Podcasts about pollinators

This time of the year a wonderful Pohutukawa “shrub” is flowering its little heads off: Metrosideros carminia known as the crimson rata; a Native in the North Island all the way down to Taranaki and Hawkes Bay. It comes as a shrub when you get them from cuttings, but they'll move up like tree climbers when they emerge from seeds. Pollinators love them – and so do I. Favourite food of tui and bellbirds, as well as silvereyes and wood pigeons (kereru). Kowhai come in many different species and heights; there are fabulous, gnarled forms which, in themselves, are beautifully sculptured. Divaricating shrubs!! Muehlenbeckia astonii. A Native plant that could be your new hedge, or your sculpted shrub, or even a suitable nesting site for native birds. It's all about elegant little leaves, hanging from a zig-zagging system of branches that you will only find in Aotearoa. In winter the whole shrub will change colours to a Dark-Orange that will stand out, no matter what the weather is like. White flowers – and all this is endemic. May I introduce you to the Corokia - another yellow Native of our country. It's full of flowers at this time of the year; also with zig-zag twigs and Endemic distribution – we know how to grow weird and wonderful natives! Often on these flowering shrubs you will find native bees sucking nectar for their off-spring, pollinating the flowers and creating large amounts of seeds for our landscapes Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata) is another one of those shrubs that stands out in its colour – It's native to New Zealand, and our local “garden fiddlers” have managed to breed a range of varieties in all sorts of colours. If you want to see them spectacularly bunched together in our native habitat, go to the Catlins: you'll fall in love with them! Oh – and the leaves are edible… lovely and hot. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overlooked by many gardeners, moths are actually more efficient as pollinators than bees and are the basis of the food chain for everything from bats and songbirds to grizzly bears

Summary Late blooming native plants are crucial sources of pollen and nectar for pollinators. One of my favorite species that blooms in October, and often into early November, is Short's aster (Symphyotrichum shortii).  3 things you'll learn from this episode: The biology and life history of Short's aster. The pollinators and wildlife that use it. How to incorporate it into your garden. Resources mentioned: BONAP's range map for Short's aster  Plant Life of Kentucky: An Illustrated Guide to the Vascular Flora*  * affiliate link – We get paid a small commission for purchases made through this link, but it comes at no extra cost to you. All commissions that we receive through affiliate links goes toward producing Backyard Ecology™ content. We appreciate your support. Other Backyard Ecology™ resources: Black-eyed Susan: A favorite nectar source for butterflies  Discover Your Next Steps Habitat Creation Quiz  Backyard Ecology™ Community  Thank you Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Humans and nature have always coexisted. But, human intervention makes our modern world look very different than it once did. This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine digs into how humans are reshaping the wild. Sam speaks to Dr. Harland Patch about the decline of insect populations around the world and how we can provide better environments for pollinators. She also dives into the world of CRISPR gene editing among Argentinian polo horses and why so many people seem to be getting diagnosed with Lyme disease. Link to Show Notes HERE Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Don't Vegans Eat Honey? (Encore of 444) Of all the animal products that vegans don't consume, honey is the one that seems the most confusing. So, why is it that vegans don't consume honey? From Surge Activism #vegan #plantbased #veganpodcast #plantbasedpodcast #plantbasedbriefing #earthlinged #honey #honeybees #pollinators #wildbees #bees #queenbee #beekeeper  ================== Original Post: https://www.surgeactivism.org/ishoneyvegan  ================== Related Episodes: 342: Is Honey BEE BARF? All About Honey! [For Kids!] 13: Why Vegans Don't Consume Honey  ================== Surge is a non-profit, grassroots animal rights organization determined to create a world where compassion towards all non-human animals is the norm. Our philosophy is that change comes through vegan education - with media content and campaigns, as well as educational programmes and investigative work.  Ed Winters (known online as Earthling Ed) is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Surge.  ================== FOLLOW THE SHOW ON: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plantbasedbriefing     Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GONW0q2EDJMzqhuwuxdCF?si=2a20c247461d4ad7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-based-briefing/id1562925866 Your podcast app of choice: https://pod.link/1562925866 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlantBasedBriefing   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plant-based-briefing/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedbriefing/     

