When I was a young child about this age, my aunt Sue, from Thatcher, Arizona, began to call me “Lisha Bee” (Leesha).

Perhaps she set the stage for my allegiance to the cause of protecting our food-pollinating insect pals?

This morning when I woke-up, I read an e-mail from the Pesticide Action Network reporting that today was National Honey Bee Day!

To celebrate my involvement with bees, I focused hard to produce an upgrade to the “Bee Friendly” Pollinator Support Movement blog website.

This major website design facelift can be seen by visiting http://www.deadbees.wordpress.com.

I must thank all of my bee-loving cohorts; especially Spencer, Donald, Forest, and Jasper – for supporting my efforts on behalf of the upcoming Pollinator Support Movement launch.

The launch of the Pollinator Support Movement at this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park will mark a major milestone in my personal service to community.

Lately, I feel driven to “keep trying” and I happily await the fate of PSM launch day: October 5, 2012.

More information on the festival launch coming soon.

<3 Progress <3 Bees <3 Food <3 Love <3

I was recently criticized for ‘making money off of bees’.  I would like for whoever said this to please read this post and this post.  (New windows will open.)

If, after reading, you still believe that I am selfish and exclusive, then please E-mail me at alishatheexplorer@gmail.com.  I will listen to your perspective to gain a better understanding, if you allow the same.

As a peace offering, I present to you, the image below.  This is an original, blurry picture of Metallica’s recent concert at the Outside Lands Festival taken from my cell phone.  :)

Hi, Neighbors.  My name is Alisha Forrester Scott.  Originally from Arizona, I am a visual artist and social entrepreneur with a healthy community service resume.  I relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area last July 2011.

This July 2012, I formally began to structure a professional collective that attempts to save and restore nature through social awareness campaigns and educational initiatives.  For the collective’s inaugural social awareness project, I have teamed with several other artists to place focused energy into the social cause of saving pollinators; specifically bees.  The project is called the Pollinator Support Movement (PSM).  The motto (tagline) is: “Bee Friendly”.

The purpose of the Pollinator Support Movement is to connect bee-lovers and food-lovers with vital information on the plight of bees and other pollinators; including participation in agricultural and chemical policies, and related on-site weekly protest gatherings.

Ongoing project funding will come from the sales of original, local, art-based fundraising products.  These product fundraising programs will allow PSM to create and maintain “real, paying” nature-based jobs, and will fund fun and interesting community education and awareness initiatives.  These community programs are intended to be inclusive and free to concerned citizens of all ages.

Support for this concept is growing, daily!  Our fledgling list of Sponsors first includes the three part-time individuals who are happily donating their Time/Expertise, Referrals, Materials, and Currency to the project and cause.  We are pleased to report that donations to the cause are becoming more common, with local, independent businesses offering material support.

For example:

On 8/8/12, PSM received its very first material donation: coffee for protest organizers from MLK Café in Oakland.  The 8/8/12 protest attracted Flacos, the Berkeley vegetarian Mexican food restaurant.  Flacos then donated delicious materials on 8/15/12 to our growing weekly protest team.

Announcing the official Pollinator Support Movement project launch!  We anticipate a successful launch during the course of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.  For the weekend of the festival, we will be located at or near the festival grounds, depending on allowance.

Our fun festivals team of volunteers – the “Bee Sexies” – is a group of sexy, bee-loving, Bay Area residents.  These adults will be placing removable stickers onto the clothes of festival attendants.  We hope that everyone who wears a “Bee Friendly!” removable sticker will proudly share the messages: “Do You Like Food?” and “No Bees No Food!”

Until we officially launch in October, we ask that you support our “Bee Friendly” Pollinator Support Movement page.  We ask that you take a few moments to update what you know about bees and other pollinators; as they play a vital role in pollinating 1/3 of the planet’s fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices.

Thank you for reading!
–Alisha the Explorer & the Pollinator Support Movement

This leaf was found on-site at the “Bee Friendly, Bayer!” weekly protest.

