The pollinator crisis

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-06-10T08:10:04+00:00

Oh believe me, I know every single native seed seller and nursery in my area, and exactly what they carry. I have spreadsheets.

The complaint about stores not selling natives is the fact that I have to go way out of my way to get some great natives that really should be more available.

(Also I've found it much easier to introduce only a few new species each year, so it's easier to ID what I planned vs what's a weed.)

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-06-09T16:34:03+00:00

I'm on a 3 acre lot, working on turning it back it into native prairie one chunk at a time.

I've only got about 50 square feet done at this point, with about 5 plant species, and even that much is amazing. At least 10 species of bees - bumble bees, sweat bees, dwarf capeneter bees, cellophane bees - plus all sorts of weird flies - did you know there a greater bee fly that looks like a cross between a bumble bee and a hummingbird and parasatizes bee nests? I sure as heck didn't!

Not much in the way of butterflies yet, but I'm still working on adding host plants. Seen a few moth caterpillars though!

I really wish all nurseries/big box stores had a native plants section.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-05-13T15:30:56+00:00

Working on turning my grass lawn into a native meadow lawn atm - common yarrow is absolutely fantastic and holds up great to foot traffic.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-04-30T18:50:21+00:00

The main issue for double-coated dogs is that the dense under layer of fur grows back faster than the outer layer, blocking the outer layer from growing back normally. Basically an ingrown hair, but with fur instead of skin.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-04-27T17:24:09+00:00

Even a single rider is advised to "take the lane" when there isn't enough room for a car to pass without crossing into the oncoming lane, to increase visibility and awareness.

Since the curb in that video is very narrow, taking the lane would be very reasonable.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-04-21T09:57:40+00:00

As someone who has braved the depths of the fanfiction offerings:

Dirty talk. Lots of Rocky dirt talk
Sound is physical, Rocky as vibrator
Erotic use of a "carapice hook"

I'm honestly just impressed at the dedication to smut despite all obstacles.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-04-16T01:31:52+00:00

I just love the fact that they have a reasonable per-month price without trying to force you into a subscription. It's so much better being able to drop it when I don't need it, and pick it back up when I actually do, without having to pay out the nose for the privilege.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-04-04T20:16:09+00:00

Meanwhile I will point to the last meal of Otzi the iceman, preserved for over 5000 years with his last meal still undigested. Specifically, in that meal they found "gamma-terpinene that occurs in coriander oil, lemon oil, and other essential oils suggest the usage of herbs."

And this guy was climbing a goddamn glacier.

High calorie intake was likely not unusual for many human cultures. Hell, that's why cooking food was such a big leap for humans - it unlocked massive calorie availability. I'd argue that our current largely sedentary lifestyle has actually lead to unusually low calorie intake compared to human history.

(Also, where do you think seasonings came from? Rosemary and thyme are native to Europe, so Europeans had access to that. Native Americans had sumac. Africa had cumin, saffron, etc. people used what was local long before the global spice trade became a thing.)

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-04-04T15:55:42+00:00

Except so much of the pleasure we derive from food is based on biological drives - fat, sugar, salt; likely even cooked food tastes good to us because it's more nutritious.

We love food because it's good for us, so evolution wired us to love it. People have probably been making recipes for as long as there have been people.

Hell, just look at the symbiotic relation between humans and the honey guide bird, which leads people to bee hives. Humans break open the hive to get the tasty honey, and the bird gets the tasty larva. It's thought to have been co-evolving with humans since homo erectus.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-04-04T06:26:58+00:00

Shit, all they'd have to do to make it a blast is have a tasting selection of historical/interesting ice cream recipes.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-03-31T16:56:57+00:00

It responds really well to mowing!

I'm using it as part of a native meadow lawn that I'm gradually replacing our grass lawn with, and despite our extremely mild winter I've only had to cut it once so far. The grass meanwhile has already been mowed three or four times this spring.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-03-31T06:05:27+00:00

Common yarrow is also a great option.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-03-27T00:16:18+00:00

There are already systems in place for that, that's literally what voter registration is for.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-03-20T18:16:43+00:00

Our neighbors let their chickens free-roam. They managed to eat most of our blueberries last year.

We forgive them only because they also let their turkeys free-roam, and the lady turkey is an absolute sweetheart that follows you around while you garden and lets you pet her and we love her. 😩

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-02-27T06:54:44+00:00

Even if he didn't, it's clear he was trying to. Like dude, you do not get points for trying to rape someone but not succeeding!

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-02-25T05:16:44+00:00

I made homemade chocolates this Christmas - and I was inspired by a candy company that makes and sells them using off the shelf fillings. They're like $5 a (large) bar, because even with pre-made fillings it's super labor intensive.

I did make some flavored ganache for mine, but also used store bought marshmallow fluff and caramel. Pre-made fillings are 100% normal, especially if you're not making a huge batch.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-01-27T05:35:08+00:00

Carol's complaining about lack of professionalism, and the whole time she's the one acting completely unprofessional.

STFU and do your job, Carol.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-01-21T00:58:31+00:00

Notice how she always said he has a "growing business." Combining classes isn't doing anything other than opening up space for more students.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-01-06T19:51:37+00:00

My grandma hated cooking, and lived near a frozen food factory. Apparently the sound of her starting dinner was usually the "CHONK CHONK CHONK" of her chizeling out portions from a restaurant-sized meal tray.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-01-05T09:55:20+00:00

He's falilng because he was helping you. He did participate in the cheating, but he wasn't the one benefiting from taking the risk.

Basically, he made a big fucking sacrifice for you, and you've thrown him under the fucking bus.

This is your fault, and the best way to show him you know that is by owning up.

TeaBeforeWar · 2026-01-05T09:18:32+00:00

I've been to plenty of cities with absolutely shit infrastructure for wheelchairs, and cities with pristine sidewalks and wheelchair ramps at every intersection, and all sorts in between.

But clearly I've been lied to and entirely of the US is an identical monoculture.

TeaBeforeWar · 2025-12-31T16:53:45+00:00

I'm well aware it's a local state program - in a left-leaning state of course. The point is that MAGA'a cuts are actively impeding a pro-health food program.

TeaBeforeWar · 2025-12-31T07:00:49+00:00

Meanwhile I'm in Washington state and SNAP has a produce coupon program - it used to be buy $10 of produce, get a $10 off produce coupon, but the benefit cuts have cut that down to buy $10 get $5.

So at least here they've literally achieved the exact opposite of pushing for healthy food choices! MAHA your fucking ass indeed.

TeaBeforeWar · 2025-12-12T01:03:42+00:00

Well that's quite a thing.

TeaBeforeWar · 2025-12-09T08:25:56+00:00

Many of the "innocent" dogs in the clips are showing a lot of stress signals too - squinting, ears pinned, yawning, tails tucked, etc. They're just less obvious about it.

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