Sue Raymoure, President of Growing Native Habitat Lake Bluff, joins Lisa Dent to discuss how insecticides are killing pollinators. Growing Native Habitat Lake Bluff began as a book club focused on nature and native planting during the COVID pandemic. The group became certified by the National Wildlife Federation, designating them as a group with sufficient […]

Do you enjoy tequila? Thank the bat community.

There's lots to learn about environmental stewardship as we tell you all about this year's  UConn Plants & Pollen Conference. There's a lot of networking and important information to be shared if you care about the role you, your yard, and a simple pollinator garden can play in helping sustain our fragile environment.

Meet one of the team at Independence Northwest - a nonprofit that is unique among service providers because the organization is run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. So tune in and learn about this regional nonprofit and how they can be of service to you no matter what your alternate ability may be. Then we'll steer toward environmental stewardship beginning with more big news from our partners at the Aspetuck Land Trust. The organization continues to grow with new collaborators and acquisitions - and we'll also advise you on a few incredible places to catch autumn's full splendor, right around the corner down in fairfield County. And we'll close by telling you all about this year's upcoming UConn Plants & Pollenators Conference. There's a lot of networking and important information to be shared if you care about the role you, your yard, and a simple pollinator garden can play in helping sustain our fragile environment.

Pollinators, especially monarch butterflies, still need food. We talk with UW Extension Outreach Specialist Bruce Spangenberg about what plants provide for these insects. And then we check in with plant disease expert Brian Hudelson to see what diseases were the most prevalent this season.

We hear about how to tidy up a yard and garden in a way that helps support little critters and Paul Zammit, our regular gardening expert, takes your calls.

The McGraw Show 9-26-25: Dan Caesar, Slow Horses, Pollinators, Sky Wars & Unexpected Vaccine Results by

In this episode, I welcome back Kyra Stephenson, Nature-Based Learning Coach at Anna Murray-Douglass Academy in Rochester, New York. One year ago, we first talked about how she brought a nature-based learning (NBL) program into a public PreK–6 school. Now, entering Year 4 of the program, Kyra shares how it has continued to grow, adapt, and root itself deeply in her school community.Kyra gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her teaching rhythm: working in three-week rotations where she spends an hour at a time with classes from kindergarten through grade 5. Each grade level is grounded in a year-long theme that grows with students as they move through the program:PreK/K: Play, exploring place, knowing your body (balance)Grade 1: CommunityGrade 2: Humane treatment of animalsGrade 3: Pollinators to food – form and functionGrade 4: Geologic time, through Indigenous practices to present dayGrade 5: Community action projects – guardianship instead of stewardshipGrade 6: CASCADE Program through Rochester Institute of Technology and Sea GrantKyra highlights how much of her practice is inspired by routines and games from Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Kids through Nature by Jon Young, and she shares practical examples of nature journaling that teachers can bring to their own classrooms.One of my favourite takeaways from this conversation: it's okay to start indoors if that's what students need for comfort or safety. The goal is always the same—finding joy, building connection, and growing community through nature.As Kyra beautifully puts it:“It's a movement of changing the way we interact with the planet.”Tune in to hear Kyra's wisdom, practical strategies, and her passion for nurturing a generation of learners who feel deeply connected to the world around them.See the new website here: https://sites.google.com/rcsd121.org/amda12nbl/home 

