Consider 21st century life dull and alienating? Don’t fret: we’ve got a solution that will
reconnect you with nature and stimulate your stunted attention span! Around the world, the
United Nations is calling on people everywhere to connect with nature. Here in Canada, we have a
world of possibilities. Friends of the Earth recommends three things to do: spot a bee, hug a tree
and go pesticide free!
First: the bees. They’re fuzzy, they’re buzzy, and we depend on them for pollination, but
despite their importance, you probably don’t know that Canada has over 850 species of wild,
native bees. In any urban backyard, there could be 40 or more different species of wild, native
bees. How cool is that - they’re living all around you quietly going about the business of pollinating
your food and flowers. Connect with your local wild, native bees by taking up bee spotting. And
join Friends of the Earth in July and August for the second annual Great Canadian Bumble Bee
Count.
Second: the trees. They’re comforting, they’re beautiful and they give back big time – clean
air, moderation from climate change, wonderful wood products, fruit and berries for you and me
and our wildlife friends. What would our country or communities be like without trees? So get out
there and hug a tree. Better yet, get your friends together and do a group hug!
Third: ditch the pesticides. No matter what you grow, from a balcony geranium to a
pumpkin patch, there are better ways to deal with pests than pesticides. Instead, look for fatty
acid soaps, biological oils and herbal repellents. When you buy plants at a nursery or garden
centre, make sure they’re free of bee-harming neonicotinoids and other systemic pesticides. Your
garden should be good for you and good for the bees.
Check out foecanada.org for other ways to celebrate World Environment Day and Canadian
Environment Week!
And if you snap any tree-hugging photos, share them with us via e-mail (foe@foecanada.org) or on
Twitter and Instagram (@FoE_Canada)!