The Sonoma County Beekeepers Association (SCBA) has a robust educational outreach program in which experienced beekeepers bring engaging presentations to (indoor and outdoor) classrooms.
Their Gardening4Bees program offers “Super Simple Pollinator packs” to six school gardens this 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.
Their Gardening4Bees program offers “Super Simple Pollinator packs” to six school gardens this 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