The Mary Christopher Podcast

Everything You Wanted to Know About the Other Bees !!!

Everything You Wanted to Know About the Other Bees
The Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, the Blue Orchard Bee, Mason Bees, 
and the Shaggyfuzzy Foot Bee!
The Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee, Megachile rotundata, is a very important pollinator of alfalfa for alfalfa seed production.  This bee species was introduced to the United States from Eurasia in the late 1930s.  Wherever the bee is managed efficiently and effectively, alfalfa seed yields increase dramatically compared to pollination with honey bees or no bee.  The alfalfa leafcutting bee is solitary and lives only several weeks in the summer.  After mating with short-lived males, female bees construct their own nests, gather nectar and pollen for provisions in individual nest cells, and lay eggs on the provisions.  At the end of the summer, females die without ever seeing their offspring that spend the winter as prepupae (large larvae) in leaf-lined cocoons.
Some alfalfa growers will manage their own bees, or will buy or supplement their bee stock from alfalfa leafcutting bee suppliers, who are usually in Canada.  Bees raised in Canada are mostly free of chalkbrood disease and pollen balls and, thus, are very important for sustaining healthy populations of leafcutting bees for alfalfa seed production in the United States.  Alfalfa leafcutting bees are also be used to pollinate canola, carrots, and melons.
In recent years, the Blue Orchard Bee, Osmia lignaria, (BOB) has become established as an alternative orchard pollinator in North America. With a strong preference for fruit trees, BOBs are highly efficient pollinators; in fact, just 250-300 females will pollinate an entire acre of apples or cherries.  BOBs forage and pollinate under cloudy skies and at lower temperatures than most other bees.  They are easy to manage and rarely sting.
Blue Orchard Bees are solitary nesting bees.  They nest in 5/16" diameter holes, 6" deep.  When properly managed, they can provide excellent pollination on their own or with honey bees.  This would be an excellent combination to make up for any disease or toxic exposure for the Honey Bees who often travel 1 to 3 miles to gather pollen.
Mason Bee is a name now commonly used for species of bees in the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other "masonry" products in constructing their nests, which are made in naturally occurring gaps such as between cracks in stones or other small dark cavities. When available, some species preferentially use hollow stems or holes in wood made by wood-boring insects.  
Mason Bees can also be cultivated by providing a “home” for them made out of small bamboo tubes, stacked so the bees have access to an open end.  They will nest and lay their eggs in these tubes.  It possible to buy ready-made tube homes for Mason bees to ensure the next generation will hatch and pollenate in your garden or orchard.  Female mason bees have a stinger, but they are not aggressive and rarely sting, even when handled.  Male mason bees do not have a stinger.
Among the least common managed bees in the US is the Shaggy Fuzzyfoot Bee, Anthophora pilipes villosula. This solitary bee is native to Europe and Asia, and is a relatively recent introduction in the US - imported from Japan in the early 1990s by the USDA Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Maryland.
The fuzzyfoot is a fairly large bee that superficially resembles a drab bumble bee. Like bumble bees, the fuzzyfoot is reputed to have some thermoregulatory ability, and is capable of generating body heat— allowing the bee to forage even in cool and wet conditions. However, this bee apparently has limited winter hardiness, and its management is restricted to warm, humid climates.
Nesting for the fuzzyfoot occurs in exposed vertical banks or dry adobe. Female bees construct cavities by first softening dry mud with nectar or saliva, then they produce an oily secretion which is used to line the brood cells. Stackable adobe blocks, sheltered against rain and moisture, are used as a managed nesting system. Like some other cavity-nesting bees, the fuzzyfoot is gregarious and tends to locate nests near its own natal home.
Fuzzyfoot bees are reportedly excellent pollinators of high-bush blueberries, both in the southern US and in Japan. Adult foraging lasts roughly three weeks during the spring, and there is one generation each year.
There is an ongoing effort to help farmers, gardeners, and orchard growers have access to “alternative pollinators”.  All bees need protection from toxins.  They all need safe places to nest and lay eggs.  And, Human Beings, that’s us, need lots of pollinators in order that we have the herbs, fruits, and vegetables that we need to be healthy.  Let’s remember to be grateful for these very small and very essential “workers” and do everything we can to protect them!
I compiled this general information about “alternative pollinators” from the USDA, Wikipedia, and Google.  More and more I am fascinated and amazed by all these wonderful creatures that exist with us in this world.  We have been very blessed!
Have a Wonderful Week …  Mary Christopher