(A new window will open.)

The “Business cards” task is a standard.  But, the “Info ticket pads” task was an attempt to describe a way that a PSM could quickly collect information “from the field”.  [Read: exchange information with potential affiliates/supporters.]

The image featured in this post shows my plotting of a hybrid data collection form that will act as both a business card and a field data collection form; to be used by any PSM representative.

The dimensions for this piece need to be portable (easily carried and stored) and so I am planning for 2-inch width x 6-inch height.  These mini form pads will have gummed edges.  To protect the pads, I am intending to use a matchbook cover closure.

This piece is two-sided, and so it will need to be printed front/top to back/bottom so that when you flip it over you do not need to change the orientation of the pad before using it.

Note:  The production tasks required for PSM will soon be opened to the public to promote movement ownership and promotion.

PSM NEWS for Monday, August 6, 2012

We continue to take important steps towards the official “Bee Friendly” Pollinator Support Movement launch!  Efforts to promote the launch will include programs that support:

• creative activism projects,
• community and education awareness initiatives for adults and children,
• fundraising strategy and products,
• dead bees exchange program,
• weekly protests,
• home-office garden guidance,
• festival promotions, and
• programs to attract vital affiliate partners, supporters, and sponsors.

Charting the Course

The image featured in this post depicts the first official PSM production tasks listing.  29 production tasks due by October, and counting!.

If you love bees and want to join in the fun of saving them, including participating in our fun weekly Wednesday protests at Bayer CropScience offices in Berkeley, please e-mail to: doyoulikefood@gmail.com (a new window will open).  Or, call (415) 484-BEE4.

We would really enjoy having you on the side of promoting food source functionality.  More information is being released everyday through this website, and the PSM Facebook Page.  (A new window will open.)

Thank you for your continued support.  With your awareness and support, we are getting much closer to organizing the local masses to make a massive difference.

Click here to read a related post.

NEWS:  We have found our first beekeeper partner!  This means that we will join forces with a local beekeeper, who is the source for the dead bee specimens that are needed for our fundraiser.  In exchange, I intend to feature beekeepers and their stories from the hive.

General Information

Bees are the single most important insect on the planet.  Why?   If bees die, we die.  It is really that simple.  Bees and other pollinators such as some flies, wasps, and butterflies, are THE reason that we enjoy food.  As Americans, there are over 80 varieties of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices that may soon be too expensive to be part of our regular meals.

The cost of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices, are directly related to the SHORTAGE OF POLLINATORS.  (typical seasonal supply and demand + crop recovery overhead costs)  What this means to you, your neighborhood, and your family’s neighborhood, is that you will all be required to pay insane prices for fruits and vegetables until there are more bees.  The alternative to ignoring this issue does not paint a pretty picture.

For my part, I have been planning a strategy to create an education-based organization representative of the SUPER HUGE MAJOR ISSUES facing pollinators.  The “Bee Friendly” Pollinator Support Movement is still in its infancy, but is gaining steam.  This movement will act as a hub of information for concerned citizens and a meeting place for like-minded nature advocates.  Our first order of business is fund raising.  More information about the fundraising products can be found by clicking here.

Avocados, Mangos, Apples, Apricots, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cantaloupe / Melon, Carambola / Starfruit, Kiwifruit, Peach, Pear, Plum, Raspberry, Sour cherry, Squash / Pumpkin / Zucchini, Sweet cherry, Watermelon, Almond, Cashew, Macadamia, Buckwheat, Coriander, Fennel, Turnip, Allspice, Cardamom, Rose hips, and 50+ other varieties that we have all regularly enjoyed are all on the proverbial chopping block.  Education and awareness are absolutely critical to preventing OUR COLLECTIVE food source disaster.

If you are interested in helping the cause, please click here to join my mailing list.  More information on our project will be released throughout the summer, with the fundraising product launch happening in September or October 2012.

We are structuring our processes to be able to make progress sustainably, widely, and efficiently. Thank you for your continued support!

