Don't Miss It!
Organic Turf Management with Chip Osborne
Wednesday, September 18, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Talent Community Center, 104 E. Main St., Talent
We are excited to be working with Beyond Toxics to bring a
nationally-recognized speaker to the Rogue Valley in a few weeks through our
joint Non Toxic Southern Oregon program!
Public Presentation: September 18
Please join us to hear Chip Osborne, president of Osborne Organics, speak to his experiences helping cities and schools transition away from synthetic pesticides to organic management of public parks, playgrounds and ball fields.
Hear how he will be helping cities in Oregon, including Talent, Eugene and Springfield, implement an organic approach to parks and greenspaces.
Chip has over 25 years experience creating sustainable and healthy landscapes,
and 40 years experience as a horticulturist.
More information here, on Facebook, and see flyer below.
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Unite for Climate Action!
Friday, September 20, noon - 3:45p
Ashland Plaza and Butler Bandshell at Lithia Park
Thanks to SOCAN and all the climate activists for sponsoring this event,
as well as all other major events happening the same day!
We'll have a table there to speak for the pollinators and other insects
who are being affected by climate change, too!
More information here and on Facebook.
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It's a Pollinator Garden Party!
Saturday, September 28, 8:30a - 12:30p
Ashland Emergency Food Bank
560 Clover Lane, Ashland
We are grateful for our first grant, in 2015, from the Ashland Food Co-op
that allowed us to install a beautiful pollinator garden at the
Ashland Emergency Food Bank.
It has been growing beautifully, but could use a little refresher: more compost and wood chips, and yes, a little weeding, as well as a few more plants.
Come join the party! Coffee and snacks provided - thank you, Shop N Kart!
Things to bring:
hat, water, gloves, shovel or pitchfork, bucket, wheelbarrow, weeding tools.
We are very proud to have been selected as one of the 29 recipients of
Ashland Food Co-op's 2019 Community Grant Program. We appreciate the Co-op's support in helping us create and maintain this garden that brings in pollinators for the veggies and fruits being grown for the Food Bank's clients.
RSVP on Facebook, and see flyer below
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Save the Date: Create a Pollinator Garden!
Saturday, October 12, 8:30a - 12:30p
312 N. Main St., Phoenix
We are excited to bee creating our very own pollinator frontscape that will be filled with native, drought-tolerant plants, AND, a pollinator demonstration and teaching garden in the side yard!
Come help us spread mulch along the front bank, and move compost and wood chips into the side yard.
Thanks again to the Ashland Food Co-op and their Community Grant Program for making this project possible!
More details coming soon! And yes, there will be food!
Things to bring: hat, water, gloves, shovel or pitchfork, bucket, wheelbarrow, weeding tools.
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Non Toxic Roadsides
Ever wonder why the shoulders along our county roads are so bare, with nothing growing?
We so appreciate the article written by H. Ní Aódagaín for the Applegater
about our Non Toxic Roadsides initiative!
We have been encouraging our County Commissioners to hold a study session on this crucial issue, and have also been analyzing 12 months of spray records -
yes, glyphosate, as well as at least a dozen other toxic chemicals, are being sprayed along our county roads, contaminating soil and water, harming pollinators, fish,
and wildlife, as well drifting onto crops.
Why is glyphosate still being used here in Southern Oregon, when dozens and dozens of cities, counties, and countries have chosen to discontinue or restrict its use? Let's ask the Commissioners! Click here for contact information for your county.
Please show your support for Non Toxic Roadsides by completing this short form! And, you are invited to make a financial donation to support this work!
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Bumblebeewatch.org
If you already watch bumble bees, here's a great program for you!
"The online tool encourages people to take pictures of bumblebees they see.
Then they can log onto bumblebeewatch.org and upload the photos and attempt to identify the species, while also placing the sighting on a map.
Though there can be a time lag, experts with the organization monitor the site and confirm the species type."
And, please also share your pictures with us - on our
Pollinators and Gardens in the Rogue Valley Facebook group!
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Pollinators' Picks:
Models for Regenerative Agriculture
Check out this article about Yakima-based Rainier Fruit who is showing the world how to move beyond organics to regenerative agriculture.
