News

Each month our Bee Informed Blog highlights current news, science, and research related to solitary bee conservation, food insecurity, and sustainability. 1. Why bees are critical for achieving sustainable development.  Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment - This article explores bees' contributions towards achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are the blueprint for achieving a better, more sustainable future for all people on the planet. The article shows the crucial role bees play in meeting the SDGs through providing: 1) quantity and quality of food, 2) nutrition and medicine, 3) inclusive communities, 4) biofuels, 5) forest conservation and regrowth, 6)...

Did you know there are over 20,000 known bee species globally, and 4,000 of those species live in North America? The smallest, Perdita minima, is less than two millimeters long! Each species is unique and pollinates different plants at different times. For instance, mason bee species are essential for blueberry and raspberry pollination, while squash bees are the best for squash and pumpkins. While not every bee you see is a super-pollinator, all of them combined are important in helping our diversity of plants thrive. But, the bees need our help. Many populations are declining due to habitat loss, heavy pesticide use, climate...

Imagine a scenario in which a terrible avian virus sweeps through North America, decimating the poultry industry. Ranchers lose tens of thousands of chickens, and many leading poultry operations go out of business. Chicken and egg prices skyrocket, causing many restaurants and bakeries to close down. Even in this scenario, however, I would not expect to see “save the birds” bumper stickers, articles in leading magazines discussing “a world without birds”, or environmental preservation agencies campaigning for bird conservation on account of this event. This is because we understand that a chicken crisis, albeit a consequential one for many industries...

Growing food in your own backyard is an excellent way to reduce stress, save money, lower pollution, and improve your community’s food security Working with soil has also been shown to reduce depression and enhance your mental health while you learn new skills. Gardening with children is full of opportunities to learn about many subjects like ecology, biology, chemistry, and art. Our goal is to cover the key decisions in the planning process to make building your own victory garden easy for new gardeners. Remember to relax and experiment as you learn what works best for you.   Garden Site Conditions Start...