The Bee-Friendly Garden: Design an Abundant, Flower-Filled Yard that Nurtures Bees and Supports Biodiversity Book Review

I received this book free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

The Bee-Friendly Garden: Design an Abundant, Flower-Filled Yard that Nurtures Bees and Supports Biodiversity by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn is a gorgeous book filled with pretty pictures and useful advice to help anyone create a yard or garden filled with flowers that bees love. This book creates a great conversational piece. It would also be a lovely little coffee table book.

The layout of the book is fairly straightforward. This 224 page softcover book starts out with a preface to why the authors made this book and an introduction that tells us the benefits of a bee-friendly garden. There are 6 chapters that talk about bees, plants for pollinators, what bees require in a garden and how to make your garden safer for them, bee garden design, and how to help the bees by protecting and promoting. After the chapters there is a resource list, plant lists divided by region, photography credits, and an index to help you find things easier within the book.

Here is the chapter layout:

• Chapter 1: Our Friends, the Bees
• Chapter 2: Plants For Your Bee-Friendly Garden
• Chapter 3: Bee-Friendly Plants for Edible Gardens
• Chapter 4: Bee Garden Basics
• Chapter 5: Designing Your Bee Garden
• Chapter 6: Beyond Your Own Backyard - Becoming a Bee Activist

I love pollinators! Not just bees, but some species of ants, bats, beetles, birds, butterflies, flies, moths, wasps, as well as other unusual animals are also essential and beneficial to flowering plants. If we didn't have these creatures then there wouldn't be much to eat or look at. Unfortunately bees and some of these other creatures need our help to survive. With the rise in colony collapse disorder (CCD) in honeybee populations and decline in native bees we need to be vigilant in protecting them, promoting ways to help them, educating the public, and creating a safer, more inviting world for them to live in.

National Pollinator Week is June 20 - 26, 2016 and even though I believe that pollinators should be celebrated, protected, and promoted every day, this week is special. It is a time that we all should put aside to help these creatures out. I will be incorporating lessons in my homeschooling about pollinators during that week. My children have already been assisting me in the garden. I believe we have an obligation to teach our children when they are young about what good they can do to help out in the world.

On my own property I have started to invite more species of pollinators to my garden and yard. I spent two weeks ripping out English ivy to procure the way for flowering plants that bees love, like ajuga and columbine. I have planted a large pot of violas for my porch and am slowly adding more and more flowering plants to my landscape. Little by little I see more dancing, buzzing bees around my garden and not just honeybees, but native bumblebees, sweat bees, miner bees, and mason bees too. I have also noticed another pollinator, the hummingbirds, loving some of my flowers. Pollinators do so much good in my gardens that I want to give back to them and plant even more nourishment so they will thrive.

I have learned that planting flowering plants for the pollinators will also benefit me and if you do the same it will benefit you as well. Some benefits include: increasing and improving the quantity, quality, flavor, size of produce for food producing plants; your landscape being more abundantly beautiful throughout the seasons, learning how to have organic and pesticide free plants, your plants helping enrich the soil and bringing in beneficial insects, birds, and butterflies; and being healthier and happier as you reconnect with the outdoors making your gardens grow. I love how this wonderful cycle helps with our threatened food security and the very well being of this planet!

This book is a wonderful addition to my collection. It has helped me better understand how I can make a difference in my own landscape and in turn help some of the 4,000+ species of native bees in North America as well as the honeybees too. It helps us become ever more mindful of the plants we should (and should not!) plant to help the precious bees flourish. By purchasing, reading, and implementing the words in this book you will be taking one more step in preserving these wonderful pollinators and sustaining the world. Even a tiny change for the better is better than no change at all.

BUY IT


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Blogging For Books for sending me this book for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

What I Learned At Soil School 2016

Did you know that:

• There are 1 billion organisms in every pinch of soil?
• There are 22 thousand different soil types?
• Mollisols are the most productive soil on the planet? 
• Legumes like fava beans are nitrogen fixing for the soil and are a great cover crop if you need that nutrient? 
• Like your veggie garden you should rotate cover crops too? 
• Some slugs and snails pollinate some plants? 
• Slug/snail slime absorbs 40-100 times its volume in water and therefore the best way to get it off your skin is actually using dirt? 
• 90% of flowering plant reproduction depends upon pollinators?
• There are over 4000 different species of native bees, 600-800 live in Oregon? 
• 70% native bees nest in the ground and need bare dirt? 
• Native plants are 4 times more likely to attract pollinators? 
• The best worms to use for vermicompost and a worm bin is the red wiggler or Eisenia fetida? 
• The ideal conditions for the worms in vermiculture is keeping them in a shallow bin with air holes and drainage holes in 59-77 degree temperature, 75% moisture, slightly acid PH, lots of oxygen, grit for their digestion, and their favorite compostable foods added?

I learned all this and more at Soil School, which is offered every year in Portland Oregon for farmers with small farms, landscapers, gardeners, grounds managers and anyone else who wants to improve their soil. I learned about it through my Master Gardeners Program. It is a jam packed learning day with a complimentary breakfast, snacks, and lunch. It costs $30 for a single person and $50 for two people.

