239_Feeding the Future: How to Support Pollinators in Your Community

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 239

Feeding the Future-How to Support Pollinators in Your Community.

I often say that it’s the little things that make the difference. But whenever you say that, no one thinks that you are actually taking about bumble bees, or for that matter, any of the other tens of thousands of small creatures that pollinate our plants.

Unfortunately we are now seeing a global decline in all of our pollinators and it is happening for a variety of reasons.  If this continues, it will have devastating effects on our economy, our food production and global ecosystems. But there are ways to prevent this from happening. There are things each of us can do to help support the wide variety of pollinators.

So join me for episode 239 Feeding the Future-How to Support Pollinators in Your community.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E239 Feeding the Future-How to Support Pollinators in Your Community.

In this episode I want to focus on several things that truly should be important to all of us:  what are pollinators and why are they important, why pollinators are declining, how this will affect us, and of course what we can do about it.

Good News Story of the Week

This weeks good news story has to do with plastic pollution, specifically plastic bags.

I remember when I first heard about countries and cities banning the use of plastic bags. I thought it was a fantastic move considering that globally we use 5 trillion plastic bags annually. But one of the first things I heard is how frustrated people were. My own home state of Colorado is phasing out plastic bags and now a lot of retails outlets no longer have them.

Most of the frustrated consumer audience says it will do no good. However, they are actually wrong about that.   

However, new research shows that shoreline litter has reduced by almost half since plastic bag bans around the U.S. have gone into effect. Presently more than 100 countries have now introduced bans or fees for plastic bags. Extensive research has shown that these new polices against plastic bags are truly effective.

Plastic bags are some of the worst culprits of plastic pollution in our oceans and a significant source of microplastics. So, as you can see, changing public polices are making a difference and we are taking steps in the right direction to curb plastic pollution.

And now let’s move forward with this week’s episode about Feeding the Future and Supporting pollinators.

One of my favorite things about Spring time at the cabin is the return of all the bees. My favorites are the honey bees and the big fat fuzzy bumble bees that always seem kind of clumsy. I am sort of fascinated with bees because they are so productive, which is kind of odd given the fact that when I was younger I was highly allergic to bee stings. Every time I was stung by a bee I had to go to the hospital.

Fortunately I grew out of this and no longer have any out of the ordinary reaction to bee stings. That is a very good thing because just recently I spent some time working in the Virgin Islands and had several encounters with the notorious killer bees.

The property where I was staying was formerly a sugar plantation. The plantation house was built in 1760 and the stone sugar mills were built shortly thereafter.  My first encounter with the bees was while I was exploring the sugar mills.

The bees had built several hives inside the mills. I  approached the hives and took several photographs and was about to leave when I got swarmed. Several days later I found another hive that was much closer to the house. A couple of weeks after that some maintenance workers were swarmed and received numerous stings. Once the hive was disturbed it was two days before I could sit out on the porch on that side of the house.

These were by far the most aggressive bees I had even encounter so I was curious as to why that was the case. I did a little research and learned that the island has a large population of Africanized honey bees, also known as the killer bees.

Since these bees are so aggressive, and they will build a hive anywhere including in your house, there is a guy on the island that will relocate them. He told me he was a third generation bee farmer. Whenever he had to remove nuisance bees he relocated them to his farm and set up a bee box for them. He further explained that this species of bees were prolific honey producers and he sold the honey at the farmers market.

And this brings up a good point. Despite the aggressive nature of these bees they serve an important function. If they are prolific honey producers they are also prolific pollinators. However, bees are not the only pollinators. There are thousands of other small creatures that serve the same purpose. Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, flies, hummingbirds, bats, beetles, birds, ants, and wasps and well as many other small insects. All of the small creatures are of vital importance because without pollination plants would not reproduce.

Decline of pollinators

The sad part is that we see bees, butterflies, moths and flies everyday and we rarely appreciate their importance nor do we realize that populations are declining globally. That global decline is more often that not the result of human activity.

But the main reasons pollinators are disappearing:

🌍 1. Habitat Loss

•  Urbanization, industrial agriculture, and deforestation have destroyed or fragmented natural habitats.
•  Many pollinators rely on specific native plants or ecosystems that no longer exist in large enough areas.
•  Loss of nesting and overwintering sites further reduces their ability to survive.