Inner Peace Guided Meditation for the Whole Wide World ~ Sunday October 20 2024

Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
Another week has flown by and the World seems to be balanced on a very fine edge between "just crazy" and "more crazy".
We are living in "interesting" times.  For me, that means I am called to be more aware, use my powers of discernment as fully as possible, and keep up with my spiritual practices.
One of the ways I protect my sanity is to look for systems or programs out in the world that are working.  One of my favorite examples is Florida Power and Light.
I have good friends scattered around Florida.  They all survived the 2 hurricanes with minimal damage, even though they lost power and had high winds and rain.  One of my friends who lives in Alachua County had very high winds and rain.  They lost power, but it was back on within 4 hours!
Florida Power and LIght was on the job!  They have an excellent record for customer service and emergency response times.  They were the first company outside of Japan to win the Deming Prize for quality management in 1989.  This prestigious award is based on implementing Total Quality Management Sytems developed by Edward Deming.  TQM systems were designed for ongoing product and service improvement, greater employee involvement and safety, and consistent customer satisfaction.  FLP had to score consistently high in all these categories in order to win the Deming Prize.  They have continued to develop these systems.
For me, Florida Power and Light is a great example of a system that is working.  It works for the people at FLP as well as for all their customers.  Whenever there are storms, or tornadoes, or hurricanes. I think about the linemen everywhere who are out in all kinds of weather, climbing poles, wrangling electric wires, and in many cases putting their lives on the line so people will have electricity and be safe in their homes.
I think when the whole world "seems" to be in tail-spin, we tend to forget how many good people are doing their jobs every day.  We get focused on blaming people rather than being aware that we all work within systems.  Some of these "systems" are working, like Florida Power and Light.  Other systems are way out of date and may have been in place since the Ice Ages.
Yes, the world is definitely "wobbling" on its axis.  Are we adding to the wobble or helping to create balance?  Are we adding to the anger and frustration, or generating Peace, Coherence, and Creative Solutions?  Remember, we are the Ones we have been waiting for ... !!!
So, thank you for showing up!  Thank You for doing your meditations and spiritual practices!  And, thank you for all the Good you do every day!
Have a Wonderful Week and,
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher

We Love Pollinators, Including Alternative Pollinators ! ~ Caring for Creation

As I mentioned in the podcast, I am having an exciting week!  On Saturday I took some books back to the library.  This particular library has a display with “Free Books” so I usually check it before I leave.  These were 3 wonderful resource books that I immediately scooped up and brought home.
One is Managing Alternative Pollinators, the second is The Complete Book of North American Butterflies, and the third is The Beginners Guide to Bats !!!  They are packed with information, very useful for learning more about "Caring for Creation"!  I started reading Managing Alternative Pollinators first because we know that the Honey Bee population has been diminishing for many years.  We also know that we need prodigious as well as alternative pollinators so we will have sufficient food production.
Honey Bees are definitely prodigious but they are struggling to survive!  The increased use of insecticides and herbicides is one of the main reasons for the decline of Honey Bee populations.  No matter how diligent and watchful Beekeepers are, their bees can be easily exposed to toxins.  This is because Honey Bees often fly 1 to 3 miles per day to reach flowers with the most pollen and nectar.  In their travels, they may cross fields that have been recently sprayed with toxins!  Also, the toxic spray from neighboring fields or even crops 2 to 3 miles away may reach the hives.
A large, healthy Honey Bee colony can have as many as 50,000 adult bees!  The Queen Bee can potentially lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day!  All these baby bee larvae need protein-rich royal jelly for them to survive and thrive!  Royal jelly is a creamy, yellowish-white substance produced by honey bees.
Nurse bees feed royal jelly to larvae for the first three days after hatching.  Royal jelly is also fed to the developing queen bee throughout her life. This diet can allow the queen bee to live up to five years, while worker bees typically live for about 45 days.  The hive is kept busy gathering nectar and pollen to feed the queen and the growing larva!  If the worker bees are exposed to any toxins, the entire colony can be wiped out in a matter of hours!  Beekeepers, anyone who uses bees for pollination, and those of us who love honey are absolutely committed to caring for the European Honey Bee. 
As I mentioned at the beginning of this podcast, there are alternative pollinators.  They do not live in hives and they do not produce honey!  But they do pollinate.  And, they are not well-known.  These pollinators include Bumble Bees, Mason Bees, the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Sweat Bees, and the Shaggyfuzzy Foot Bee!  These bees are usually solitary and may nest underground.  They are difficult to detect, but they can be encouraged to live in your garden or your yard by studying their habits and by growing their favorite plants.
This is a great time of year to put in a Pollinator Garden that will flourish and produce blossoms in the Spring.  There are great resources for gardening in Gwinnett County.  They are listed below.  Also, Alexander Park has a pollinator garden area that you can check out! 
Gwinnett Parks & Recreation, UGA Extension Gwinnett, Master Gardener volunteers, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are working together to encourage native wildflower growth, provide critical habitats, and promote plant pollination.
We are looking forward to seeing your Personal Pollinator Garden in the Spring!

