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Butterfly Effect of Patch
March 28, 2017 11:00 am | by

There is something truly magical when a person discovers their life-long passion at a young age. In this week’s Truly Genius Tuesday, we are exploring the butterfly effect of Patch and her love of nature.

Edith Marion Patch was born in Worcester, Massachusetts as the youngest of six children. Edith’s family moved to Minnesota when she was eight years old. Her family owned large prairie property which is where she discovered her love for nature.

The Butterfly Effect of Patch

The inspiration behind our Genius Series print came from the prize-winning essay on monarch butterflies Edith Patch wrote for an essay contest in high school. She used her prize money of $25 to purchase the scholarly Manual for the Study of Insects, written by John Henry Comstock and illustrated by Anna Botsford Comstock. As a fun twist of fate, or maybe even the butterfly effect, Patch later became colleagues and life-long friends with the Comstocks while working with John Comstock during her time at Cornell University.

For the love of bugs

Patch graduated with a degree in English from University of Minnesota and became a teacher, but soon found a love for nature, bugs and ecology and decided to pursue a career in entomology. However, as a woman, Patch found it difficult to find a job in this field. Though she was repeatedly rejected, she never gave up and eventually her persistence paid off. Patch was later offered an unpaid position teaching English and Entomology by Charles Woods of the University of Maine. She accepted simply to enter the field.

A year later, Patch was formally appointed as the Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Maine. There, she earned her master’s degree and she continued teaching until her retirement in 1937. In 1930, at a time when there were not many woman in her field, Patch was elected the first woman President of the Entomological Society of America.

Sharing her passion with the world

Patch had a special ability to share scientific ideas to people of all ages. She published her first children’s book – Dame Bug and Her Babies – in 1913; beginning her lifelong mission to write accurate stories that inspired curiosity in children. She believed that nature was a child’s greatest teacher and that appreciation of the natural world didn’t need to remain exclusive to the scientists.

“One of Patch’s greatest strengths was her understanding of the power of story. As a scientist, she herself was drawn to investigate nature’s ever-unfolding story,” said Mary Bird, a member of the organization Friends of Edith Patch, which is dedicated to celebrating and continuing her legacy.

The butterfly effect of Patch is still echoing today; her depth of work in Entomology and the incredible strides she made overcoming gender barriers in her field of study made a huge impact on the world. She never lost focus of sharing her passion for science and the natural world with others. We are so proud that Patch is part of our Genius Series.

Add Patch to your stash!

In honor of this inspiring genius and beautiful print, we’ve taken $2 off the following Patch cloth diapers and accessories, TODAY ONLY!

Please note: All Genius Series prints are limited edition and available only while supplies last.

Time for a giveaway!

And of course, there’s the giveaway. For a chance to win this week’s Truly Genius Tuesday Prize Pack, including a Patch bumGenius Freetime cloth diaper, bumGenius Outing Wet Bag & Genius Series Tee, tell us what your little one’s favorite insect is!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central Time, Tuesday, April 4, 2017. U.S. residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn after the close of the contest and notified via email. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. All prizes must be claimed within 30 days of end of giveaway.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Marion_Patch

http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/patch-em.html

https://entomologytoday.org/2015/08/13/remembering-edith-patch-the-first-female-president-of-the-entomological-society-of-america/

About the Author

Libby is the marketing director for Cotton Babies. She's an obsessed auntie to three super fun kids. She loves coffee, chocolate, and singing Broadway show tunes.

Comments

68 Comments

  • Http://Supermariorunhacks3.Info said...
    April 4, 2017 at 8:59 pm

    I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for putting up.

  • janie vezina said...
    April 3, 2017 at 9:44 pm

    ladybugs, we love them here.

  • Anel said...
    April 3, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    My LO loves lady bugs!

  • Cheryl Layshock said...
    April 3, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    My son loves bees. His grandparents have bees on their flower farm ?

