How Tracy Teuscher Of Save Ohio Bees Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice

An Interview With Monica Sanders

Be unapologetic about your calling. Do not let the expectations of other people and the dominant culture deter you. Be true to yourself and stay focused.

According to the University of Colorado, “Those who are most affected and have the fewest resources to adapt to climate change are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions — both globally and within the United States.” Promoting climate justice is an essential environmental responsibility that is slowly becoming more and more recognized. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who are helping to promote sustainability and climate justice. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Teuscher.

Tracy Teuscher is an accredited, award-winning communicator, a certified ecotherapist, a certified naturalist, an M.S. Environmental Studies student, and the founder of Save Ohio Bees™. As a 20-year communication specialist, Tracy helps organizations address complex communication challenges and create environmental leadership plans. Tracy also collaborates with conservancies, schools, parks, and community organizations to facilitate native bee education and promote mutually healing nature experiences.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?

Growing up in Ohio as an only child of a single working mother, I often played outdoors and frequently independently, which fostered a familial relationship with nature. As an empathic and highly sensitive personality, I developed an expansive sense of self that included the more-than-human world. Though finances were always a concern, we had access to green and blue spaces, which was — and is — a privilege.

Summers were spent with friends climbing trees, exploring forest trails, swinging on vines, mucking through streams and ponds in our wellies, running in rainstorms, picking wild blackberries, and playing kickball in the field. Trips with family and friends were usually outdoor picnics at parks or swimming in the nearby lake.

Nature experiences have always brought me joy, healing, and comfort, especially during times of trauma.

Everyone has a cataclysmic moment or marker in their life which propels them to take certain actions, a “why”. What is your why?

I feel a profound sense of urgency fueled by the awareness that the Earth is on the precipice of irreversible harm.

More than half of all the majestic forests globally have been cut down, and the tropical forests, home to half of all species, remain largely undiscovered even as they are cut and burned (Our Planet, 2019). Ninety percent of wild prairies and grasslands have been destroyed, and with them, more than two-thirds of all wildlife (Our Planet, 2019). From environmental destruction to pollution to species extinction to extreme weather events, we face immense challenges that require our immediate and collective response.

The climate is warming at a rapid rate. Humans burn fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and manufacturing, creating greenhouse gasses, especially carbon dioxide (IPCC, 2022). Greenhouse gases get trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, and changes in the atmosphere lead to changes in Earth’s temperatures and radiation levels, which warms the land and the water (Burroughs, 2007). Gases like methane gas and nitrous oxide also contribute significantly to warming (Montzka, Dlogokencky & Butler, 2011). Any combination of changes to the atmosphere and winds alter oceanic currents, precipitation, temperatures, and radiation to affect Earth’s climate (Gabler et al, 2007). This results in countless domino effects. To avoid widespread and severe ecosystem impacts and severe weather events, we must prevent an average global temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius (IPCC, 2018). Emission reductions from reduced energy use and improved efficiency alone will not be enough to keep warming under 1.5C (IPCC, 2018). Rapid transitions in energy, land use, urban infrastructure, transport, and industrial systems will be needed (IPCC, 2018).

You are leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?

Save Ohio Bees™ is a nonprofit initiative working to address the three main reasons that 1 in 4 North American native bees face extinction: Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate warming.

Native bees pollinate more than 90% of all flowering species making them vital to ecosystem health and the sustainability and resilience of the food web.

Save Ohio Bees™ provides the community with free educational resources, from free native bee, plant, and gardening guides to educational videos, news, and special events.

We collaborate with conservancies, schools, parks, wilderness centers, and other community organizations to provide native bee education, nature experiences, and guidance on creating backyard habitats.

For children, we designed a bumble bee coloring page to provide a creative means of understanding the connection between bees, flowers, food, and forests. Recently, I composed a “Wild Bees” song to engage children and families through music. And we have many more creative ideas brewing.

We also raise funds for conservation nonprofits. For example, $100 restores 1,600 square feet of habitat through the Pollinator Partnership. That is pretty exciting when considering it only takes five flowers to feed a baby bee!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?

One of the most interesting things I have found is that young children are very interested in learning about environmental issues.

Many children seem to be genuinely excited to learn about native bees. They are even more excited when I tell them that native bees — unlike honey bees and wasps — don’t swarm, rarely ever sting, and there has never been an allergic reaction to a native bee like a bumble bee.

Recently, I met a young bumble bee hero named Nicholas.

I attended a Nature Fest event at the local Wilderness Center to talk with people about native bees. The temperature that day was about 92 degrees, and I was ready to pack it in when a young boy approached my table carrying a stuffed crocheted bumble bee in his arms. I introduced myself, asked his name, and invited him to color a bumble bee picture.

I said, “Nicholas, did you know it only takes five flowers to feed a baby bee?”

And, he said, “And THAT’S how I raised a baby bee!”