In this podcast, Functional Ecology author Jennifer Apland chats to Assistant Editor Amelia Macho about her research article, " Jennifer experimentally manipulated the temperature of model flowers to evaluate how flower temperature impacts visitation and behavior of wild bee and fly pollinators. Her research highlights that wild insect pollinator responses to floral temperature depend on ambient temperature. It also suggests that flowers with traits facilitating warming in cool conditions and cooling in warm conditions may experience higher rates of pollinator visitation and resultant reproductive success. You can read Jennifer's full research article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70037 You can also check out Jennifer's blog post about this work (as mentioned in the podcast!) here: https://functionalecologists.com/2025/06/04/jennifer-apland-does-flower-temperature-affect-pollinator-behaviour/

We've spent some time on this podcast discussing pollinators and their life histories but today we are taking a deeper dive into plant chemistry to better understand the relationship between pollinators and their floral resources.To help us explore this fascinating topic, is Leif Richardson, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist. Leif coordinates the California Bumble Bee Atlas project. His research focuses on the ecology, distribution, and declines of North American bumble bees. Leif is also the co-author of a range of scientific publications on bees, including Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide. He holds a Master's degree from the University of Arizona and a PhD from Dartmouth College.---Photo credit: Barbara Driscoll (c)Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

A new program offers almond growers free habitat seed to boost monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators essential to California agriculture.

In this episode, Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener, discusses why bees and butterflies receive all the attention as pollinators. There are so many pollinators beyond the commonly celebrated bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Listen in to learn about fascinating creatures like the beneficial leafcutter bee, as well as various types of flies that are significant pollinators. Also, learn about the critical importance of autumn flowers and bird feeders in supporting migrating birds and other wildlife as they prepare for colder months.Listen to Mountain Gardener on Cast11: https://cast11.com/mountain-gardener-with-ken-lain-gardening-podcast/Follow Cast11 on Facebook: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network/

What's with all the insect activity!?Have you seen an upswing in insects in the garden of late?   Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into an increased presence of pollinators on this week's episode of The Growing Season. Grasshoppers and bees kick the show off.  Do grasshoppers pollinate anything? You'll be surprised to know. Ants and Trilliums - there is a relationship there. Wasps and timber steps = stings for Matt. Jack tells the same 13 stories over and over.  This comes right in the middle of a conversation about almond pollination. What is creating seasonal allergies at this time of the year?  The trio play "Imagine If You Will" and become bees.  3 of 1500 brothers and sisters. Speaking of bees, they dominate the second half of the first part of the show.  You'll come away with some knowledge..."Sweet swelling..."Bee food: zinnia, perennial geranium, sedum, coneflower, daisies, lavender, bee balm and golden rod are all some of the last meals for the bees before winter. Nanoscale ridges...WHAT!?Moths get their time in the spotlight.  They are wonderful pollinators and do not get enough credit. How do they see at night? Emily McFarland and her spider features.Pollination by lawn machine and pollination by GMC are giggled about. Building a bee hive features on Tips For Success From The Growing Season. Nuc's and what they are start the conversation off. Albert Einstein and his theories cap the show off. Tune in. Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

T&D World publishes the annual Vegetation Management supplement in partnership with the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) each June. For the 2025 Trees & Utilities week in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, we are featuring the audio story, "Monitoring Pollinators in ROWs by Drone."  This article explores research underway to leverage drone technology for responsible right-of-way vegetation management. It was written by Jill Rebuck of The Davey Tree Expert Company. To read more articles in the 2025 Vegetation Management supplement, visit the T&D World website. You can also submit an abstract for the 2026 supplement. We look forward to working with you to share stories about best practices, research and technologies in the utility vegetation management industry. 

Here's your local news for Wednesday, September 10, 2025:We detail Madison leaders' latest proposal to promote more housing in the city,Learn how white nationalist groups are using so-called 'Active Clubs' to covertly spread their ideology,Outline the research that has a range of experts sounding the alarm on a ubiquitous insecticide,Welcome "Cardinal Call" back from summer break,Find out why containing wildfires is easier said than done,Travel back in time to 1965,And much more.