Inner Peace Guided Meditation for the Whole Wide World ~ Sunday October 13 2024

Fortunately, for all of us, the Sun is still coming up every morning.  The Earth is still rotating on its axis, and Stars continue to shine in the Heavens every night.  Creation seems to be operating just fine, give or take a few hurricanes.
At the same time, Human Beings are still trying to figure out how to live together in some kind of peaceful relationship.  And, we are still on a major learning curve to understand how to care for this jewel of a planet!  We could say that right now living on Earth is very challenging!  Even after centuries of spiritual teachers saying the same things about how we can live peacefully together on Earth,  we continue to hate and fear and fight and argue.  And we wonder why we have difficulty falling asleep at night!
So, how do we turn this situation around?  How do we move ourselves from fear and anger and fighting to being calm and cool and coherent?  Obviously, we have tried many things, some have worked, others have not.  Most of us understand that arguing and making others “wrong” does not work out very well.  But, we haven’t quite understood how to do “compassion” or “loving-kindness” on a daily basis.
In my experience, being compassionate or heart-centered every day is a challenge.  This is especially true during a very high-volume, contentious election year, along with mega-storms, wars and rumors of wars, and refugees everywhere.  Whew … !!!
I certainly find all this turmoil challenging.  So, several years ago, I resolved that I would not “hate” anyone.  I also decided that I would do my best to be aware every time I start down that “slippery slope” of irritation, frustration, blame, or any other negative emotion.  I don’t always manage to do this all day every day.  But, I have found that I am getting better and better at catching these debilitating thoughts and feelings before they gain momentum.  I have learned from experience that I will not be a “happy camper” by the end of the day if I allow myself to get caught up in anything negative.
On the other hand, if I am able to stay “conscious” and mindful throughout the day, I can shift any train of thought to a healthier track.  I think of my meditations as a commitment to mindfulness.  I start my meditation as I am waking up in the morning.  I have found that if I get up, make a cup of tea, and then sit down to do my meditation, my to-do list is already rolling.
Every day seems to be its own challenge so I have gotten to be more and more patient with myself.  I have also learned to be more compassionate with myself when situations are challenging.  I have also learned that the more attention I bring to my heart during the day and during my meditations, the better everything works!  Amazing … !!!  Maybe that is why the first 2 commandments begin with “Love”.
I am sure we are capable of learning to live with each other on this planet.  I am also sure we can do much better caring for Creation.  This century is definitely a challenge for Everyone.  So, thank you for showing up!  And, thank you for all the good work you are doing every day.
 
Mary Christopher

Caring for Creation ~ Supporting the Pollinators October 8 2024

Bees, Butterflies, and Other Important Pollinators !!!
 
Pollinators are absolutely essential for the growth of many fruits and vegetables.  As you know, there are many small insects classified as Pollinators, including a variety of Bees, and Butterflies,   The key pollinators in most ecosystems are Bees (including both honeybees and native wild bees), Butterflies, Moths, Hummingbirds, Bats, and some species of flies and beetles are also pollinators.  Bees are usually considered the most important because they are diverse and they are dedicated pollinators!
 
Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. That’s one out of every three bites of food you eat. More than 3,500 species of native bees help increase crop yields.  Pollinators also help with farm crops such as alfalfa and wildflowers.  In addition to pollination, Bees use the nectar they gather from alfalfa, wildflowers, and flowering trees to make Honey.
 
Some types of honey include Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Clover, Dandelion, Manuka, and Orange Blossom.  A strong and healthy hive can be home to 50–100,000 bees during the peak of the summer.  Do a little quick math, and you can see how many beekeepers can average 60 lbs. of honey per hive, per year.  With good weather and a dedicated beekeeper, some hives can produce as much as 100  lbs!  That is a lot of Honey!
 
Butterflies are another family of pollinators that are very important, especially this time of year.  During late September and through October, we usually see beautiful Monarch Butterflies going south to spend the winter in Mexico where it is warmer.  Monarchs that breed east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to the Sierra Madre Mountains of central Mexico, where they cluster on Oyamel fir trees. 
 
