Cooperative Living March/April 2020 - 26

FieldTrip | by Tara Verna, Contributing Writer
A Buzz About Beekeeping
How to add your garden visitors as permanent residents
T
housands of honeybees zip and dive around Betsey Spencer's hatless and
jacketless body.
" They're starting to get a little rambunctious, " the 67-year-old beekeeping
mentor says calmly.
" Well, we woke them up, didn't we? " replies 74-year-old beekeeping mentee Katie Verna.
Verna peers into the open hive to see frames stuffed with pollen, honey and brood.
" Goldang! You girls have been busy! " she exclaims. As bees buzz and brush her bare
legs, she fondly chastises them, " Hey, get off my sock! "
When Verne first got involved in beekeeping three years ago, she took a class through
a local beekeeping store in Raleigh, N.C. She graduated with her first hive and immediately
reached out to a county beekeeping association, which set her up with Spencer, an
experienced beekeeper.
That's when Verna's beekeeping education truly began, fueled by Spencer's 16 years of
hands-on wisdom earned by maintaining as many as 140 hives.
The two share a passion for these prolific pollinators. In fact, we all should. It's estimated
that as much as one-third of the fruits, vegetables and nuts we eat only grow because
these crops are pollinated by bees, according to the American Beekeeping Federation.
You like to eat? Then you like bees.
BeeCities | by Greta Burroughs, Contributing Writer
Municipalities do their best to ease the plight of bees
icture this: You're walking through the streets of your town,
losing track of time as you listen to the birdsong. You cannot
hide a smile as a delicate butterfly flutters from one colorful
blossom to another. Hummingbirds sip from bright flowers while
bees investigate every plant for some nutritious nectar to take
home to their nests.
In a world of diminishing ecosystems, to some this might
sound too good to be true.
But in 86 " Bee Cities " and on 74 " Bee Campuses " across the
United States, this is a reality.
These metropolitan areas and college campuses have joined
forces to promote awareness of and to provide food and habitat
for our declining populations
of pollinators.
Bee City USA
Phyllis Stiles witnessed the
decline of honeybees as she tried
her hand at beekeeping in
Asheville, N.C. During this time,
she also became aware of the vital
role native pollinators play in the
world.
" A light went on; the
pollinators were in trouble and
Volunteers Kristina Pontin and
Florrie Funk maintain Rosetta's
Garden, a pollinator garden in
downtown Asheville, NC.
24 | Cooperative Living | March-April 2020
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something needed to be done, " Stiles recalls.
Instead of waiting for someone else to tackle the problem, she
and some friends came up with a plan and started Bee City USA
(beecityusa.org). The project launched in 2012 with Asheville as
the inaugural haven for pollinators.
Through the program, affiliate Bee Cities across the country
incorporate native flowers, shrubs and trees into their urban
landscaping to encourage beneficial insects to make a home
among the pollinator gardens.
The Bee City USA initiative also encourages community
involvement by sponsoring awareness events educating residents
about the beneficial insects that provide one in every three bites
of food we consume.
" It's amazing when you realize how quickly urban landscaping
can bring back pollinators, " Stiles says. " This also reduces the
pest problem by providing habitat for the beneficial insects that
destroy pests. When we stop using pesticides and plant native
plants, the pollinators will come. "
Stiles is proud of the growth of the Bee City USA initiative.
After merging with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
in 2018, affiliate cities have access to invaluable information
along with experts to answer questions and guide their progress
as they make each city a unique garden of delights for the
pollinators ... and for visitors, too.
" You can make any landscape a haven for pollinators, " Stiles
says. " Just plant a diverse selection of native plants, avoid
pesticides and let nature find its balance. "
Visit beecityusa.org/current-bee-cities to find a Bee City near you.
co-opliving.com
Betsey Spencer is ready for bee duty.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PHYLLIS STILES/XERCES SOCIETY
PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDY BERGER PHOTOGRAPHY

http://www.beecityusa.org http://www.beecityusa.org/current-bee-cities http://www.co-opliving.com

Cooperative Living March/April 2020

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