If you've been thinking of getting bees to help your garden or to produce honey, you can apply for a free beehive. As Roxy Todd reports, Virginia agriculture officials offer the hives as a way to help support declining bee populations. Applications are due September 10th. You can find more information here.

Pumpkin spice may have snuck itself onto the shelves (and into Leslie's cheesy introduction), but that doesn't mean that the pollinating insects in your garden have stopped searching for pollen to store and nectar to sip. On today's episode, Leslie and Marianne discuss some late blooming species you can grow to keep those pollinators healthy and gearing up for winter — and which will also make you smile as the garden moves from summer-sizzle to autumn-fizzle.Soil is warm, bugs are low, temps are cool, rains are coming, and nurseries are selling. Time to give that hard-working garden a few new picks to extend the bloom season until (and sometimes after) frost. Between them, the girls will give you nine terrific choices. But wait there's more! A set of Ginsu knives, AND two further great plants for this time of year in Damn I Wish I'd Planted That.All this and competing tropical cocktails, Choppin' Broccoli, and some serious cultural confusion over Matthew Perry resolved, on this week's episode of The Garden Mixer._______________________________Be sure to hit the subscribe button so we can keep you smiling while you hit the mess [your garden] out there.Full Show Notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Garden Mixer Podcast's Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠________________________________Socials – Pick Your Platform:Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thegardenmixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Indulge us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@the.garden.mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spar with us on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gardenmixerpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“French Bistro” theme by Adieu Adieu. License D0LZBINY30GGTBBW

In this episode of The Evergreen Thumb, guest Karen Wright from the Washington State Department of Agriculture tells us all about the Washington Bee Atlas and the importance of native bees. Karen explains the difference between honey bees and native bees. She talks about how Washington state has around 600 known native bee species, with many more still undescribed, and goes over how native bees are vital for pollinating about 80% of flowering plants, which is crucial for our ecosystems and agriculture. She explains what the Washington Bee Atlas is and how to get involved with their project of documenting native bee diversity, tracking their distribution, and promoting bee conservation efforts. Listeners will learn how the Washington Bee Atlas leverages collaboration among researchers, volunteers, and the public to gather data on native bee populations.

Those who know, self-sow! Self-sowing is when certain plants are left to bolt or go to seed. When plants go to seed, their flowers attract more pollinators and the seeds drop in the soil for another perfectly timed crop for next season.

Changes to the costs, paperwork and bureaucracy that are hampering agri-food exports from Great Britain to the European Union won't be in place until 2027. Nick Thomas–Symonds, the Minister for EU Relations, has been setting out his priorities for the future of the UK-EU relationship in a speech in front of industry representatives and journalists. We speak to trade expert David Henig and hear how food exporters are 'disappointed' that barriers to trade won't be removed sooner.The pig and poultry industries is damaging our rivers and countryside, according to a report commissioned by the Wildlife Trusts. The UK produces almost one million tonnes of pig meat and two million tonnes of poultry meat per year and the Trusts have been examining the broader environmental risks from farming pigs and poultry. We hear look into the details of the report and hear from the pig industry.Pollinators play an essential part in crop production and we've been looking at them all week. One fruit farm in Herefordshire imports bees from the Netherlands to pollinate fruit in polytunnels. We also speak to the insect charity Buglife. An update on a tiny community which was considered too remote to be connected to the national grid. People living in the Upper Coquet Valley in Northumberland used to be reliant on generators. For 50 years they've campaigned to be connected to the mains - and now they are!Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new report from the Wildlife Trusts outlines the environmental damage caused by pig and poultry pollution. Caz Graham talks to the report authors and to the National Pig Association.Moths and hoverflies are the unloved pollinators that keep our farms and gardens healthy. We hear about their brilliant undercover work.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton

