Bee Colony Collapse Disorder
I was reading an article on bee colony collapse disorder (CCD) yesterday that implicated a relatively new family of insecticides neonicotinoids. Specifically, the article addressed chemical free garden plants that were suspected of causing the problem. How can this be? How can I be killing bees and not use chemicals in my garden? The answer is in the greenhouse that raises the plants. If you are not using plants you grow by seed and purchase live plants from the chain name stores then there is a very good chance you are purchasing plants that have been treated with neonicotinoids. I was surprised to read that the pesticides were so long lived and honestly it was sort of a DUH moment for me.
Whether or not you agree with Friends of the Earth and their politics they do raise a compelling question.
http://libcloud.s3.amazonaws.com/93/...are_report.pdf
But for the sake of fairness here's another view on the subject:
http://www.takepart.com/article/2013...ts-complicated
All that aside, it seems CCD may be yet another good reason to harvest your own seeds and grow your own plants.