This year it was held at the Portland Community College Rock Creek Event Center on April 16th, 2016 from 8am-3:30pm. My husband and I signed up. We all where treated to the "not to be missed" key note speaker, James "Dr. Soil" Cassidy who taught all about, yes you guessed it, SOIL! Then we broke up into our various classes of which we had to pick 4 each out of the 12 offered.

I took Using Cover Crops, Slugs & Snails, Planting for Pollinators, and Vermiculture. My husband, Brian, took Soil Testing & Analysis, Irrigation, Invasive Weed I.D. and Organic Weed Control. Then after we compared notes and I brought home a lot of printed information, a lawn sign and some other cool swag. We had a lot of fun and learned a bunch! Brian also won a door prize at the end which was a boot brush and scraper combo! We can definitely use that on our farm!

Classes and Speakers: 

• Key Note, Soil Structure/Composition/Test Analysis: James "Dr. Soil" Cassidy (OSU Soil Instructor)
• Soil Testing & Analysis, Landscaping with Native Plants: Weston Miller (OSU Extension)
• Using Cover Crops: Kim Galland (NRCS)
• Organic Weed Control, Lawn Conversion: Mary Logalbo (West Multnomah  SWCD)
• Stormwater Management: Clair Klock (Clackamas SWCD)
• Composting/Organic Matter: Dave Alba, PNW Organic Land Care Coalition
• Slugs & Snails: Claudia Groth, OSU Master Gardener
• Planting For Pollinators: Kammy Kern-Korot, West Multnomah  SWCD
• Irrigation: Dean Moberg  (NRCS)
• Vermiculture: Glen Andresen (Metro Area Master Gardener)
• Invasive Weed I.D.: Rob Emanuel, (Clean Water Services)

Sponsors:

• East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District  
• Tualatin Soil & Water Conservation District 
• West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District  
• Oregon Tilth 
• OSU Small Farms Program
• OSU (Oregon) Master Gardener Program 
• Metro Master Gardeners

Stand With Moby To #SaveOurBees #HollywoodFoodVoices

Center For Food Safety provided me with this promotional information and media to share with my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else.

I remember when we lived in Ohio and my now 12 year old son Jaedan was just a wee little baby. My husband and I dropped off our son Delbin at a sitter on Friday July 19th, 2002 and went to a Moby concert on the grass at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (LC Pavilion). We put down a blanket to sit on and huddled close together under another blanket. We watched and listened to Moby belt it out on stage as it down-pored on us. Jaedan was content, warm and happy snuggled next to me as I nursed him. My husband and I walked away after the concert drenched, but very happy. We went out and bought his albums Play and 18. The concert is something I will never forget. The music was fantastic! The electronic ambient sounds and rain made it seem a bit dreamlike.

Hollywood Food Voices is a video series by Center For Food Safety (CFS) engaging the voices of informed celebrities with a passion for food and environmental health and justice. The CFS is a national non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy organization working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. The goal of the Hollywood Food Voices series is to help bring greater awareness to the critical importance of the growing food movement. The first video in this series features musician and DJ Moby talking about the importance of bees and how we can help save them.

We all should be advocates for the honey bees! They are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Sadly, our bees are being wiped out by the indiscriminate use of bee-toxic pesticides called neonicotinoids.

Moby is passionate about pollinators. He has over 30,000 bees that dwell on his four-acre home atop the Hollywood Hills. He has planted a bee friendly garden there that is free from pesticides and contaminants that would otherwise harm them.

Watch the new video:

Please sign the petition and join Moby and CFS in taking action to save the bees.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER:  Center For Food Safety provided me with this promotional information and media to share with my readers. I chose on my own to post about this and share with my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I didn't receive any compensation for posting about this.

UncommonGoods Recycled Glass Bumblebee Nightlight and Tube Kneeling Pad Review

We received products free from UncommonGoods to facilitate this review.

UncommonGoods is a unique online store with some very unusual items (some handmade) that you don't find in every day shopping usually. Their products make great gifts for the holiday and Christmas season! Click here to see some unique affordable gifts they have under $50. They also have some really interesting facts or what they call "Uncommon Knowledge" posted around their website and feature some of the artists and designers of their handmade goods in highlights on some of the pages on their website and their print catalog. They are committed to the environment and print their catalogs on recycled paper and there is also products in their store that are made of recycled materials. In their Better to Give Program they donate a portion of each order to your choice of non-profit organizations: American Forests,Women for Women International, City Harvest, and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

I was recently approached by them to pick something from off of their website that was under $65. I picked two items. One was the Recycled Glass Bumblebee Nightlight and the other item was the Recycled Tube Kneeling Pad.

Bumblebee Nightlight, seeds, and packaging.