A new stakeholder survey has been launched by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales to find out how the Countryside Code is working in England and Wales. The code in Northern Ireland is similar but runs separately, and in Scotland, where they have the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, access, rules are different. We speak to two farmers about whether they feel the code's working for them and what they'd like to see. Pollinators play an essential part in crop production and we're looking at them all week. One fruit farm in Herefordshire imports bees from the Netherlands to pollinate fruit in polytunnels. We also speak to the insect charity Buglife.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

In this episode of Hort Culture, the team is joined by Dr. Jonathan Larson, University of Kentucky Extension Entomologist, for a fascinating discussion on the complex and often surprising relationships between insects and plants. From pollinators that fuel our food supply to pests that challenge our landscapes, Dr. Larson shares insights on how these interactions shape both natural ecosystems and home gardens. The conversation dives into beneficial insects, pest management strategies, and practical tips for gardeners looking to support pollinators while protecting their plants. Whether you're curious about native bees, biological control, or just want to understand what's really happening when bugs meet blooms, this episode offers expert knowledge with plenty of real-world takeaways.Entomology at the University of KentuckyArthro-Pod PodcastFirefly FestivalQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.comCheck us out on Instagram!

Jutt Howard from NG Turf offers an alternative to fescue and keys for soil prep for installing sod, plus Becky Griffin encourages you to participate in the pollinator census!

Executive Director Scott Black joins host Dave Schlom for a brief history and overview of the Xerces Society.

Dr Heather Barrett-Mold OBE talks to Ken about bee populations in London and encourages people to take part in protecting pollinators with Pollinating London Together action group. Normally in any survey of pollinators honey bees would make up around 11 percent of all the insects surveyed, but in London last year's Pollinating London Together survey found nearly 57 percent of those insects surveyed were honey bees. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/4oQFjGj #bees #pollination #honey #wasps #hoverflies == We're delighted to have Gro-rite Horticulture sponsoring World Radio Gardening, find out about automatic pot watering systems available for mail order delivery: bit.ly/3wCPyHy Also, don't forget – if you like what we do, why not tip Ken and team with a coffee – Buy us a coffee (bit.ly/48RLP75) – as a thank you for the work done to bring this website to life.

Pollinators play a critical role in our food system, but their decline has immediate consequences for food security, public health, and the resilience of ecosystems. The Bee Conservancy was created in response to that reality. What started as a grassroots effort has grown into programs that bring pollinator gardens across the city, provide seeds and support to urban farmers, and engage residents in community science to track bee populations. Today, I’m joined by The Bee Conservancy’s Rebecca Louie, to hear about how the organization has expanded since she joined in 2019, the partnerships that have brought unexpected resources to the table, and the importance of asking for help. Her perspective offers lessons for anyone starting out in the nonprofit world, or simply looking for meaningful ways to contribute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall garden phlox grow up to five feet and come in a myriad of colors; just the sort of flowers that pollinators love.

There are a surprising number of night pollinators. This episode discusses the main moth pollinators that come out at night.

Why do hummingbirds sparkle like flying jewels? In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, Mrs. Cindy explains how their brilliant feathers work and teaches some impressive new science words! In the companion video class about Hummingbirds included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, discover dazzling hummingbirds and the science behind their wingbeats, colors, and migration journeys. Design your own hummingbird in your nature journal during the class! Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Register here for the FREE Music and Nature Study Event! Visit the hummingbird show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Got pests in your garden? Plant more flowers! Here's the most legit excuse EVER to plant a zillion flowers and turn your veggie garden into a beautiful, half-edible, half-ornamental paradise

The McGraw Show 8-8-25: Night Pollinators, Sen. Williams Announces, Uber Ratings & The Muny by

Pollinators are the topic of this episode of From the Ground Up! Host Brian Brown is joined by Alabama Extension Home Horticulture Agent Bethany O’Rear and Becky Griffin, coordinator of....