I took a friend around the garden the other day and all I could see was weeds in the biggest flower border.  Over the weekend I have done some weeding in the other borders but yesterday I thought I would tackle the big border. I felt psyched up and ready for it.  To my surprise when I got there I had to play spot the weed. So I am happy to report that my plan is working, Yippee!!! The flowers are winning.

An Azalea

Purple rhododendron

I thought that the Rhododendrons never flowered in this garden…… I have never seen them flower before.   They must have been flowering during the seasonal monsoon every other year and I have missed them.

Red rhododendron

More surprises

Hiding in the grass

Honesty

Wisteria

Day lily

Yellow honey suckle

A completely Yellow Flag Iris by the pond

I am really beginning to regret saying that all the Irises in the garden were the same colour.  I must have thought this was a really late daffodil every other year ….. maybe it was raining and I did not look out the window properly.  I have been informed that the Yellow Flag Iris is a native of Scotland and the marshy conditions by the pond as just right for it.   I am running out of excuses now with regard to my Iris spotting ability …. but their are still some more Irises to flower yet, so as to how many colours there are out there that still remains to be seen.

Have a guess what this is…..

My fruit makes nice Jelly

The flowers were really big, I have never seen such big flowers on a bramble bush.  Does this mean we will get bigger brambles. Time will tell.

This red and pink Broom greets the bees at the garden gate.

Broom

Finishing off with multicolored display from the Lupins which grow like weeds in this garden. Significant Other does think that they are weeds.  I managed to get a view of more  than one colour from the top corner of The Orchard. I might do another blog on just Lupins as everyone one always admires the variety of different colours. The smell in June from these is really heady.

Front ones are white and purple and this view looks down hill at some of the rest

“Like” the FB “Bee Friendly Pollinator Support Movement” page and help to spread the awareness.  Here’s the link.

Alisha the Explorer logo; letters “a” and “e” set in honeycomb

Many factors are causing the declining population, from having less habitats, to climate change and even certain pesticides can harm bees. Many bee homes have been destroyed as development continues around the UK and bees are left nowhere to lay their eggs.

Tash and I are doing our bit to encourage bee activity and making our Eastend garden bee-friendly by making our own solitary bee home. We hope you follow in our steps and help the bee population.

Please see our video on how to make your own solitary bee home.

And here’s what went wrong…

By Krystena Petrakas and Natasha Wynarczyk

Lupins bursting back into life!

I happen to love avocados and mangos.  Oh, and:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Blackberry
• Blueberry
• Cantaloupe / Melon
• Carambola / Starfruit
• Kiwifruit
• Peach
• Pear
• Plum
• Raspberry
• Sour cherry
• Squash / Pumpkin / Zucchini
• Sweet cherry
• Watermelon
• Almond
• Cashew
• Macadamia
• Buckwheat
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Turnip
• Allspice
• Cardamom, and
• Rose hips

According to research, and my own (geek!) calculations, we are really, pretty much, already screwed.  The varieties above are merely the varieties that are CURRENTLY IN CRISIS.

This means that we are already losing the crops.  THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE ALREADY LOSING THE CROPS!!!  Also by my (geek!) calculations, there are about 50+ more varieties that are nearing crisis.

Q: “So, you’re telling me that because bees are all nearly dead we aren’t going to have all of the fruits and veggies and nuts and spices listed up above?”

A: “Yes.  Isn’t this horrid?!”

Q: “So, you’re telling me that because bees don’t make the evening news that – pretty soon I’m not going to have a chance to put Apple Butter on toast?”

A: “Yes.  We must act!  Breakfast is at stake!”

Q: “Wait!  And, you’re saying that I won’t have honey for tea?!”

A: “Yes.  Especially, if you want Rose Hip tea.”

Q:  ”OH, NO!!  So, what should I do?”

Seriously though, click on the links below and learn about what we MUST do this year, 2012, like now, February 17, Friday.

