It all begins with a tiny mosquito
When I left being a mosquito biologist to pursue something more meaningful, I thought about how my knowledge could improve the big picture. I knew I wanted to increase awareness of biodiversity in the environment, give people a more sustainable way of living and minimize the use of pesticides to zero or damn near close. I never had to apply pesticides when I worked with mosquitoes, but I had to endure the truth that when faced with insects that carry infectious diseases and endanger the health of the public, it was necessary.
However, I still believed that educating the public about the environments in which mosquitoes thrive could convey alternatives to spraying everything with no regard to the ecological ramifications. Limiting waste that attracts pests who breed in the standing water would be the first step in preventing nuisance bugs from inundating their garden and yard. Planting more flowers and native species to mitigate the influx of non-native, non- beneficial insects is a second option to those who feel all insects are a nuisance. And lastly being more mindful of how our waste impacts the earth day to day would further prove that living closer to a more waste limited mindset could reduce mosquitoes and other pests from being a bother than a benefit. In doing so, the probability of potential disease vectoring would be better mitigated. This would reduce the need for pesticides in residential properties, increase pollinators and slowly influence the decline of invasive species from decimating our gardens.
Asserting a more ecologically sound approach to gardening allowed me to witness the outcome when planning with balance. I found that by interplanting vegetables with flowers their was a plethora of insects puttering about my garden on a daily basis. They were never a nuisance, they just fluttered from flower to flower, plant to plant and took their time collecting pollen. With their sides carriages full they made their way to the next plant in turn perpetuating a better pollinated garden for me. This observation further proved my approach to gardening. Planting vegetables with flowers increased the pollinators which allowed for a decrease in disease which then allows the plants to thrive and yield beautiful fruits, herbs and vegetables. This is how I will educate gardeners now and going forward. Some diseases are harder to prevent and come every year no matter what. Having a defensive strategy to gardening is the best option we have so plant the flowers and enjoy the show !