A third of British pollinator species are now in decline — but there's still hope, and gardeners can be part of the solution. This week, the RHS launched its updated Plants for Pollinators list: over 10,000 plants scientifically shown to support pollinating insects throughout the year. Dr Andy Salisbury, head of plant health at the RHS, will take us behind the science — revealing how smart planting choices can help reverse pollinator decline. Gill Perkins, CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, will bring us into the world of the charismatic bumblebee, shedding light on the growing pressures they face, from shrinking habitats to shifting seasons. And finally, horticulturist Rosie Yeomans will spotlight a pollinator favourite: salvias. After leading a three-year hardy salvia trial at RHS Garden Wisley, she's here to reveal which varieties truly stole the show. Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Dr Andy Salisbury, Rosie Yeomans, Gill Perkins Links: Plants for Pollinators hub About Plants for Pollinators Plants for bees Bumblebee Conservation Trust Hardy Salvia Trial Results

The Service Chiefs Fellows connect their operational insights with potential DARPA breakthroughs.We explore DARPA's Service Chiefs Fellowship Program (SCFP), a 12-week immersive experience that brings together participants from various backgrounds across the Department of Defense (DOD) and other U.S. agencies. Its dual core purposes are to educate future leaders from military services and other agencies, helping them "infuse some of the DARPA magic into their home base," and to inform DARPA program managers and performers, many of whom lack military or government backgrounds, about the mission and the needs of current warfighters. This blending of ideas fosters new connections and can even lead participants to return to the agency, as exemplified by Rob McHenry, DARPA's current Deputy Director and the agency's first Service Chiefs Fellow.As part of DARPA's broader strategy to engage the U.S. military and other U.S. government partners, the SCFP helps ensure vital ideas take root and flourish where they are most needed.Service Chiefs Fellowship Program webpageBiological Technologies Office (BTO)Information Innovation Office (I2O)Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC)Dr. Michael Feasel (BTO program manager)Commercial Strategy Office

Pollinators NEED native plants because of their closely tied relationships that are at times millions of years in the making! In this podcast episode, you'll learn why native plants are crucial for pollinators and how non-native plants fall short.Tune in to discover how plant-pollinator co-evolution was predicted and discovered through incredible examples of plant-pollinator relationships. At the end, I'll challenge you to a fun mini-experiment to see which attracts more pollinators: native or non-native plants.Don't forget to subscribe for more fun and educational content, and join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club for exclusive worksheets and interaction with me and like-minded parents! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more.

In this episode of Driftwood Outdoors, Brandon Butler and Nathan McLeod sit down with Elsa Gallagher, Habitat Program Director at The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund.Elsa shares how her work is helping pollinators thrive across the Midwest by creating diverse, high-quality habitats on public and private lands. From seed mixes to sustainable management strategies, learn how the NextGen Habitat Projects are changing the game for bees, butterflies, upland birds, and more.Whether you're a landowner, conservationist, or just love wild places, this episode is full of practical knowledge and outdoor inspiration.For more info:Bee and Butterfly Fund WebsiteBee and Butterfly Fund FacebookBee and Butterfly Fund InstagramSpecial thanks to:Living The Dream Outdoor PropertiesSuperior Foam Insulation LLCDoolittle TrailersScenic Rivers TaxidermyConnect with Driftwood Outdoors:FacebookInstagramYouTubeEmail:info@driftwoodoutdoors.com

Building confidence and knowledge through mentorship is necessary for farmers to overcome fears and take bigger steps towards meeting their goals. Dara Booher wears many educational hats. Dara is the coordinator of the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council's farmer-mentor program and the facilitator of the Virginia Farmer Mentor Network, a collaboration of Virginia State University, the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, the Virginia No-Till Alliance (VANTAGE), and Virginia Tech's Eastern Shore Agriculture Research and Education Center (AREC).In her work with youth and farmers, Dara recommends getting to know people and meeting them where they are, particularly for peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and understanding people's goals, aspirations, and motivations. The Virginia Farmer Mentor Network provides mentoring connections to any farmer interested in peer-to-peer learning on crop production, grazing, direct and intermediated marketing, and beginning farming. To find out more, contact mentor coordinator and facilitator Dara Booher at VFGCFarmerMentor@gmail.com or 540.481.6001 (call or text). For details about Virginia's Graze 300 program and principles, please visit https://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/graze-300.htmlAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers and follow the four core soil health principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage in your field or garden as much as possible;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- to improve biodiversity and life in the soil; and4) Energize with diversity -- through crop rotation and/or livestock integration.Yes, soil health is a great conversation starter because we can all be 4 The Soil and for the future!  To enjoy recent 4 The Soil blog posts and additional soil health resources, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/blog and https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  