1. Next time you plant flowers at home or work, focus primarily on planting those varieties that bees love.
2. The next time your neighborhood proposes a grass area, instead demand that it be made to be a community-supported vertical garden center featuring bee-friendly varieties.
3. Learn about how amazing bees are.  Did you know that “in the wild they can live up to five years?!”
4. Research “Colony Collapse Disorder.”  Once you are smart, blog, post, and Tweet about your own backyard experiences.  ”Bee” sure to mention your sad face tears and fits of screaming for effect because we will need all the attention we can muster.
5. Complain online and in person to anyone that will listen that the EPA is moving too slowly.  Fifty years ago everyone could have guessed that pesticides killed “bugs.”  DUH.
6. Like this FB page to join a ”Bee Friendly” Support Movement.  With your support, I will begin to lead the rally charge with artistic style and flair in large fashion.

"Honey Coated Hand" by Alisha

Well, it’s that time of year again – I’m here, sitting on the floor in the middle of a room with a big scrapbook, a pair of scissors and a glue stick facing a mountainous pile of seed, plant, bulb and gardening catalogues and books.

Do I know where to start?  Well actually, this year I do.  For a couple of years now I have been trying to make my garden more wildlife friendly.  In the last 12 months I am pleased to report that there has been a marked increase in birds, butterflies and bees visiting my little oasis. There have even been a few more squirrels running around my garden, although that could be more to do with my chestnut tree than my own efforts – grr!

This gardening season, I am renewing my efforts to make my plot as bee friendly as possible. The RHS has produced a Perfect for Pollinators list, which I will be following closely. Click on the logo below.

Please read this list and feel free to leave your comments. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Information Overload - An array of garden literature

Related articles

• Borage – Beloved By Bees Everywhere (romancingthebee.com)
• 2012 Garden Trends to Consider (proflowers.com)
• The precious bees (rec552.com)

Golf Course Reclamation for Food Concept by Alisha Forrester Scott

What if communities re/purposed abandoned golf courses for public food gardens?

• Abandoned golf courses that are too expensive to maintain may be gifted to the greater community, to be used to grow food for the hungry in surrounding communities.
• Many golf courses are already outfitted with turf watering systems infrastructure.
• While planting food, we might ban and prevent future usage of neurotoxic insecticide chemicals that decimate food pollinators (like bees!) and poison water aquifers.
• Educational opportunities exist to learn about the insects (bees!) that are responsible for pollinating our major food sources like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices.
• Also, to be efficient, when we are doing earth planting work, we should consider trans/planting “bee friendly” varieties that will help pollinators to overcome their Colony Collapse Disorder challenges.
• Add-in perks like Dr. John Todd’s “Living Machine” natural water cleansing systems + vertical garden walls, and we can thrive!

Local communities may benefit from reclamation of the abandoned golf courses that are already outfitted with watering infrastructure, which may be used to grow food for the surrounding communities. Potential for golf course associations to support us for PR benefits. Perhaps some “active” courses may dedicate a portion of their land to grow food that is served in their restaurants. Those that care to join the local golf course food club may benefit from volunteering their time and attention. Weigh stations (for food) and receipts (for customer tracking + project statistics) are on-site, and necessary before participants (consumers) leave with their food. Perhaps a few in-tact golf holes may be used by consumers to practice, as a perk. Perhaps golf pros would donate their time.

WISH LIST

1. Abandoned golf courses that are too expensive to maintain to be donated by their communities, Home Owners’ Associations (H.O.A.), Government Parks & Recreation Departments
2. Vertical Vegetated Complex Walls
3. Living Machine waste water system design and installation

INITIAL RESEARCH NEEDED

1. Statistics on available and abandoned golf courses*
2. Local food cost data
3. Grants and other funding sources
4. Food for Lawns concepts, theories and strategies

*Note: There is only a single reporter that I’ve found thus far that has any sort of data on the trend of abandoned golf courses. The various golf associations told me they didn’t keep that sort of data. Boo + Hiss!