☠️ 2. Pesticide Use

•  Neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides are especially toxic to bees and butterflies.
•  Pesticides affect pollinators’ nervous systems, reproduction, and navigation.
•  Even herbicides are detrimental because they kill the flowering plants that pollinators depend on for food.

🌾 3. Monoculture Farming

•  Large-scale monocultures, which means there is only one species,  eliminates plant diversity offering food only for short periods.
•  Lack of continuous bloom across seasons leaves pollinators without nectar or pollen.

🌡️ 4. Climate Change

•  Alters the timing of plant blooming, potentially leaving pollinators without food when they emerge.
•  Increases the frequency of extreme weather events (heatwaves, droughts, storms) that can kill pollinators directly or destroy their habitats.
•  Some species cannot adapt or migrate fast enough to changing climates.

🦠 5. Diseases and Parasites

•  Varroa mites, Nosema fungus, and viruses have devastated honeybee populations.
•  Global trade and movement of bees have spread diseases between wild and managed pollinators.
•  Weakened immune systems (due to pesticides or poor nutrition) make them more vulnerable.

🏭 6. Pollution

•  Air and soil pollutants can alter plant-pollinator interactions by changing scent or nectar composition.
•  Light pollution, especially in urban areas,  interferes with nocturnal pollinators like moths.
•  Polluted water sources are harmful when pollinators use them to drink or cool hives.

💡 7. Loss of Native Plants

•  Many ornamental plants in cities and gardens are not useful to pollinators.
•  Native plants have co-evolved with local pollinators and are more nutritionally beneficial.
•  The removal of wild areas reduces access to these key species.

⚠️ 8. Commercial Bee Stress

•  Commercial pollination (like for almond farms) transports bees across long distances, stressing their health.
•  These bees may spread disease to wild populations and face poor diet diversity during service.

📉 Summary:

Pollinator decline is driven by multiple factors simultaneously: habitat loss, toxic exposure, monoculture farming,  poor diet, and climate stress.

Why is this important??

But the thing of it is, pollinators are not the only things that are declining. There are a multitude of other insects that are also in decline. And this is something I have noticed over the last 15 to 20 years.

There was a time when I traveled a lot for work. Consequently,  I have driven cross country multiple times. At one point it was not unusual for me to finish one job on a Friday, drive 1000 miles and be at another job on Monday in a completely different state.

Fifteen years ago when I would make such a drive, every time I stopped for gas I would have to scrub the windshield and the front of the truck to remove thousands of bug body parts. Now when I make a similar drive, I almost never have to do that. So, you may be asking why is this so important. Well, if this trend continues, the consequences of losing our pollinators would be profound, far-reaching, and potentially catastrophic.

🌍 1. Global Food Production Would Plummet

•  More than 75% of food crops depend at least in part on animal pollination.
•  Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oil crops such as apples, almonds, blueberries, and coffee would become scarce and expensive.
•  We would rely more heavily on wind-pollinated crops (wheat, rice, corn) and synthetic food systems, resulting in a bland, less nutritious diet.

🥦 Example: Without bees, crops such as almonds (100% bee-dependent) would disappear entirely from commercial agriculture.

🌿 2. Ecosystems Would Unravel

•  Pollinators are keystone species—many wild plants rely on them to reproduce.
•  Loss of pollinators would lead to a cascade of extinctions: no seeds, no new plants, no food for herbivores and up the chain.
•  Forests, meadows, and wildflower habitats would lose biodiversity and resilience.
•  Animals that depend on fruit or seeds (like birds and small mammals) would decline dramatically

💸 3. Economic Losses Would Be Massive

•  Pollinators contribute hundreds of billions of dollars annually to global agriculture.
•  Hand-pollination is labor-intensive, costly, and inefficient compared to natural pollination.
•  Food prices would skyrocket, causing global food insecurity and economic instability.

💰 Estimates suggest a complete loss of pollinators could cost the global economy $200–500 billion annually.