For more helpful information, advice, and recommendations, go to www.dirtdoctor.com.

There's a huge diversity in the number of animal species that pollinate plants - it's way more than bees! And most people think of honey bees when it comes to pollination, but they are actually poor pollinators and not native to North America. In this podcast episode, you'll learn about native pollinators all over the world. You're going to be surprised to learn how many there are - from small insects to large mammals and even carnivores. Pollinators are everywhere! I challenge you to watch a plant or scan an area and see how much pollinator diversity you can find. Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more.

Co-host Matthew Shepherd came from Britain, a country known for its hedgerows. He grew up surrounded by hedges, sometimes many centuries old, crisscrossing the countryside. Early in Matthew's career he helped plant, maintain, and restore miles of hedgerows and got to see up close the wealth of wildlife that live in them. When he moved to America, he was struck by the lack of hedgerows, their place in the landscape frequently filled by barbed wire or other types of fencing. He is very happy to know that this is changing and that there is a movement in this country toward planting hedgerows for their beauty, wildlife value, and economic benefits.Joining Matthew in this episode is someone who has been at the forefront of this effort for a decade and a half. Jessa Kay Cruz is a Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist for the Xerces Society in a region covering California and the Intermountain West. Since joining Xerces in 2008, Jessa has worked in agricultural and natural lands to create habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and to promote practices that support them. She provides education and technical support to a range of individuals and agencies, including farmers and ranchers, agricultural professionals, and land managers.---Cover Photo: Sarah Foltz Jordan/Xerces SocietyThank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

A replay of a conversation from April of 2021 with Pollinator Conservationist Heather Holm about her multi-award-winning book, Wasps, Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants.

Send us a textIn this lively and eye-opening episode, Joey Pinz sits down with Jordan Trowbridge—an avid reptile rescuer and passionate wildlife advocate—to explore the urgent environmental challenges facing Florida. From invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades to the unintended damage caused by domestic cats and manicured lawns, Jordan dives deep into what's hurting Florida's biodiversity—and how everyday people can help.The conversation spans topics like responsible pet ownership, the power of native plants, and why zoos still matter for global conservation awareness. Jordan shares personal stories of rescuing snakes, keeping exotic lizards, and growing up catching frogs and turtles in Florida creeks.He also offers practical advice on vetting reptile care, coexisting safely with alligators, and reducing the impact of chemicals on pollinators. With humor, knowledge, and a clear love for the natural world, Jordan makes a compelling case that the path to a better planet starts with individual action. ✅ Top 3 Highlights:

Hover flies are everywhere—but most of us don't even notice them. This week on PolliNation, OSU graduate student Nina Miller unpacks the fascinating world of these bee look-alikes, from their diverse life histories to simple ways you can invite them into your garden. OSU Garden Ecology Lab: https://gardenecology.oregonstate.edu/  

It's festival season! If you're near Portland or Vancouver, WA, you won't want to miss the Vancouver Pollinator Festival happening this Saturday, June 21st at Marshall Park. Our guest, Kyle Roslund, founder of the Vancouver Bee Project, joins us to share what's in store—from garden tours and hands-on activities to a talk by renowned lepidopterist and Xerces Society founder, Dr. Robert Michael Pyle.  Pollinator Festival info: https://pollinatorfestival.org/