Jodi Helmer

Pollinator numbers in the wild have been decreasing. With most of our food sources relying on one pollinator or another, this is a problem that we all have to be aware of and begin solving. Protecting Pollinators: How to Save the Creatures that Feed Our World presents the information on our declining pollinator species including insects, birds and bats. Told through stories and specific studies, the information is presented in a way that is interesting and easy to understand. Each study highlighted focuses on a different species and cause for their decrease. Focused mainly on native pollinators in the Western Hemisphere and the invasive species that pose a threat to them from the Eastern Hemisphere, this book will mainly appeal to people in North America. In addition to learning more about the ecology of our many native pollinators, I enjoyed learning about the people who are fighting for them, the studies they are carrying out and what I can do to help these animals myself. Inspiring, enlightening and easy to follow, Protecting Pollinators presents what is happening to our pollinators, why it is happening and how we have to help them now.… (meer)

by Kelly Jad'on

Jodi Helmer, a freelance writer of all things green has published a unique book for the New Year—The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference (Alpha/Penguin, 2008). Helmer extols the possibility of raising children in a green world because they deserve to live on a green planet. She believes that we can make changes in our lives which emphasize environmentally friendly living.

Many of us don’t really know too much about green living beyond recycling bottles and newspapers and using LED light bulbs to save energy. The Green Year raises awareness of how simple it really is to add to our environment, rather than take away and never replace what we use.

Helmer’s ideas are inexpensive, organized by date, and even help with holiday celebrations. An example begins with January 1st. “Recycle your Christmas tree. Christmas trees can be ground into woodchips and used as fragrant mulch in your garden or spread at a local watershed to prevent erosion. Rent a wood chipper with a neighbor or two and make your own mulch. Or go to www.earth911.org and enter your zip code to find out where to have your tree recycled.” Now that’s a pretty cool idea I hadn’t thought of.

Each page has a new idea for 365 days. At the bottom of each page is a box for the reader to include his or her own ideas for the project which may even work better.

Sampling from The Green Year:

May 5: Use beer to keep slugs out of your garden.

August 7: Switch to recycled toilet paper.

September 17: Think about skipping an oil change.

December 6: Put your holiday lights on timers. (Did you do this this year?)

There’s a volume of research inside the leaf-colored covers of The Green Year which is valuable information for everyone.

The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference (Alpha/Penguin, 2008) by Jodi Helmer

4 Stars… (meer)