There are ancient legends about the Monarchs who travel to Mexico.  In most traditions, these amazing butterflies are considered to be the returning souls of loved ones.  Ancient people believed that, even after passing on, their souls lived on through Nature. It says a great deal about how deeply they appreciated the wonders of Creation and the mysteries of Nature.  They had reverence for Nature and a better understanding of their relationship to Creation.  The tradition of celebrating the return of the Monarchs in Mexico and the United States is known as "El Dia de Los Muertos".  It is a wonderful family celebration.
 
Most Monarchs travel long distances to get to their winter home.  We can help them make this journey by planting and nurturing Pollinator Gardens.  If you don't have a Pollinator Garden in your yard, or on your back porch yet, this is the perfect time to start one.  The Nature Conservancy is an excellent resource for creating the "perfect pollinator garden".  Even though we might not have a place for Butterflies and other pollinators to rest and eat right, by putting in a simple pollinator garden now, we can be ready next Spring when the Monarchs come back!
 
When you see Monarchs flying through this Fall, remember they are on their way to Mexico.  Give them a special Blessing for their long journey!
 
Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing, and spiritual practices.  Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities. 

Inner Peace Guided Meditation for the Whole Wide World ~ Sunday October 6 2024

Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
Why are we doing these Inner Peace Meditations every Sunday?
There are several reasons that we might be taking the time to do these meditations. 
One reason I do them is that I know we are making a difference in the state of the World!  When good-hearted people gather with a specific intent to generate goodwill, or loving-kindness, or to increase the Peace in our turbulent world, it works.  We know this because we now have technology refined enough to track the impact of these coherent groups.
I know we don't need to be perfect to accomplish this.  I also know most of us have enough experience with Mindfulness and Meditation that we can participate and benefit personally as well as make a difference. 
Another major reason is that I benefit tremendously by doing these meditations.  Some weeks I am not able to sit at our specific time, but I get it done sometime during that day.  And, I sleep better that night as well!
Some of us have shared experiences from living in spiritual communities.  Some of us have specific daily spiritual practices.  And, we all share the intention of making this World a kinder and safer place for Everyone!
When our human world goes through any kind of major change such as the Second Industrial Revolution (1870 to 1914) or the current and very speedy revolution in technology, it causes widespread social upheaval.
It took 2.4 million years for our ancestors to control fire and use it for cooking, but only 66 years for us to go from the first flight to humans landing on the moon.
This kind of change puts tremendous pressure on all our social structures.  When we have high-speed social change, people are displaced, food production may fail or be delayed, prices often increase and people panic!  This is when our real work begins.  Will we add to the chaos and panic, or will we create peace and generate loving-kindness and compassion?
Unfortunately, some people seek power to take advantage of the fear and confusion.  They are not interested in solving problems or finding better solutions.  They create chaos and generate fear to gain personal power.
Rapid social change can be very dangerous and difficult.  We can use the energy of change to create a better world that serves everyone and protects the environment.  Or, we can choose to add to the chaos.  It is our choice  
Jane Goodall is one of my favorite people and an excellent example of someone who is clearly making the world a better place with her Roots and Shoots Program.  She is amazing!
Whatever your reason for doing these meditations, thank you!  And, thank you for Everything you do Everyday to make this World a better place for all the Crazy Humans and all Creatures Great and Small.
Take really good care of yourself and
Remember to Breathe ...
Mary Christopher

Why Do We Love Forests ... ???

