Thank a Pollinator

Did you know that 1 in every 3 bites of food you consume is thanks to a pollinator? Bees and other insects are responsible for the majority of our fruits and vegetables, as well as crops like clover and alfalfa that feed animals.

Most of us think of honey bees as our friendly garden pollinator. But did you know that BC has over 500 species of wild bees? 90% of these bees are solitary and feed on our flowers and nest in our gardens, in the ground and among the plants, trees and shrubs.

Our bees face many challenges, including habitat loss, changing climate, pesticide use and the spread of invasive species. We can help support bees and other insects by growing year-round flowers for forage and by creating nesting and over-wintering habitat. Herbs are a great addition to the veggie garden — flowers on oregano, rosemary, sage, mint, thyme etc. are highly attractive to bees. And if we leave some stems and leaves over the winter, we can help the next generation too.

If you or your community group would like to know more about native bees, send an email to Paula at buzzinggreens@gmail.com