By Catherine J. Frompovich

Has anyone taken note of the numerous wildlife die-offs that have been reported over the past few years? If you think that may be an “off-the-wall” exaggeration question or statement, well, there’s an online website that painstakingly chronicles what’s been going on, which I’d like to introduce to you.

It’s the End Times Prophecy – Earth’s Final Warning, which very concernedly has prepared lists chronicling the following:

Mass Bee Die-offs 2013 – 20016

Mass Animal Deaths for 2016 217 Known MASS Death Events in 59 Countries (or Territory) January 2 to May 11, 2016

Mass Animal Deaths for 2015 828 Known MASS Death Events in 96 Countries

Mass Animal Deaths for 2014 651 Known MASS Death Events in 76 Countries

Mass Animal Deaths for 2013 798 Known Mass Death Events in 93 Countries

Mass Animal Deaths for 2012 465 Known Mass Death Events in 67 Countries

Mass Animal Deaths for 2011

Additionally, there have been 970 million butterflies – the exquisite Monarchs, in particular – that have been killed since 1990, apparently from pesticides and herbicides. Are GMO farming practices to blame?

What’s causing this: “The Ocean is Dying”?

We need to become better stewards of flora, fauna, and soil, I truly believe, and not poison everything with chemicals.

What will Planet Earth be like when it becomes devoid of marine, land, and avian wildlife? Think about that, especially as you begin the new gardening season for 2016 and any temptations to use toxic chemicals for gardening, pest control, or whatever.

If you want a nutrient-rich vegetable garden, you need healthy soil to grow nutritious crops. The more worms in your garden, the healthier the soil is [1], I feel. For many years, I used to purchase Lady Bugs and Praying Mantises at garden centers, and then let them loose in a few areas of my garden.

I always included plants that would attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Here’s a resource of plants to grow that invite those lovely visitors to your garden. These plants attract beautiful song birds, especially Gold Finches! They love to feast on Echinacea flower heads.

Do we really need all those lawn chemicals, chemical fertilizers and plant enhancements?

How about pest control chemicals? What about buzzing, stinging insects and the numerous pesticides to deal with them?

To help readers get out from under toxic garden chemicals, I’ve prepared a beginner’s list to point you in a more Earth-friendly direction, which I hope can start you on the path to chemical-free gardening. Mother Earth will appreciate that, and so will your pets and kiddies, too.

Here’s a resource for dealing with ant infestations. “13 natural remedies for ant invasion”

Got termites? No problem! See “How to Kill Termites Naturally: 7 Effective Methods”

To deal with buzzing, stinging insects like mosquitoes, here are several resources:

http://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/natural-mosquito-control-methods-zmez12jazmel.aspx

5 Easy to Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants
http://learn.eartheasy.com/2011/04/5-easy-to-grow-mosquito-repelling-plants/

6 Kinds of Natural Mosquito Repellents
http://www.healthline.com/health/kinds-of-natural-mosquito-repellant

Stopping Stink Bugs
http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/stopping-stink-bugs

Homemade Organic Pesticide for Fruit Trees
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-organic-pesticide-fruit-trees-43812.html

10 Organic Homemade Pesticides
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/organic-pesticides/

This list provides organic-approved pesticides
http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/xerces-organic-approved-pesticides-factsheet.pdf

This is an interesting site http://www.organicpowerproducts.com/organicpestcontrol/?gclid=CMbw7LSI08wCFQ9ZhgodjMAKJA that may provide something a little different.

6 Homemade herbicides: Kill the weeds without killing the earth
http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/homemade-herbicide-kill-weeds-without-killing-earth.html

Organic Weed Killer Recipe
http://www.food.com/recipe/organic-weed-killer-37424

Dealing with Rabbits, Squirrels, and Deer in Flower Beds and Gardens

Personally, I’m exasperated with all of the above, who play havoc with my front and back patio gardens. What really works at keeping them out of the garden are two things: Dried Blood Meal and Dried Bone Meal.

I sprinkle both around the perimeter of the flower beds and then sprinkle a little in the center.

However, after a few days of rain, I need to reapply the blood meal, which keeps the deer off my hostas. I even sprinkle a little blood meal into the large patio planters and pots filled with plants. That keeps the squirrels from tearing plants out of their pots. Plus, both act as organic plant supplements too.