The company is planting meadows and actively dedicating spaces
to benefit pollinators on the borders and interior spaces for their apple, pear, cherry and blueberry ranches. The company notes that these actions have not only increased the biodiversity of pollinators, but also increased predator insects for natural pest management.
"In the summer or late spring it’s really amazing to go out and just hear the activity: the bees, the wasps, there's been a huge uptick in the number of bumble bees.
It’s really something to experience, the sheer mass of the different types of species that are out there.”
Here in Southern Oregon, Ashland's Irvine & Roberts Winery has partnered with Sarah “Bee Girl” Red-Laird to add an 1,800-square-foot plot of sunflowers for bee habitat.
According to the Ashland Tidings article, Red-Laird "was inspired after touring Argyle Vineyards in the Willamette Valley, where she learned about LIVE certification, a way for vineyards to rack up points for sustainable practices such as offering pollinator habitat."
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Hemp News
Speaking of pollinator habitat and agriculture, we've done some ranting about mega hemp growers who do not seem to be interested in the health of our Valley, not with acres of plastic and no pollinator habitat. Our landscape is being transformed - 13,000 acres of hemp have been planted throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties. Since hemp is not usually allowed to flower (for pollen), has no nectar, and is a short-lived crop, it provides little advantage for pollinators.
We attended the Josephine County Hemp Symposium held on August 28 - one of the conversations happening between citizens, county and other government officials, and leaders in this industry.
Kristina Lefever spoke during the Q&A and encouraged this industry to include pollinator-friendly forge and habitat before it is too late! We are grateful for growers like Chris Hardy of Hardy Seeds - enjoy the photo below
of a bee-autiful polyculture farm, with hemp, tulsi basil, corn, as well as squash, beans, and lots of pollinator plants, and yes, weeds. And no plastic!
We are looking for more people to join this conversation so we can
change the paradigm.
Know a pollinator-friendly grow? Let us know!
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Sign Up for No-Spray!
Mosquitoes!
We continue to monitor and publicize maps of
Jackson County Vector Control District's mosquito 'fogging'.
The adulticide used most often is deltamithrin, an insecticide toxic to bees and aquatic life, and also a hormone-disruptor for humans.
JCVCD also uses larvicides, which is the better choice, usually Natular.
Information about their products can be found here, as well as information about their free mosquito fish.
Please encourage your friends and neighbors to get on JCVCD's no-spray list! Remember to renew every year!
Roadsides!
If you live on a county road, chances are your road is being sprayed with
glyphosate and other toxic pesticides! Which means these pesticides are contaminating our soil, water, croplands, pollinators and people!
If you are willing and able to manage your road frontage, please ask
Jackson or Josephine County to add you to their no-spray list.
See contact info below.
Note! We are looking for volunteers to help us with our Non Toxic Roadsides project, an initiative shared with Beyond Toxics, for pesticide-free roads!
Sign up here!
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Bats Eat Mosquitos—House them!
One way to encourage bats in your neighborhood is to give them a home!
And we have just the house for them! Made of Oregon pine by local woodworker, Tim Short, each house can hold 100 bats!
The best news is that Tim is donating $5 to Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
from the sale of each house we sell!
$30 payable to Tim Short - cash or check only, please.
Come by our office to pick up one or two, or call to make an appointment.
See picture and flyer below!
(Our office hours can vary, so best to schedule an appointment.)
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Volunteer!
Pollinator Project Rogue Valley is a fun place to volunteer!
Come help us get good things going with pollinators,
plants, gardens, (no) pesticides, and more!
Volunteer to write articles for this newsletter or our blog, table at events,
send letters to the editor about important issues, help with social media, and more.
We invite fun-loving, creative people to join our Events Committee
and to table at community events!
We invite you to bee involved!
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Questions or Comments? Please contact us at
pollinator@pollinatorprojectroguevalley.org
Keep up to date with all things Pollinator on our Facebook page:
Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
Thank you, Beyond Toxics, for sharing your office with us!
Office Hours: noon - 5 pm, Tuesday - Friday
and by appointment
312 N. Main St., Suite B, Phoenix
Mail: PO Box 242, Phoenix, OR 97535
458-214-0508
Visit our website.
Click here for archived editions of The Pollinator Times.
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9/8/19
