District Administrator's Corner

by Loren Glasbrenner River Valley School District Administrator The following powerful organizations are working collaboratively:  The United States Department of Agriculture, The United States Environmental Protection Agency, The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, The United States Forestry Service, Greenpeace, The United States Environmental Protection Agency, The United Nations Environment Program, The International Union for the Conservation for Nature... and the River Valley Elementary School third grade classes.  They are all focused on protecting what we eat by working to save the pollinators.  It is creating quite a buzz. Honeybees, among other pollinators, are essential to agriculture and food security.  They pollinate approximately one-third of the crops we eat, valued at more than $14 billion annually in the United States.  So, one out of every three bites that you chew is due to the work of a pollinator.  Without pollinators, fruits, nuts, and vegetables cannot exist.  Here is a reminder of how it works. -Plants create a flower that precedes any fruit, nut, or vegetable.  -Within each flower is an intricate process utilizing the pollinators.  -Pollen from the stamen (male part of the flower) is transferred to the pistil (female part of the flower) by the pollinator where it becomes fertilized becoming the fruit or seed for the next generation.  -This relationship between flowers and their pollinators is an example of coevolution.  -Plants use unique colors, scents, and flower shapes to attract pollinators that will help in the transfer of their pollen and, thus, create the products we eat (fws.gov). There are several categories of pollinators.  Birds, bats, butterflies, bees, moths, wasps, flies, and beetles are all examples.  And, without some protection and regulation, these pollinators struggle.  Yet, there are simple things we can do to help: -Plant a flower. -Build a birdhouse. -Pull a weed. -Create native habitats. -Plant a garden. -Mulch leaves. -Use sprays on calm days. -Release the uninvited pollinator. -Support local agriculture. -Buy local, raw honey. -Visit an orchard. -Go outside and appreciate nature. The pandemic has provided us with an opportunity to slow down, admire nature, go for a walk, and deepen our commitment to the natural world.  Last week, River Valley third grade students planted a sunflower garden to build beauty but also to create a “pollination station.”  It is their hope to celebrate huge blossoms in the fall.  It is pretty darn simple, but impactful.  Getting a little dirt on your hands will remind us how closely we are tied to the earth.