Join Mt Baker, Beacon Hill, Kirkland and West Seattle Meaningful Movies, as well as Beacon Arts, for a conversation about the movies INSECT APOCALYPSE and WHY LAWNS MUST DIE.  Watch these two short videos on your own, in advance of our event, and then on January 27th, join us on Zoom for a community conversation about the films. We will be joined by Erica Guttman of the Native Plant Salvage Foundation,  a non-profit organization that also supports the habitat & water programs of WSU Extension.  She will share tips on how to get rid of your grass, and suggestions for Waterwise plant options.  After her presentation, we will have a panel of local Northwest plant enthusiasts to answer questions.

INSECT APOCALYPSE tells of the alarming decline in insect populations that has been happening over the last 50 years.   It delves into what is causing it and how we can make a difference by planting native plants in our gardens.  The video features the renowned entomologist Doug Tallamy whose books include “Bringing Nature Home” and “Nature’s Best Hope.” https://www.documentarymania.com/player.php?title=Insect%20Apocalypse

WHY LAWNS MUST DIE takes a look at the grass lawn’s history of class exploitation and settler colonialism and how that ties into the American lawn culture we see today. Also, the turfgrass lawn has a huge environmental impact. It’s the biggest crop in the United States by area and requires a massive amount of fossil fuels, fertilizer, and chemicals to upkeep. Ultimately, the grass lawn is exacerbating climate change and the climate crisis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=megIy0mO5-4

THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD shows us how to save native bees and other insects. Doug Tallamy tells us why, and how to do this in your own backyard, in a seminar presented by the City of Guelph and Pollination Guelph https://youtu.be/HjD0bbcAFXI

Join here on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89912025109?pwd=NTVNRGJ2SldtS1ZBaDFjNUdUcEpudz09