Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Search Results for: ddt

Banning DDT

Reference my previous post on Lorrie Otto and DDT. Since I mentioned that banning DDT led to the charter of Wild Ones, I thought you might like to read a synopsis about how it all happened:

1942: DDT First Used
DDT was introduced during WWII to protect our troops from the mosquito-borne disease malaria. It is still being used selectively in some tropical countries.

1949: A Sand County Almanac
Aldo Leopold published his landmark book, A Sand County Almanac, calling for a “land ethic” connecting people and nature.

1950s: Citizen Activists Got Involved
Citizen activists started sending letters and confronting editors, WDNR, and local municipalities. These activists included not just conservationists, but also hunters, fishermen, professors, members of garden clubs and many others. [Read more…]

Earth Day 2019

Although not a national holiday, Earth Day is celebrated each April 22nd. Founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, after the banning of DDT, this observation should be a reminder to we humans about just how much our livelihood depends upon the health of this Earth.

It is a good day to reread We went to the moon… and we discovered the Earth.

From Mars, the view of Earth would be just as lonely as this view shown here from the moon.

Although I won’t be around when it becomes necessary, if I was, I’d prefer to live here on Earth and not settle for Mars. Going to Mars may be a great adventure, but I’m certain most humans would not like to spend the rest of their lives there.

I hope the time comes when humans stop taking Earth for granted and start valuing what it is providing for us — before it is too late.

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Women’s History Month 2019 – Aroline Schmitt

March is Women’s History Month. Women have been celebrated nationally since 1981 when Congress passed a law creating “Women’s History Week.” That week was celebrated in March annually until 1987 when Congress began passing “Women’s History Month.” And then finally in 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama issued annual proclamations designating March as “Women’s History Month.”

Aroline Schmitt. Photo by Maxine Schmitt Roberts

Aroline Schmitt (1904-1995)

So I thought it would be fitting to mention this year the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame will be inducting on May 13, 2019, a woman infamous for her stand on sustainable forestry. Her name was Aroline Schmitt. [Read more…]