PUBLIC RELATIONS WISHES

1. Major Project Corporate Sponsor
2. Major Project Spokesperson and/or Golf Pro Advocate
3. Major Golf Club Sponsor w/ their own on-site garden project (for their club house kitchen)
4. Local government support
5. Industry sustainability discussion and education

COMMUNITY EDUCATION BENEFITS

1. Food programs
2. Farming principles instruction
3. Golf instruction

WEBLINKS

1. https://neighborland.com/ideas/oak-abandoned-golf-courses-to
2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Golf-Course-Reclamation-for-Food-Movement/210384059059216?sk=info

This post was updated on August 18 and September 8, 2012.

Aotea and Paula are off to check on the Oturu School bees with our resident beekeeper, Mr Smith.  We have had a number of swarms on the property over the last couple of months and they are each ensconced in their own bee box. 
Mr Smith says that they need to be moved over to the concrete pad with our other beehives, but he needs to do that either very early morning or late evening, before the bees go out seeking pollen for the day.  Otherwise they will be confused when they return and there is no hive waiting for them.

Since my previous topics were more “natural” or “organic” in nature, I thought it would be best to close out the “natural” portion of my main topic (Demystifying Seed Company Terminology) today then start with the “man-engineered” portion tomorrow. Don’t you just love it when it all comes together, or is it just me?  Any hoo, let’s move on to…

Ecologically Grown

What does ecologically grown mean?  Here again is a term that can mean a number of things to a number of people and is not an officially defined word (like “Organic”).

Throughout my travels on the internet, I did find some consistencies around the meaning of this term.  Most did openly claim that they were different from “Organic” but rather they are “ecologically” responsible.

Here is my summarized version of the “collective” definition:

Ecologically grown…

• minimal use of pesticides/fungicides
• most pesticides/fungicides  used are approved for organic production
• use biological disease controls
• If chemical treatments are used (last resort) – use the least toxic and least environmentally disruptive products available to growers
• Use green manures and soil testing (for fertilization process)
• Strive to grow healthy plants without excess fertilizers
• Augment soil’s natural fertility
• NOTE: The terms sustainably grown and sustainable are frequently used in conjunction with the term Ecologically Grown

In addition to seed growers and orchards following these ecological practices, there are several various organizations in support of ecologically grown methods. I’ve listed a couple of organizations below:

• CalCAN (California Climate and Agriculture Network)
  “Augments existing sustainable agriculture and environmental policy efforts by providing coalition to address state agriculture policy from a climate protection perspective”
• EcoFarm – Ecological Farming Association

OMRI and OMRI Seeds

OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) “provides organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and suppliers an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic production, handling, and processing.”

So when you’re looking for an approved product to use in your certified organic garden or orchard… look for the OMRI Listed® label.  Only reviewed and acceptable products that meet the National Organic Standards receive this approval label.

Find certified organic garden products and suppliers

(Note: there are over 2,100 approved products listed within OMRI product database)

In addition to various products approved for certified organic use, OMRI also provides a single place to find commercially available organic seeds and planting stock.  On their website, they have an extensive database listing of certified organic seeds and nursery stock, as well as supplier information.

Find a source for certified seeds   

Bee Friendly Farming

Aside from the cute little bee emblem I found on various seed company websites, this is such an important topic. The emblem showed me that someone is aware enough to try to do their part to support our bees!

After clicking on the emblem, I was presented with a couple of easy to read pages and a simple application to become a certified “Bee Friendly Farm”.  This designation is more about showing your support than anything else.

Bee Friendly Farming is an initiative that helps to provide consumer recognition and support for helping our bee populations. They recognize those who provide a suitable bee habitat for honeybees and native pollinators and ask that you support bees by buying farm products and local honey bearing the “Bee Friendly Farming” logo. That’s it!  Simple.

http://www.pfspbees.org/bff.htm

Now for a little fun…

Pinny and Her Toys

Toy #2: Wubba

“Pinny…

Where’s…

…Wubba?”

