazil