April showers bring May flowers. At a time when so many of us are unnerved, and even demoralized, by all that is happening in our country and on our planet, seeing nature's annual rebirth, supporting and participating in it can feed the parts of us that are resilient and hopeful. Spring is a time to put our hands in the soil, enrich it, and protect soil from harmful chemicals. It's a time to watch stuff grow in our gardens, parks, planters... and a time to take actions in other ways--both personally, in ways noted in this month's newsletter, as well as locally, nationally and globally. Let's add our voices to local and national efforts to protect our babies, bees, the Bay and for mitigating climate change.
Thank you!
Thank you, Common Market Co-op owners and shoppers for choosing the Maryland Pesticide Education Network as one of three non-profit organization recipients for your "Bring a Bag for Change" program. Common Market Co-op celebrates 48 years, with two beautiful retail stores in Frederick, Md., diverse events and class offerings, and serves a vibrant community of producers, owners, and happy customers! Learn more.
Please consider making a Spring donation to help Md Pesticide Education Network and its Smart on Pesticides Coalition keep working on your behalf. Want to see what we actually do, aside from our monthly newsletter?Go here.
Vote With Your Wallet, Vote With Your Fork! GO Organic!Where to shop and how to go organic in all you do--even on a budget!Learn how
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil is the most effective insect repellent and totally non-toxic. Mosquitoes can be safely managed without toxic pesticides and the possibility of PFAS in them. Read more
Use this guide from Treehugger to get started with zero waste living by choosing less packaging or organic packaging to eliminate superfluous waste. Read more
The Environmental Working Group released its annual 2022 "Dirty Dozen" list of (non-organic) fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide contamination, compared with the "Clean Fifteen" list of least contaminated. See where your produce ranks.Read more
New report reveals transitioning to organic land care practices can save schools money and water, while fostering biodiversity.Read more
Pesticide Action Network North America offers this excellent analysis of the battle against toxic PFAS chemicals in pesticides, noting that Maryland Pesticide Education Network, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and advocacy groups in Maine and Massachusetts found PFAS in mosquito control pesticides. Read more
Dr. Linda Birnbaum, former director at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, and scholar in residence at the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University argues that FDA is failing to protect the public from chemical health risk. Read more
Our friends at the Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety have filed a legal petition calling for the U.S. Fish &s Wildlife Service to end the use of dangerous agricultural pesticides on national wildlife refuges. Read more
Action Alert! Beyond Pesticides has come out with a petition demanding that the Biden EPA ban bee-killing neonic pesticides and protect against other threats to pollinators. Sign On
Wild Farm Alliance has producedthis excellent video on the need to protect insect-eating bird populations as a form of natural pest management. Read more
Farmers can help bees by planting lots of flowers. Monoculture blooms are a threat to #bees, but farmers can reduce this threat by planting hedgerows with diverse mixes of flowers.Read more
An international research team investigated the impact of pesticides on reproduction of wild bees. The experts discovered pesticide exposure interferes with reproduction among wild bees in the very earliest phase--the mating phase. Read more
Check out this helpful guide on crop rotation, so you can use this simple and effective tool to manage pests and boost soil health in your garden!Read more
Protecting garden soil is recognizing it is far more than just dirt. Treating soil like dirt is one of the worst things we can do. If you underestimate the importance of soil in a garden, there is little chance of creating a successful and productive garden. Read more
Watch:Rodale Institute's excellent 2-minute video all about soil. Take a look at the work they do to research and protect soil. Read more
Hispanic & Latino farmworkers at high risk from pesticide use in agriculture; people in lower-income housing also affected. Read more
Steps to tackle food waste starts at home. Through better shopping habits and experimentation, you can cut food waste and support the environment. Read more
Sounds Wild and Broken, the latest book by David George Haskell, explores the sound of earth and laments how we are losing the variety of sounds that enriches life. Habitat loss, species extinctions, and industrial noise all contribute to this sonic loss.Read More
See also this Op-Ed written by David George Haskell about his book. Read More
Please help support our work to protect our babies, bees, and the Bay!
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