By Marisa Vrooman
As National Pollinator month kicks off in June, I’d love to take a moment to celebrate all that pollinators, in particular bees – do to enable life on planet earth.
Bees are essential to our food system – about one third of our diet is reliant (either directly or indirectly) on bee pollination. Without bees, we simply wouldn’t have many of the foods that we love, such as apples, cherries, peaches, pears, strawberries, blueberries, almonds, avocados, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and even our beloved coffee. Bees are a hugely important part of our local agricultural economy. Without them – Virginia would not be the rich and productive agricultural state that it is.
According to the USDA, 75% of the world’s flowering plants rely on pollinators for reproduction and survival. Bee populations are on a serious decline, with one in four wild bees facing extinction. These important beneficial insects are facing habitat loss, increased pesticide use, disease pressure, and parasites. Climate change makes these challenges more stark. But the good news is that there are both local and global efforts underway to save the bees – and some ways you can join us!
In April we partnered with Thistlerock Mead Co. and the Violet Crown theater to bring the Virginia premier of Bee:Wild to Charlottesville. While watching the film, it became very clear that improving habitats for bees and other pollinators is one of the most essential tasks before us. It’s becoming increasingly important for farms to switch to a regenerative agricultural framework, and that non-farming entities like individuals and municipalities can have an impact by creating better pollinator habitats wherever the opportunity exists.
The City of Charlottesville is now a Bee City USA affiliate and is “committed to creating and enhancing healthy habitats for pollinators by planting native flowers that bloom throughout the growing season and providing natural nesting sites.”
Some other exciting local efforts include the amazing work of Thistlerock Mead Co. They currently have 100 hives that they manage without the use of pesticides or chemicals. They are “rewilding meadows, actively stewarding their forest, and continuously working to better support the land that sustains us.” They are building a pollinator economy from the ground up – and supporting pollinators globally through their mead production. They are passionate about leaving this place better than they found it – and they have the receipts to back it up. They offer bloom to bottle experiences which include cutting flowers, tasting rare honeys, and then refreshing meads. Definitely check out their tavern Thursday through Sundays – or come by our Tasting Room for a taste of their mead. Having them in our community is such a great addition to our beverage and farming communities.
The director of their apiary is Allison Wickham of Siller Pollinator Co. Allison is the most passionate beekeeper I’ve ever met. She manages around 400 hives in our region and also works to transform hundreds of acres into wildflower meadows. Speaking with Allison you cannot help but learn to love bees – and appreciate all of the ways they improve our lives. Not only is she humble and knowledgeable – she’s super funny and 100% herself.
Learn what you can do to help improve pollinators’ habitats here: https://pollinator.org/guides#zip
Or even better yet, come learn from Allison in person at Oakencroft and visit our hives on Sunday, June 7th as we kick off Pollinator month!