🧬 4. Genetic Diversity Would Collapse

•  Many plants need cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity.
•  Without pollinators, inbreeding increases, reducing plant resilience to disease, climate change, and pests.
•  This weakens ecosystems and food systems over time.

🦋 5. Cultural and Spiritual Loss

•  Pollinators are central to indigenous cultures, folklore, and art.
•  Their beauty and presence support mental well-being, nature connection, and recreational activities like birdwatching and gardening.
•  Losing butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds would erode part of what makes the natural world awe-inspiring.

✅ Key Takeaway

Losing pollinators would trigger a global crisis in food systems, ecology, and economy. But because this loss is driven by human behavior, it can also be prevented through collective action, conservation, and education.

🌼 How to Support Pollinators in Your Community

And of course the next question is how are we going to prevent that from happening? Since pollinators are essential for 75% of flowering plants and over 30% of our food crops, you would think this is something you would pay attention to.

As it turns out, preventing a disaster is not as difficult as you might imagine.

What Pollinators Need to Thrive

•  Nectar and pollen from diverse, flowering plants.
•  Shelter and nesting sites – bare soil, dead wood, stems, leaf litter.
•  Clean water sources – shallow dishes, damp soil, or puddles.
•  Pesticide-free environments – exposure can be lethal or sub-lethal.

The Best Ways to Feed Pollinators

•  Choose native flowering plants that bloom in succession from early spring to late fall.
•  Prioritize pollen-rich and nectar-rich plants, such as:
•  Spring: Willow, crocus, wild columbine
•  Summer: Bee balm, milkweed, lavender, coneflower
•  Fall: Goldenrod, aster, joe-pye weed
•  Avoid hybrids bred only for looks—they often lack nectar and pollen.

Pollinator-Friendly Gardening Practices

•  Use clumps of the same species – easier for pollinators to locate.
•  Avoid chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
•  Leave leaf litter and dead stems in fall and winter for nesting and hibernation.
•  Grow organic or permaculture gardens that mimic natural ecosystems.

V. Create Habitat and Nesting Areas

•  Bare ground for ground-nesting bees.
•  Bee hotels made from bamboo, wood blocks, or paper tubes. We have several of these in our greenhouse.
•  Brush piles, hedgerows, and old logs for shelter.
•  Maintain diverse vegetation layers: trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.

Water Sources for Pollinators

•  Pollinators need water to stay hydrated and regulate hive temperature.
•  Put out shallow water dishes with pebbles, sticks, or moss for safe landing.
•  Keep dishes clean and refilled in dry seasons.

Community and Landscape Scale Support

•  Support local efforts to convert lawns to wildflower meadows.
•  Advocate for pollinator corridors and roadside habitat preservation.
•  Encourage schools, parks, and public spaces to plant native flowers.

Be a Pesticide-Free Advocate

•  Many pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, are toxic to bees.
•  Push for policy changes banning harmful chemicals.
•  Educate neighbors and local governments on alternatives.
•  Use integrated pest management (IPM) practices instead.

Final Tips for Easy Everyday Action

•  Buy organic, pollinator-friendly produce.
•  Support farmers who protect pollinator habitat.
•  Educate others—share knowledge, host garden tours, post signs.
•  Grow a small pollinator container garden even on a balcony.

Conclusion

One of the most important things I hope you have learned form this podcast episode is the vital importance of our global pollinators. If current trends continue it will have devastating effects on our global economy and on our food supply.

There are multiple everyday easy things we can do to support the biodiversity and population numbers of all the small creatures that pollinate our plants and guarantee reproduction. By doing so we are also safeguarding the biodiversity of our global plant population, protecting our food security and maybe we are even supporting the future of humanity.

I am sure at some point in time we have all heard the saying that it’s the little things that make a difference. But when we hear that we often think of it in a different perspective. What we most commonly think of is that it is the small consistent actions that we do day to day that contribute most to our overall happiness as well as the improvement and stability of the world around us.

But I would encourage you to think of this in a completely different way. There are plenty of other small things that make a difference for all of us and most of these things are completely overlooked.

So the next time you see a beetle, a butterfly, an ant, moth or hummingbird, be thankful that they are there and remember it is the little things that make a difference. And yes we can even be thankful for the killer bees.

Until next week, this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.