One of the more lovely things we've seen online lately was a Zoom talk by Chris Helzer, Nature Conservancy's Nebraska Director of Science, ecologist and author of the popular blog, Prairie Ecologist, and two books.
The Stillwater grassroots group, Pollinator Friendly Alliance, sponsored the webinar, which included remarks on pollinator policy by South St. Paul DFL state representative Rick Hansen, who chairs the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division.
Here's the description of the webinar: featured in the video below:
Laurie Schneider, Executive Director of Pollinator Friendly Alliance, leads conservation actions for pollinator protections in Minnesota with an energetic following of naturalists and volunteers dedicated to protecting a healthy food supply, lands and waters.
Chris Helzer, Nature Conservancy's Nebraska Director of Science, is a dynamic speaker, long time ecologist and conservationist. Chris is the author of the popular blog, Prairie Ecologist, and two books, The Ecology and Management of Prairies in the Central United States and Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter. His photographs and writings are a source of inspiration for both savvy and beginner naturalists and appear in numerous magazines. The little things that run the world – a talk about the diversity and value of plants and insects, and their interactions, and how that diversity is often overlooked but is really the backbone of ecosystem function and thus conservation success.
Rep. Rick Hansen serves the people of Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, South St. Paul, and West St. Paul in the Minnesota Legislature. He is dedicated to protecting our environment and chairs the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee. He authored and championed many bills to protect pollinators; conserve Minnesota’s lands, waters, and wildlife; support sustainable farmers; and combat climate change. He is a farmer and an energetic leader.
Helzer's talk, "It's All The Little Things," is a feast of photographs, focused not on the charismatic bison, but plants and the invertebrates at the base of an ecosystem. Open-minded readers will gain a new appreciation for flies, spiders, and grasshoppers (one the size of a mouse), as well as butterflies and native bees.
Hansen's talk on Minnesota's policy breakthroughs--like Lawns to Legumes--and challenges is also worthwhile.
Here's the video:
The next webinar is Wednesday, September 30. Guest speakers:
Don Shelby, an award winning journalist, tv anchor and Twin Cities Public Television voice dedicated to investigating energy conservation and mitigating climate change with three national Emmys and two Peabodys. He worked a lifetime to preserve the Mississippi River and continues to be a prominent voice for the environment, celebrated speaker and author.
Keely Cervantes, Conservation Minnesota’s Regional Manager works on whole ecosystem and public policy issues to bridge urban and rural communities and advocates for clean water and healthy land. Keely has a background in urban agriculture, holds a MPA in Public Policy from NYU, and grew up amid rural Midwest farmland.
The group is also hosting a Zoom (and on the Finnegans Brew Company patio and taproom) Bumble Beer Bash on October 3, 2:00-6:00 p.m., featuring a Dress Your Dog Up Like a Bumble Bee Contest:
500 to 545 PM: DRESS YOUR DOG UP LIKE A BUMBLE BEE contest and win BIG. A trunkful of prizes including a Finnegans growler, Artist’s pollinator t-shirt, coffee bag, and hand crafted award, doggie accoutrements, honey and more. Show off your fancy bee dressed pooch via zoom from your own backyard or living room or Finnegans patio. Prizes to the Best of Show, Mr. or Mrs. Congeniality, and Most Talented. Must show dressed up doggie during 5-545 pm on zoom (not a photograph).
We encourage readers to support this grassroots group. And enlist your pups to help save the bees! Sign up here.
Photos: Top: A katydid, from Chris Helzer, the Prairie Ecologist. Bottom: Bumble Bee pups.
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