We had a little help with the name on this one.  The maker of this toy embroidered the name “Wubba” on the front of it (it’s hard coming up with a name sometimes).  This actually is Wubba #2.  Pinny quickly ripped a big hole in Wubba #1, but this one seems to be lasting longer.  Her “Grandma” gave her this toy a little over a week ago and its been about a year since Wubba #1 met its untimely end.  Only time will tell if we need to get Wubba #3 or retire it forever :) 

This is what happens after we stop playing with Pinny… she gets persistently impatient…

I’ll chat with you later.  Have a great evening!

God Bless,

The Artistic Desert Gardener

The lip balm was really popular. We got the recipe from Maureen Maxwell from the National Beekeepers Association. We made it  mango scented and will try adding different scents when we make more after the holidays. Maureen also gave us a recipe for honey soap which we will try.

Bees are losing habitat all around the world due to intensive monoculture-based farming practices, pristine green (but flower-barren) sprawling suburban lawns and from the destruction of native landscapes. Just planting flowers in your garden, yard, or in a planter will help provide bees with forage. Avoid chemically treating your flowers as chemicals can leach into pollen and negatively affect the bees systems. Plant plenty of the same type of bloom together, bees like volume of forage (a sq. yard is a good estimate).

Here are a few examples of good plant varieties: Spring – lilacs, penstemon, lavender, sage, verbena, and wisteria. Summer – Mint, cosmos, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, oregano, rosemary, poppies, black-eyed Susan, passion flower vine, honeysuckle. Fall – Fuchsia, mint, bush sunflower, sage, verbena, toadflax. great list

2.   Weeds can be a good thing.

Contrary to popular belief, a lawn full of clover and dandelions is not just a good thing—it’s a great thing! A haven for honeybees (and other native pollinators too). Don’t be so nervous about letting your lawn live a little. Wildflowers, many of which we might classify as weeds, are some of the most important food sources for native North American bees. If some of these are “weeds” you chose to get rid of (say you want to pull out that blackberry bush that’s taking over), let it bloom first for the bees and then before it goes to seed, pull it out or trim it back!

3.   Don’t use chemicals and pesticides to treat your lawn or garden.

Yes, they make your lawn look pristine and pretty, but they’re actually doing the opposite to the life in your biosphere. The chemicals and pest treatments you put on your lawn and garden can cause damage to the honeybees systems. These treatments are especially damaging if applied while the flowers are in bloom as they will get into the pollen and nectar and be taken back to the bee hive where they also get into the honey—which in turn means they can get into us. Pesticides, specifically neo-nicotinoid varieties have been one of the major culprits in Colony Collapse Disorder.

4.   Buy local, raw honey.

The honey you buy directly sends a message to beekeepers about how they should keep their bees. For this reason, and for your own personal health, strive to buy local, raw honey that is from hives that are not treated by chemicals. It can be hard to find out what is truly “local” and truly “raw”–and even harder yet to find out what is untreated. Here’s a few guidelines: If you find it in the grocery store and it’s imported from China, don’t buy it. There have been a number of cases recently of chemically contaminated honey coming from China. If it’s coming from the grocery store, but it doesn’t say the words “pure” or “raw” and you can’t read in the description that it’s untreated by chemicals, don’t buy it. If it’s untreated, the label will say, as this is an important selling point. We recommend a simple solution for most people. Go to your farmer’s market and shake hands with the beekeepers you meet. There are beekeepers at nearly every farmer’s market selling their honey and other products. Have a conversation with them, find out what they are doing to their hives, and how they are keeping their bees. If they are thoughtful, respectful beekeepers who keep their bees in a sustainable, natural way, then make a new friend and support them!

5.   Bees are thirsty. Put a small basin of fresh water outside your home.

You may not have known this one—but it’s easy and it’s true! If you have a lot of bees starting to come to your new garden of native plants, wildflowers and flowering herbs, put a little water basin out (a bird bath with some stones in it for them to crawl on does a nice trick). They will appreciate it!

