If bees find food, so will you.
That’s the message of Feed the Bees, an educational initiative and partnership between Delta’s Earthwise Society and the Delta Chamber of Commerce.
The two bodies are encouraging individuals, businesses and organizations to get involved in helping to sustain threatened bee populations, which are critical for plant pollination and subsequently, food production.
The project, which will roll out this spring, will educate the community about the importance of bee populations for local agriculture and ecosystems, and encourage people to take action to provide food and habitat for bees and other pollinators.
Pollinating insects, essential tools in the growth of crops such as nuts, apples, berries and other fruits and vegetables, have been in decline over the last several years due to issues such as pesticides, diseases and loss of habitat.
“One spoonful out of three put in your mouth is based on bees,” says Feed the Bees co-chair Ian Tait, a volunteer at the Delta Chamber of Commerce. “The idea of not having those little buzzers around is staggering.”
Earthwise Society executive director and project co-chair Patricia Fleming says the Earthwise Garden in Tsawwassen will host a series of workshops and special events, bringing in experts to teach visitors about pollination and what bee-friendly plants are best for residential yards.
The first event will be on Earth Day, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the garden, located at 6400 3rd Ave.
Information about the project is posted at www.feedthebees.org or www.earthwise
society.bc.ca, and the campaign is also involved social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Life of a Delta bee
The Delta Museum and Archives Society’s newest exhibit, Life of a Delta Bee, will open in the museum’s feature exhibit gallery on Tuesday, April 26.
Join Beatrice the Honeybee (her friends call her Bea) as she walks visitors through life as a bee in Delta and introduces them to herself, family, friends, enemies and her work around the community.
Visitors can participate in activities as they learn about current and historic issues facing Delta’s bee population.
Explore the stories of past beekeepers in Delta; the roles of beekeeping and apiaries in agriculture; and the facts about pollination and honey production. Delve into today’s issues challenging the beekeeping community, including commercial agriculture, colony collapse and predators.
The Delta Museum is located 4858 Delta St. Exhibit hours Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 604-946-9322 or visit www.deltamuseum.ca
bjoseph@surreyleader.com
