First, the tadpoles and frogs disappeared; then the bats and the songbirds left. Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn, a honey bee veterinarian and environmental health scientist, soon realized the bees—the vital pollinators of fruits, plants, and vegetables—were dying. Everything went still and silent. In 2017, after a large flood, most of the teeming life on her beloved family farm in North Carolina had vanished in a matter of weeks. As a scientist and a naturalist, Hilborn set about to get answers and shares her story in her riveting book, Restoring Eden, and in this episode.
No matter where you live- even if it's a city far from farmland- if you drink water and eat food, you are going to want to listen to this episode.
Highlights
- The alarming findings about pesticides, particularly Roundup and neonicotinoids, on the environment, wildlife, and human health.
- Why some pesticides cannot be washed off.
- Strategies for individuals to minimize exposure to harmful pesticides and support a healthier ecosystem.
What YOU Can Do
- Get in the know by buying her book, Restoring Eden
- Support local agriculture, agroecology, regenerative agriculture, and organic agricultural practices in the food you buy, when possible.
- Mow less and plant native flowers (grown from uncoated seed) to support wild pollinators.
- Leaving soil undisturbed and leaving leaves when they fall are ways to support our beneficial insects.
- The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting comments about treated seed. Leave a comment in support of regulations. (find other petitions to sign once this comment period is over or create your own)
Resources
- Visit Elizabeth's website
- Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen List
Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.
Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!
What difference for the world are you going to make today?
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.