We love forests for many reasons.  They provide healthy habitats for all our native species to survive and thrive.  We know we also need healthy habitats for humans to survive and thrive.  Most of us are aware that an afternoon walk in the woods is many times better for us than an afternoon spent in front of a screen. 
Researchers have found that a mere 20-minute walk among trees can substantially lower our salivary cortisol levels.  Cortisol is the primary stress hormone.  Including the immune boost from lower cortisol, a walk in nature actually improves our brain function. Researchers have related this to our evolutionary development as well as to our vision.  When we walk among trees, our peripheral vision improves as well as our depth perception.
So many of us are spending too many hours with our eyes focused straight ahead on a screen.  This does not provide exercise for our eye muscles or improve our ability to shift our focus rapidly.  We need visual flexibility and good peripheral vision to walk and drive safely.  The more responsive our eyes are, the faster we can respond to anything in our pathway or to a person or vehicle approaching from the side.  This makes a definite difference for our safety!
Currently, there are more than 43,000 studies that have been done around the world, establishing the tremendous benefits of “walking in the woods”!  Many of these studies come from Japan and South Korea.  In Japan, an afternoon walk through the woods is known as “Shinrin-Yoku”, or forest bathing.  In Japan, Shinrin-Yoku is part of the public health system!  Even office workers will use their lunch break to take a walk in the woods if possible.
One reason walking through a forest for at least 20 to 30 minutes can be so beneficial is that we are breathing in “phytoncides”.  These are oils released by trees.  There are thousands of these oils and they contain natural antimicrobial and insecticidal properties.  The trees use these phytoncides to protect themselves from harmful bugs, bacteria, and diseases.  
A study was done in Japan in 2005 with volunteers who spent 3 days in the forest.  The study showed that exposure to these oils produced “natural killer cells”.  Killer cells are a type of white blood cells that destroy infected or diseased cells. These “killer cells” also fight viruses and tumors in our bodies. They are essential to the function of our immune system!  And, these cells remained active in the volunteers’ system for more than 30 days.  Just imagine what spending a week in the woods could do for your immune system and general health!
A study done in 2011 by the University of Michigan, showed that being in the woods for at least 10 minutes, 3 times a week reduced stress levels and improved the volunteers' sense of well-being.  Stress levels are easily determined by testing saliva for cortisol.  This study showed a definite drop in levels of cortisol in participants' saliva during and following 8 weeks of this study.  Other studies have shown similar results.
Another benefit of “walking in the woods” is breathing in fresh oxygen.  Forests and even clusters of trees within city parks are producing very pure O2.  We know from our own experience that human beings benefit from fresh air.  Other studies have shown that exposure to “fresh air” improves our sense of well-being.  As we relax and begin to breathe more slowly, our heart rate slows down, we absorb more oxygen, and we relax even more.
Other studies have shown that hiking and regular walks through the woods can generate “alpha brain waves”.  When we shift from beta to alpha brain waves, we are moving from “a busy brain” to a more calm and coherent brain function.  In addition, studies of neighborhoods in the United States have determined that those with more trees usually have a lower crime rate!
If you have an opportunity this week to take a walk in the woods, or hike in a state or national forest, you might be surprised to find that you are more relaxed.  You may discover that you are sleeping better at night and thinking better during the day.  Wouldn’t that be Delightful !!! 
Have a Wonderful Week discovering all the benefits of “forest bathing”!
Mary Christopher

Inner Peace Guided Meditation for the Whole Wide World ~ Do Our Really Meditations Matter?

Group Meditation at 7 pm PDT, 8 pm MDT, 9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT
For centuries religious and spiritual groups have come together to pray, usually for a healing or a better world.  Although I am not sure that praying for Victory during the Crusades would qualify.  Of course, prayers for ending the Crusades would definitely count.
When we do our Inner Peace Meditation for the Whole Wide World on Sundays, we are being as inclusive as possible.  We are doing a "time-out" from our busy days to go within and rest in that place of Inner Peace.  If nothing else was the result, at the very least, each of us would be more Peaceful and Coherent.  That alone is a Blessing to the world.  Remember, if that specific time doesn't work for you, just do your meditation whenever you can!
Many of us know from direct experience that our spiritual practices and our prayers can improve whole neighborhoods.  We have seen that over time, our prayers and our service in our communities open hearts, as well as doors for all kinds of good change. 
We also have excellent guidance from the Gospels.  Jesus is quoted as saying, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven)!'  When he was asked where this "kingdom" was, he replied, "The Kingdom of God is wiithin.".  This is a very short and specific answer to the question posed by the Sadducees and the Pharisees!  If he said anything more, it is not recorded.
When we go within and rest with our Heart, we are turning our attention away from the busy world, from all the distractions and confusions, and just plain ol" noise.  We are consciously and deliberately seeking Inner Peace, Inner Guidance, and the healing that comes from within.
Studies have shown that the longer we linger within this place of peace and calm, we more we benefit.  Usually, our heart rate slows down, and our blood pressure goes down as well.  Also, our endocrine system begins to produce a whole cascade of healthy chemicals such as endorphins!  The longer we linger within, the electromagnetic field of our heart is strengthened.
How do we know all this ... ???  Because scientists from many fields have been using technology to track all this for years, actually since the last century!  So, here we are, centuries after Jesus and even longer since the Buddha was teaching compassion and loving-kindness, gathering with the intention of spreading Inner Peace wherever it will go.  Our intention is to be a Blessing to Everyone and every Creature, everywhere, so we are deeply blessed as well.
Thank You for showing up and thank you for all the good you do every day.
Take good care of yourself ...
And remember to Breathe.
Mary Christopher