Farms at Work creates buzz over pollinators with on-farm plantings

Pollinators are all the buzz this week as Canada celebrates Pollinator Week, bringing awareness to the importance of pollinators for ecosystems, food security, and the economy. Farmers in east central Ontario took strides this year in protecting native pollinators on their farms, but the pollinators aren’t the only ones that will benefit.

Granite Forest Farm in Campbellford worked with Farms at Work to create a “bee pasture” of plants that would support both native pollinators and their 200 hives of honeybees. The planting will increase the amount of forage available to their bees and augment their honey production. Bob Horvat of Peterborough also welcomed pollinators to his farm property with a planting of shrubs and trees that support native bees. The plants not only create habitat for hundreds of insects and wildlife, but they attract pollinators which are critical for producing fruit from his orchards.

Farms at Work worked alongside staff from Otonabee Region Conservation Authority on several planting days, and Peterborough County landowners had help from the Peterborough County Stewardship Council with the cost of plants. All three organizations are members of the Kawartha Farm Stewardship Collaborative (KFSC), working together with farmers to make environmental improvements on their farms. Farms at Work also had the support of The Schad Foundation for its role in making site visits and preparing planting plans.  

Farmers in east central Ontario are employing practical solutions that support the goal of pollinator health and benefit their farm operations as well as local food systems. Farms at Work and the rest of the members of KFSC are proud to be able to help farmers achieve these goals. To learn more about Farms at Work’s Native Pollinator Program, visit farmsatwork.ca/pollinators. To learn more about the Kawartha Farm Stewardship Collaborative, visit kawarthafarmstewardship.org