I replied, “YOU raised a baby bee?”

And, he said, “Yes, I love bees!”

I said, “Nicholas, you are my hero.”

Children give me hope. I remind them that native bees are superheroes. And they can be superheroes for native bees. I truly believe there are more children like Nicholas than I can imagine.

None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?

I am a true believer in the power of mentors and cheerleaders. My biggest cheerleader has been my daughter, Sharon. I’ve been blessed to have many cheerleaders, from parents and friends to colleagues and community members. Some of my mentors have included cherished members of the communications, conservation, pollinator, art, and nonprofit communities. I am so thankful for the encouragement, wisdom, support, collaboration, and funds they have shared to support Save Ohio Bees™.

Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?

Climate justice is an aspect of environmental justice directly related to social justice. Climate justice recognizes that the negative impacts of climate change disproportionately affect already vulnerable human communities based on race, gender, age, ability, income, education, geography, and other factors, and also disproportionately affect more-than-human communities that have suffered the greatest harm.

For example, this summer in Somalia, 8.3 million people are facing famine due to a five-year climate-change-related drought (IFRC, 2023).

I think it is important to acknowledge that environmental injustices are human rights and environmental protection issues rooted in colonialism. Colonialism is rooted in domination, exploitation, and othering. To successfully address climate and environmental justice issues, we must address equity, inclusion, and reparation issues.

Environmental justice is concerned with creating an equitable continuum of care for both human and more-than-human communities.

Science tells us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?

First, we are helping people understand humans as interconnected and interdependent members of human and more-than-human communities.

Second, we promote relational perspectives that embrace gratitude, accountability, and reciprocity. In an authentic way, we are doing that by helping people understand the relationship between healthy bees, healthy food, healthy ecosystems, and healthy humans.

Third, we equip and empower people with the information they need to restore habitat, eliminate pesticide use, and mitigate climate change in their backyards, schools, and urban landscapes. We are making every effort to make this information equitably accessible, too.

Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?

Community members can plant native flowering plants, including trees, avoid pesticides, and create alternative lawns. These actions bring healing to natural systems and to humans, too. This is also a means of reparation.

As a society, we must work to eliminate pesticides and reimagine lawns. Over one billion pounds of pesticides are used in the U.S. each year (Whole Foods, 2023), and of that, about 60 million pounds are used in homes and gardens (Xerces Society, 2023). We must foster natural predation and ecological biodiversity, from our gardens to our farms. As a society, we must also be good allies to Indigenous, Black, Brown, and other marginalized peoples. Everyone must be welcome.

Political and governmental leaders must take action to approve the petition to place the American bumble bee on the endangered species list. Bumble bees are the most efficient pollinators in wild landscapes. The American bumble bee is the most essential pollinator in North America. Their populations have declined by nearly 90%, and they have already vanished from eight states (Live Science, 2021). Political leaders must also include Indigenous peoples in environmental stewardship plans, and work to restore Indigenous peoples to their lands.

How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?

One great example is the work of Simon Mainwaring. He is the founder and CEO of We First and the visionary behind the Lead With We movement. Mainwaring explains that businesses can only survive in thriving communities and environments. He calls for creating community and business cultures that promote the regeneration of the natural world.

In other words, we must move away from a profit-first business model and toward business models that value people and the planet first. Then, profit becomes a byproduct.

This kind of environmental leadership fosters diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and environmental and social justice.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice,” and why?

1 . Be unapologetic about your calling. Do not let the expectations of other people and the dominant culture deter you. Be true to yourself and stay focused.

2 . Cultivate the gifts of your temperament. I am an introverted leader, and introversion comes with many gifts. Because we live in a culture with an extroversion bias, I spent most of my adult life trying to cram myself into an extroverted box. Now, I cultivate the gifts of introversion and develop habits that set me up for success.

3 . When you feel a sense of urgency, act. Brian Tracy says, “When in doubt, act.” Tony Robbins says, “When would now be a good time?” Listen to your intuition and take hopeful and intentional action. Do it now.

4 . Invest in yourself. Read, study, and get the training, coaching, and education that will equip you to become the best version of yourself. Equip yourself to make the most significant impact possible. Even if you have to accomplish this one bit at a time, you can do it, and you are worth it.

5 . Embrace self-care as a form of resistance. From rest to play to therapy, self-care is necessary. Prioritize yourself.

Is there a person in the world or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?

I am longing to meet Diana Beresford-Kroeger. She is a world-renowned scientist and keeper of ancient Celtic tree wisdom. Her mission is to share the ancient wisdom of trees to help protect and restore the global forest. Her work teaches that we cannot survive without trees. Her book, To Speak for the Trees, is one of the most inspirational and informative pieces of literature I have ever read.

How can our readers continue to follow your work online?

Please sign up for the Save Ohio Bees newsletter, connect with me on LinkedIn, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @saveohiobees.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!

About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org.