  • Danitra Smith said...
    April 2, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    My daughter loves the monarch butterfly. She was dressed as one for Halloween a few years ago 🙂

  • Jenn H said...
    April 1, 2017 at 10:26 pm

    spiders! we keep a few around to catch bugs and she always says they’re sad and that she wants to read them books…. we like her 🙂

  • Stephanie said...
    April 1, 2017 at 8:16 pm

    My son loves finding and playing with ladybugs

  • Kirby said...
    April 1, 2017 at 4:30 pm

    We’re looking forward to leaning more about butterflies by raising some this year!

  • Liz Johnson said...
    March 31, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    butterfly.. is that an insect?!

  • Alexis Cuffy said...
    March 31, 2017 at 10:25 am

    Our favorite are fireflies!!

  • Hanah Phillips said...
    March 31, 2017 at 7:46 am

    I’m not the biggest fan of bugs, but my husband and daughter love them! My husband likes praying mantis, which I’ll admit are pretty cool, and my daughter loves hissing cockroaches, which… Isn’t so cool.

  • Kim Wriston said...
    March 31, 2017 at 7:03 am

    My daughter hasn’t really taken notice to insects yet, but I like the honey bee, because they give us yummy honey and help pollinate plants and trees.

  • Rachelle said...
    March 30, 2017 at 11:43 pm

    bumblebee

  • Erin B. said...
    March 30, 2017 at 11:40 am

    My daughter loves ladybugs!

  • Cora said...
    March 30, 2017 at 11:04 am

    My son loves watching ladybugs!

  • hannah said...
    March 29, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    I like dragonflies! especially the small brightly colored ones

  • Ellen Fisher said...
    March 29, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    pretty sure he’s too little to have one yet. 🙂

  • Stephanie Szczapinski said...
    March 29, 2017 at 9:03 am

    My son’s favorite is a spider..YUCK!!! lol I would have to say mine is a butterfly!!

  • Dandi D said...
    March 29, 2017 at 6:32 am

    My little girl loves ladybugs!

  • Melissa Stutzman said...
    March 29, 2017 at 6:17 am

    Ladybugs

  • Kate O'Brien said...
    March 29, 2017 at 5:48 am

    Butterflies!

  • Katie said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    Butterflies!

  • Megan Lawson said...
    March 28, 2017 at 10:04 pm

    My kids are fascinated by ladybugs and dragonflies.

  • Sandra Watts said...
    March 28, 2017 at 9:48 pm

    My grand daughters favorite insect is the lady bug.

  • Liesl Sanchez-Parodi said...
    March 28, 2017 at 9:16 pm

    My little girl is to young to have a favorite insect but she has lots clothes with butterflies and bees and ladybugs ?

  • Suzanne said...
    March 28, 2017 at 8:32 pm

    Butterfly

  • Marie Lowther said...
    March 28, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    I’m not sure what my son’s favorite insect is yet, he’s too little to know 🙂

  • Mollee Peterson said...
    March 28, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    My little one likes to watch anything that moves and is big enough to catch his attention.

  • Amanda Alvarado said...
    March 28, 2017 at 6:37 pm

    She loves butterflies and ladybugs!

  • Pam said...
    March 28, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    We have Patch in a Flip, and my little one just had a butterfly on her first birthday cake!

  • Nicole said...
    March 28, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    My favorite insect is a bee!

  • Kate said...
    March 28, 2017 at 4:40 pm

    I love patch soo much! Thankyou!

  • Jenni said...
    March 28, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    Butterflies! And bees because they make honey. Just about every other insect creeps me out! ???

  • Becky T said...
    March 28, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    We love BEES 🙂

  • Branalyn Dailey said...
    March 28, 2017 at 2:54 pm

    Mine is afraid of most bugs but he lives lady bugs!

  • wendy browne said...
    March 28, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    We have a lot of spiders three stories up on our window screens, so we see The Itsy Bitsy Spider every day.