6.   Buy local, organic food from a farmer that you know.

What’s true for honey generally holds true for the rest of our food. Buying local means eating seasonally as well, and buying local from a farmer that you know means you know if that food is coming from a monoculture or not. This is much easier in the summer when you can get your fresh produce from a local farmer’s market. Another option is to get your food from a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm. Keep in mind, USDA Organic Certification can be expensive and you may find many great farmers and beekeepers with excellent food and honey that isn’t USDA certified simply because they don’t produce a high quantity or opt for the expense of certification. Don’t let this get in the way of supporting them and if you’re worried about their products—have a conversation with them. (Ed. Note – A huge challenge for beekeepers is to keep their bees in an area where there is no chemical spray within 3 miles, as this is really what is required to guarantee truly organic honey. All the more reason for us all to avoid the use of harsh chemicals.)

Why not try Forest Garden Foods on the Kent and Sussex borders

7.   Learn how to be a beekeeper with sustainable practices.

Look up a local bee association that offers classes with natural approaches in your community and link up.

8.   Understand that honeybees aren’t out to get you.

Honeybees are vegetarians. They want to forage pollen and nectar from flowers up to three miles from their hive and bring that food back to provide food for themselves and the beehive. Contrary to what the media might have us believe, they are not out to sting us. Here are a few tips to avoid getting stung. 1. Stay still and calm if a bee is around you or lands on you. Many bees will land on you and sniff you out. They can smell the pheromones that come with fear and anger it can be a trigger for them to sting you. 2. Don’t stand in front of a hive opening, or a pathway to a concentration of flowers. Bees are busy running back and forth from the hive, and if you don’t get in their way, they won’t be in yours. 3. Learn to differentiate between honeybees and wasps. Honeybees die after they sting humans (but not after they sting other bees!), wasps do not. Wasps are carnivores, so they like your lunch-meats and soda. Honeybees are vegetarians.

9.   Share solutions with others in your community.

There are so many fun ways to help and be a voice for the bees. Share about the importance of bees at local community meetings, at conferences, in schools and universities, and on on-line message boards and forums.

Kent Beepers Association

10.                        Let your local politicians know what you think.

Change has to happen from the top-down as well as from the bottom-up.

Information taken from the ‘Queen of the Sun’ webpages – go and watch the film when it is showing near you and keep supporting the bees!

On Friday, the Problem Solvers went down to Auckland to show a presentation to the Rotary Club.  We also sold the olive oil, honey and kawakawa balm.

Once we had put up our stand at the Trust Stadium and got everything ready we left and stayed at one of the Rotarians houses and had a bed each.

We worked on our powerpoint presentation of Friday night until 9.30, we also read books about bees and researched the Varroa mite and colony collapse diseases.

We all went to bed at the same time because we had to wake up the next day at 7am.

On Saturday we all had breakfast and then left to go back to show our presentation to the Rotary Club.  We made over $1000 and had fun doing it.  The Rotarians loved our olive oil labels because they were made by the kids at our school.  We sold all of our honey and we sold one and a half boxes of olive oil but the kawakawa balm wasn’t as popular.

Sunday, by Manaaki.

On Sunday as we were leaving Auckland we stopped at a place called BeesOnline.  There was a lady and she really loved honey and bee hives, her name was Maureen Maxwell, she talked a lot about what she does.  She goes overseas and judges other peoples honey.  It is really amazing what she does to help the bees.

She used to be a helicopter pilot.  She also used to own BeesOnline. We were there for a long time and we found out a lot of interesting stuff.  When we were leaving she gave us a certificate and her latest honey book.

Maureen Maxwell from the BeeKeepers Association presenting us with certificates and a recipe book she has written.

As we passed through Whangarei we met with one of the Duffy Heroes, Jo Holley.  She had lots of good ideas for people to contact who might donate some dresses that we could wear when we make our presentation to the NZ Embassy in Washington.  She suggested that we make a video of ourselves to send to people.