GARDENING 4 BEES
The Sonoma County Beekeepers Association (SCBA) has a robust educational outreach program in which experienced beekeepers bring engaging presentations to (indoor and outdoor) classrooms.
In addition, the SCBA has a committee called Gardening4Bees and that group would like to offer “Super Simple Pollinator packs” to 6 school gardens this year, as a pilot program that could expand next year. The pollinator packs are 15-18 well-rooted plants, up to three of each kind, that provide nectar/pollen for bees throughout the seasons. For example, a kit might contain 3 each of lavender, calendula, teucrium, aster, and rosemary, and a one-gallon Maxmillian sunflower.. A planting guide, as well as information regarding the plants' needs, will be provided. A 45-minute education presentation on the strategies for planting to provide year-round forage for bees is required.
In addition, the SCBA has a committee called Gardening4Bees and that group would like to offer “Super Simple Pollinator packs” to 6 school gardens this year, as a pilot program that could expand next year. The pollinator packs are 15-18 well-rooted plants, up to three of each kind, that provide nectar/pollen for bees throughout the seasons. For example, a kit might contain 3 each of lavender, calendula, teucrium, aster, and rosemary, and a one-gallon Maxmillian sunflower.. A planting guide, as well as information regarding the plants' needs, will be provided. A 45-minute education presentation on the strategies for planting to provide year-round forage for bees is required.
The G4Bs committee wants to be sure these pollinator packs go to school gardens with these critical elements in place:
- A dedicated garden educator, who will host an SCBA education presenter once in the fall and once in the spring
- an irrigation system that will ensure the plants are watered
- at least 32 square feet to plant in, and
- A "no-spray" policy
If you are interested in being a pilot school please fill out this form. The form will be closed to applicants on September 20. Six schools will be selected by September 30th and will be contacted shortly thereafter. They will contact the garden educators to schedule the education presentations in October. After the education is complete, the plants will be delivered on the day the garden educator will plant them with the students.
- A dedicated garden educator, who will host an SCBA education presenter once in the fall and once in the spring
- an irrigation system that will ensure the plants are watered
- at least 32 square feet to plant in, and
- A "no-spray" policy
If you are interested in being a pilot school please fill out this form. The form will be closed to applicants on September 20. Six schools will be selected by September 30th and will be contacted shortly thereafter. They will contact the garden educators to schedule the education presentations in October. After the education is complete, the plants will be delivered on the day the garden educator will plant them with the students.