  • Sherry blamer said...
    March 28, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    My daughter loves bees since I told her they make honey. I love butterflies and my son he’s too little to have a favorite yet.

  • Jennifer Stuck said...
    March 28, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    Butterflies are so beautiful and this diaper captures that beauty!

  • Sarah said...
    March 28, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    forgot to say that my little one loves to find ladybugs in our house and walk around with them on his finger

  • Sarah said...
    March 28, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    lovely print!

  • Mary Schuh said...
    March 28, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    My kiddos love roly poly bugs!

  • CJ Huang said...
    March 28, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    Lately kiddo’s been all about ants. 🙂

  • Katie said...
    March 28, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    My girls don’t have a favorite yet (they are still babies), but their room, clothes, etc. is all butterflies!

  • Jessica said...
    March 28, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    My daughter loves lady bugs.

  • Joanna said...
    March 28, 2017 at 1:11 pm

    Ladybugs are a favorite around here, although all my kids also go through a phase of having an odd affinity for stink bugs!

  • Laura Daniels said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Ladybugs are her favorite! Same as mommy. 🙂

  • Tammi said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:31 pm

    My little ones love butterflies!

  • Noreen Kelly said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    My favorite is the red velvet ant (which is actually a ground wasp). They’re gorgeous, but have a nasty sting. My daughter is fascinated by butterflys.

  • Liz L said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    My littles love lady bugs, butterflies and roly pollies.

  • lydia h. said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    we love bees and butterflies!

  • Khrystel Franco said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    Alvaro’s favorite insects are definitely the ants ♥

  • Siobhan niquette said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    My little lady is fascinated by butterflies and really any kind of bug she can pick up!!

  • andee fischer said...
    March 28, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    My daughter loves to watch ants, and we call my son my little bee. But we love Patch and put our Patch Flip on both of them!

  • Hannah Littlefield said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:58 am

    My 7 month old doesn’t have a favorite insect yet. I suppose it will be whichever one she tries to eat first!

  • Lacey said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:56 am

    My daughter loves lady bugs and looks all over the house to find them. Her older brother goes along on her bug safaris, but is more into praying mantis these days.

  • Brooke Henning said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:47 am

    My little one is too little to have a favorite insect but her Patch Flip diaper is adorable!

  • Sarah watson said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:45 am

    Nate’s favorite kind of bug is caterpillars. Gabe’s favorite kind is ants.

  • Jessica said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:40 am

    I have a flip cover in this print! Love the colors and the butterfly wing detail is gorgeous!

  • barbara parker said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:37 am

    My little ones favorite bug in the roly-poly.

  • Stella Kissinger said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:37 am

    My daughter loves ladybugs and I like bees!

  • Melissa C. said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:36 am

    My kids actually love butterflies!

  • Paige R said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:24 am

    My baby is too little to have a favorite bug – but every so often she notices my tattoos, so maybe the bed will be her favorite.

  • Maya LeaJames said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:20 am

    My LO is only 11 months old right now but he certainly loves ANYTHING tiny, so I’m looking forward to Spring this year to take him out into the tulips and show him all the beautiful butterflies and ladybugs!

  • Jilliann M said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:19 am

    PS I pinned the image on pinterest but it was the picture of martin not patch.

    • Chelsea Fleming said...
      March 28, 2017 at 11:54 am

      Hi Jillian, we apologize for the error. It’s been corrected. 🙂

  • Jilliann M said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:17 am

    Bees! A few of my family are beekeeper’s and we love honey!

  • Anna Ramirez said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:13 am

    Both of my lo’s favirite insect is of course a beautiful butterfly. I think it is because of all the beautiful colors ??❤?

  • Kara Wade said...
    March 28, 2017 at 11:10 am

    We studied “I is for Insect” recently for homeschool. My little was not amused. She HATES bugs.. However, she does love butterflies!