From a Stumptown bee stewardship program to partnering with bee-loving organizations and a limited-release coffee—check out what we're doing to support our pollinators and how you can too.
As our climate and environment change, much of our natural world is affected, including some of the most basic and essential elements. Hundreds and thousands of plant species rely on our busy-bee pollinators to grow and reproduce. That's why the health of our bee populations is so vital.
And supporting them is critical as their ecosystems change, making it harder for them to thrive. Healthy populations of pollinators are essential in keeping our ecosystem resilient, promoting biodiversity, and maintaining food security.
The Stumptown Bee Stewardship Program is doing just that. A group of Stumptown employees had the idea to participate in bringing and maintaining some healing nature in an urban landscape, and out of this, our bee stewardship program was born. There are currently three hives that the Stumptown bee stewards maintain in partnership with a local beekeeper.
By learning about and caring for bees in partnership with our local community, we're educating ourselves about our local ecosystem, learning how we can affect change, and hopefully inspiring others to engage in the fight against climate change.
So how can you help support bee populations? Here are some accessible ways to educate yourself and support healthy hives:
🐝 PLANT more native and pollinator-friendly plants. Even a single plant in a planter helps! Here is a plant guide based on region.
🐝 LISTEN to podcasts about bees and beekeeping. These ones are the bees knees: Melittology (BEES) by Ologies; How Bees Work by Stuff You Should Know; and Beeswax Wraps by Risky or Not?
🐝 MAKE beeswax wraps, starting with this short podcast by Two Minutes in the Garden, and then head to this step-by-step instruction by Empress of Dirt.
🐝 LEARN about local bees in your area and local organizations actively participating in their protection.
🐝 VOLUNTEER with an organization, or attend meetings to learn about the different opportunities available. National Pollinator Week is June 19-25th in 2023, and Pollinator Partnership always has activities to join!
🐝 VOTE for local representatives who acknowledge climate change and plan to climate-positive advancements in your community, and support funding to combat climate change and promote sustainable initiatives.
Since happy flowers = happy bees = happy earth = happy people (oh, and happy coffee), we've been finding opportunities to support other folks involved in bee projects. Take a moment to appreciate three organizations we’ve partnered with in our local communities:
Oregon Bee Project | Corvallis, OR
A cooperative effort to bring Oregonians together around a science-based strategy: to protect, promote, and discover the state’s bees through education, pollinator-friendly practices, and research.
Learn more about Oregon Bee Project
Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association | La Crescenta, CA
We're a diverse community populated by individuals from all walks of life brought together by our interest in and love of honeybees. We're composed of bee hobbyists, bee enthusiasts, small-scale beekeepers, and commercial beekeepers who make a living working with bees.
Whether new-bees or long-time beekeepers, we share our experience and knowledge with the general public. Our members unselfishly give time and energy to help ourselves and others better understand and care for the honeybee. We're involved in beekeeping on an individual, group, state, national, and international level.
Island Bee Project | Brooklyn, NY
Island Bee Project is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading pollinator awareness through public programming and access to local urban apiaries. By embracing the urban female beekeeper identity, our grand vision is to revitalize communities with mindfulness and gratitude towards nature and our symbiotic relationship with the world by supporting urban pollinator habitats. We believe that giving bees a chance gives us all a chance.
Learn more about Island Bee Project
Special thanks to Stumptown's own Elysha Cruickshank, Green Coffee Traffic Coordinator, for writing about the bees and compiling the education resources.
