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I am old enough to remember the first Earth Day in 1970, when 20 million people from communities throughout the United States came out to peacefully celebrate the environment and our precious earth. Some cleaned up litter, others planted trees, and, yet others called for policy changes that would have lasting positive effects on our planet.

John Torgrimson


Earth Day is now celebrated worldwide in 193 countries and coordinated by the nonprofit Earth Day Network. The theme for Earth Day 2019 today is Protect Our Species.

The rapid reduction of plant and wildlife populations are directly linked to human activity: climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides. Species in danger include coral reefs, whales, elephants, and insects to name a few.

The most threatened species in southeast Minnesota are bees. Native bees are one of the key pollinators of flowers, fruits and vegetables. During the past 15 years, colonies of bees have been disappearing, and the reasons remain unknown. Referred to as colony collapse disorder, billions of bees across the world are leaving their hives.

A case in point is the rusty patched bumble bee, whose population has declined 87% in the last 20 years. Previously widespread in northeast United States, its remaining home remains in the Midwest, including parts of southeast Minnesota.

How can we help protect bees? City folks can stop using pesticides and herbicides on their lawns and provide flowering plants from April through October. Where possible, avoid mowing in April and May, or set the blades of the mower at the highest level.

Farmers who grow alfalfa are benefiting pollinators by providing blooming clover beneficial to bees. Where possible, farmers should limit pesticide use and leave mow strips for bee habitat.

Remember that the vast majority of edible plants, which are necessary for human life, are pollinated by insects, especially bees.

Let’s all do what we can to provide a place where native bees can flourish and do their important work for our benefit.

For more information on how you can help, go to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website or the Bee Lab at the University of Minnesota’s website.

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John Torgrimson is the executive director of Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center near Lanesboro, Minnesota.


(15) comments


Hive, I don't even think Bo reads what we write. He just peruses it and follows a subject change that has nothing to do with what we said.

"JD - There are 3 kinds of people in the world. Those that watch it happen, those that ask what happened and those that make it happen. I chose to make it happen" - Bo

And it doesn't matter who you step over, and stab in the back to get there. Fellow man, environment. You name it.

Bo is so sociopathically self absorbed in himself, he is incapable of empathy or remorse for other human beings.

A sad, self deluded man, more focused on 0 sum personal gain and wealth, than helping his fellow man.


Bo, no evidence to date to suggest you are anything but following master of the obvious.

When was the last time you made an effort to put Earth first or make the "other guy" look good, versus self?

Deeds belie words!

Self first, others Franklin Graham, you twist things to fit your views, think those who buy factual truths as serious must "repent!"


Bumble bees, birds are back, save the orioles, which will likely not rerurn...but I few the Monarks and honey bees are thinned. Will have to hope and see.


JD - There are 3 kinds of people in the world. Those that watch it happen, those that ask what happened and those that make it happen. I chose to make it happen. You could be a Millionaire to, if you make it happen or write a best selling book like Bernie Sanders. It’s your choice.


*crickets* *chirp* *chirp*

What a shocker.

Just like the pathetic weasely republican you are.

Never own up to responsibility when you are wrong...

Now you'll just change the subject and act like you never knew what happened. Because you never read it, understood it, nor cared...


Ok, I'm all cool with that Bo, discuss things.

But please please, read what other people ACTUALLY say before putting words in their mouth and accusing them of something they never did say...

Because you're sure as hellizzz not going to apologize for it afterwards...


JD - I’m not here to argue, I’m here to discuss and learn. I’m here to post my opinion and see what others have to say. I’m not here to be right or prove others wrong. Every day I wake up and get out of bed is a great day. Life is too short to go around arguing and being angry all the time.


"JD - I’m not denying that “we” are doing damage. Key word is “we”, not just K and Bo. That means you, Hive and Kill are also doing damage as is the entire human population. " -Bo

Ok, do you see that. Now here is what I wrote Bo,

"Hive is right tho Bo, you and Khansky deny that we are doing damage to our planet by..."

Key word there is 'DENY'.

In absolutely nowhere do I see that you and K are doing damage to the planet.

I said, you and K, "DENY", that "WE" are doing damage to our planet.

You put words in my mouth. AGAIN. I never said that. I said you and K "DENY" we are doing damage. Said damage that "WE", as in everyone on the planet are doing. I never said just you two were. What the farging f'zucks?!?!

Yes yes, I agree with all the crapola you state after that. Except that tone deaf rich man disconnected arrogance with the golf cart and mower of course.

But please, explain to me Bo,

How it is that one is supposed to argue with someone that constantly changes subjects, and puts words in other people's mouths that they didn't say?

Such idiocy makes it nearly impossible to rationally discuss things with you...


JD - I’m not denying that “we” are doing damage. Key word is “we”, not just K and Bo. That means you, Hive and Kill are also doing damage as is the entire human population. Corporations are not always the evil doers you say they are. Don’t buy their goods and they don’t exist. I’m not a scientist but Fusion , Nuclear and these Breeder Reactors you mentioned are the energy of the future and will eventually replace fossil fuels. For the world to exist we need to generate power, provide transportation, produce food, manufacture goods, all while generating less pollution. This may not happen in 12 years like AOC says it must happen or we all die. Batteries are getting better, electric cars are getting better. Hell my golf cart is battery powered and I love it. I also own an battery powered lawn mower. Like I said my carbon footprint is smaller than Al Gores. You should really have a discussion with him. He needs to start walking the walk.

We need to take a serious look at cargo ship pollution. I don’t have all the facts but from what I’ve read they are the worlds largest single polluters. I’m trying to get my head around the numbers but it’s been said that just one super large cargo ship puts out as much pollution as 50 Million cars. If true that’s just insane.


Hive is right tho Bo, you and Khansky deny that we are doing damage to our planet by making up red herring excuses to justify corporate expansion at the expense of environmental and human health.

I'm all for coming up with ideas to solve climate change. Especially thorium based breeder reactors, which may in fact save our planet.

But the oil, the coal, the gas. They gotta go man...


Hive – Why the attack on Bo? I thought Trump was your #1 nemesis. An Inconvenient Truth is that my carbon footprint is much smaller than Al Gore’s.

Since we can’t reduce the human population in a humane way, perhaps we can turn to technology for the answer.


Yep, JD, amazing how some clods (anti climate warming due to human doings, like K and Bo and a few others) forget that little effect...Mother Nature, who has a way of extinguishing rude interlopers, like all of us who love not being involved.


Exactly Hive.

Because money and convenience have become more important than sustaining the world we live in for future generations, we have truly lost our way.

It is only a matter of time before the arrogant, parasitical humans get put in their place by nature.

Or the more likely scenario, that we will become doom onto ourselves...


Mr. Hive is correct, life is not convenience!



I live with bluffs to my back and became conscious of missing critters some time back, when a neighbor used to let her "de-clawed" cat roam...birds were no long nesting near house...

Then I planted rudbeckia and cones perennials to attract bees and had initial success, even a couple bumble bee nests in ground near house...three years back I noticed the birds were back but the bugs declined...worrisome to me.

Author wrote, "Species in danger include coral reefs, whales, elephants, and insects to name a few." So true, but he forgot the big one..."us."

The state is reluctant to regulate pesticides and ferts, then we should just stop using them. Once dandelions are removed, the seeds do not come and weeding gets easier...

Life is not to us to not harm us by harming Earth and its critters.

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