The Bumblebee Nightlight arrived in a recycled cardboard box with shredded newspaper all around to protect it from breakage. It came with the 4 watt bulb needed to create the ambient light. It also came with some weedy wildflower seeds to spread around for the bees to collect pollen grains to pollinate the flowers with and nectar to convert to honey. I love this! My bees are going to be very happy! Wildflowers are some of my favorite flowers and I love that I can give back to the earth and help the bees at the same time.

Bumblebee Nightlight with room light on and with it off.

The Bumblebee Nightlight by Vawn and Mike Gray of Reborn Glass located out of Cape Coral Florida is definitely something worth buzzing about. It is a gorgeous nightlight that is made with recycled broken bottles that were rescued before they reached the landfill. Each one is unique and are fused and formed in the kiln. The art glass is textured with its purple blooms and adorable plump bumblebees. Its curved form hugs the light perfectly and I love the warm soft glow it makes. So Bee-autiful :) Click here to see some unique lighting from UncommonGoods.

The Recycled Tube Kneeling Pad in use.

The Recycled Tube Kneeling Pad by Flat Tire Décor located out of Milwaukee Wisconsin is a great gift for any gardener or anyone who works on their knees. This extremely durable pad is smooth and flexible. The rubber exterior is made of reclaimed industrial tire inner tubes and the inside is lined with a inch thick cushion of anti-fatigue foam. It is also naturally slip resistant, water resistant, abrasion resistant, and easily wipes clean. This cushion is so comfortable for my knees and the curved semi circular shape is contoured where you can shift left to right without repositioning! It works on dirt, cement, brick, wood, stone or other surface. I no longer get my knees dirty when I garden and my knees don't feel stressed. I can garden longer and not feel any pain. Besides gardening I can see this being used for other jobs that have to be done on your knees. I also think that it would be an ideal seat for watching a game in the stands or having a picnic while seated at a park bench or picnic table. It does become hot if in direct sunlight. It also has a study nylon strap that you can carry or hang it from. 37" L x 14" W x 1" D, Strap: 30" L Click here to see some wonderful gifts for women from UncommonGoods.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received products for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Free Burt's Bees Wildflower Seed Packets For Pollinator Week

Photo courtesy of: Burt's Bees. Information about the promotion was provided free as well. All other thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post.

Bees are important to our life cycle. They pollinate the plants we and other animals eat. We live in a world that unfortunately favors lawns, monoculture and pavement. The bees need our help to survive and thrive.

Burt's Bees is giving away free wildflower seed packs. Plant these to give your outdoors some color and the bees a feast. You can also get tips on how you can go wild for bees, and learn what Burt's Bees is doing to help our favorite pollinators.

Sent by mail within 6-8 weeks | Subject to availability, while supplies last | Limit one per household | Valid only in the U.S. 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Photo courtesy of: Burt's Bees. Information about the promotion was provided free as well. All other thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post. I did register to receive a free seed packet for my garden.

Butterflies, Bees, Easter Eggs & the Resurrection

I thought this article was great!!...
Butterflies, Bees, Easter Eggs & the Resurrection
By Jean Henrich
www.Enrichment4You.com

Did you know that butterflies, bees and eggs are symbols of the resurrection? Symbols have long been the unspoken means by which a common language is spoken. Regardless of where one lives, culture or background symbols communicate where words may not. Historically many people were unable to read or write. To address this problem, church leaders would frequently depict the stories of the Bible through performances such as the Passion Play as well as symbols.
The Christian faith is filled with symbols. Colors, animals and objects have symbolic meaning. Symbols and their associated meanings are wonderful ways to communicate the story of Christ. Regardless of age, race or culture Christian symbols can be a tool to share the “Good News” of Christ’s salvation.

Watching a caterpillar change into a butterfly can be an excellent teaching tool about the gift of Christ’s sacrifice. There are numerous butterfly kits available on the market. Whether you have very young or order children, all will enjoy watching a caterpillar grow, make a cocoon and eventually emerge as a butterfly. Why not give a child a gift certificate to a butterfly kit as part of their Easter Basket or to someone who is in great need after an illness, injury or loss.

The promise that a butterfly offers as a symbol of the resurrection is immense. Let this small creature bridge the language barrier and carry the message of hope and the promise of Easter. The following lists a few of the many Christian symbols that are often associated with Easter which you may wish to incorporate into your Easter celebration:

• Cross & Crucifix - The crucifix and the cross are symbols of Christ’s sacrifice. The empty cross (without the figure of Christ) symbolizes Jesus' victory over death and the hope this victory brings to believers. 
• Lily - The white Easter lily symbolizes purity.
• Bees – Bees symbolize the resurrection of Christ.
• Phoenix – The phoenix is a mythical creature dies in fire but rises again from its own ashes is a symbol used by early Christians to symbolize the resurrection of Christ.
• Butterfly – A butterfly is a symbol of Christ's resurrection after three days in the grave.
• Eggs – Eggs symbolize the renewal of life.
• Lamb – A lamb symbolizes Jesus and relates His death to that of the lamb sacrificed on the first Passover. Christians frequently refer to Jesus as, "the Lamb of God.