A Community Campaign

Transcription

1 FEED THE BEES A Community Campaign Refers to Item 8.01 Regular Meeting \ July 11, 2011.EARTHWISE SOCIETY OVERVIEW Feed the Bees is a community-engagement and outcome-focused partnership between the Earthwise Society and the Delta Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the Feed the Bees campaign to encourage individuals, businesses, organizations and governments to support a healthy and sustainable bee population; and plant gardens to feed pollinators and encourage biodiversity in our community. The project 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 pollinators. This includes planting bee-friendly plants in public and private gardens, adopting mason bee hives and other initiatives. Feed The Bees presentation to the Corporation of Delta. Monday, July 11, 2011 Page 1 of 6

2 FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS \ feed lhl DEf S.EARTHWISE SOCIETY "A catalyst for the creation of a sustoinable community through empowering individuals to take responsibility for social, economic and environmental well-being. " Established in 1982, the Earthwise Society offers community-based environmental education and stewardship programs and works to build broad based partnerships that make a positive contribution to the environmental, social and economic fabric of our community and region. Earthwise Society has developed Earthwise Farm to model sma ll-scale sustainable agriculture within urban communities. A recent initiative focuses on farm biodiversity and farmscaping techniques that attract beneficial insects and provide food for bees and other pollinators. Delta Chamber of Commerce VO IC OF BUSINESS "Promote growth and prosperity; provide opportunities for members; and advocate for the interests of the Delta business community with all levels of government." Established in 1910, the Delta Chamber of Commerce is a federally-registered corporation of businesses and community organizations. It serves to create and maintain a prosperous environment for business, industry and commerce in our community and province. Its mission is to promote growth and prosperity; provide networking opportunities for Chamber members to generate mutual benefits; and advocate for the interests of the Delta business community with all levels of government. STEERING COMMITTEE The Feed The Bees campaign is guided by a Steering Committee that includes: Earthwise Society Delta Chamber of Commerce Delta Farmers Institute Delta Farmland and Wild life Trust Westham Island Apiary BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Provincial Apiculturist Feed The Bees presentation to the Corporation of Delta. Monday, July 11, 2011 Page 2 of 6

3 CAMPAIGN CATALYST AND OBJECTIVE feed THE gef$ One of the most important issues facing agricultural sustainability is the health of our bee populations. Bees not only produce honey, but are crucial pollinators for many.food crops, herbs, and flowers. Several years ago, beekeepers sounded the alarm about dramatic declines in bee populations, in what has since become known as Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. CCD has impacted bee populations across the continent and around the world and, if left unchecked, will have dramatic impacts on food production. This is not an issue that can be addressed by farmers alone. Although no one knows for sure what causes this, we can all playa role in trying to save the bee and restore bee populations. The "Feed the Bees" campaign will raise awareness about the importance of individual actions to provide bees with the conditions they need to thrive. This includes eliminating the use of pesticides from urban gardens and planting insectary plants to attract bees and provide a constant supply of pollen and nectar from March to October every year. These small steps can have a big impact on regional biodiversity, healthy bee populations and agricultural yield. The key is to engage as many participants, in as many sectors of the community, as possible. Feed The Bees presentation to the Corporation of Delta. Monday, July 11, 2011 Page 3 of 6

4 CAMPAIGN PHASES Phase One: Outreach Feed the Bees will utilize the networks of participating agencies to raise awareness in Delta about issues around bee populations and the potential impacts on the quality of life and economy of Delta. Phase Two: Call to Action The program will secure the commitment of Delta residents and businesses to participate in planting bee-friendly plants to ensure that bees have sufficient food to sustain populations throughout the growing season. The following list summarizes some of the activities and elements currently underway: Secure the participation of Delta farmers, nurseries, landscapers and other key stakeholders Gather resources for community workshops, presentations and activities Schedule and promote campaign activities, events and achievements Develop and deliver the community education components Develop and deliver community workshops and demonstrations Develop and deliver the school component of the campaign Author supporting materials for media, social media and websites Liaise and coordinate with the agricultural community Phase Three: Measurement and Evaluation Set measurable objectives for each critical success factor of the campaign and evaluate the impacts of the campaign against the baseline measures. This will include program awareness rates, participation rates, distribution of information, media up take and other criteria. Feed The Bees presentation to the Corporation of Delta. Monday, July 11, 2011 Page 4 of 6

5 CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES BY SECTOR, FUn TH ~ BffS Residential Develop educational materials and programs to support and encourage Delta residents to plant bee friendly plants in home gardens or apartment balconies Host bee workshops and participate in community events and activities Establish a Feed The Bees Bee-Friendly Garden registry and map Host screenings of the documentary "Vanishing ofthe Bees" Establish a website and social media presence Commercial Develop educational materials to encourage planting appropriate flora to feed bees and other pollinators as part of regular landscaping routines Conduct seminars for landscaping professionals leading to "Feed The Bee" certification Participate in commercial sector events and activities to promote Feed The Bees Municipal Work with the Corporation of Delta to design and install Feed The Bees demonstration gardens complete with sign age at high-traffic and visible sites throughout the community Provide lists of suitable materials to municipal staff to encourage planting appropriate flora Provide training sessions to municipal staff as a component of pesticide free landscaping Participate in municipal events and activities to promote Feed The Bees Agricultural Provide information on the farmscaping program to the agricultural sector to encourage planting of bee-friendly plants Enlist the cooperation of the agricultural community to raise awareness of the issue and participate in information presentations to the wider community Participate in agricultural sector events and activities to promote Feed The Bees Education Encourage schools to undertake Feed The Bees information programs for their students Invite schools to host bee hives on their properties as a compliment to in-class curriculum Introduce a bee focused eco-tour at Earthwise Gardens Offer participating schools a range of bee-friendly plants to plant on school grounds Ask local nurseries to stock appropriate bee-friendly plants Develop and supply sign age for identifying appropriate plants and explaining the program Participate in school events and activities to promote Feed The Bees Feed The Bees presentation to the Corporation of Delta. Monday, July 11, 2011 Page 5 of 6

6 INFORMATION SOURCES \ ftfoth~ lieu FEED THE BEES WEBSITE RESOURCES British Columbia Summer Nectar and Pollen Sources: Fact Sheet 905 BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Provincial Apiculturist Conserving Native Bees on Farmland Department of Entomology, Michigan State University Corporation of Delta: Beekeeping Bylaw No. 6804, 2009 To permit beekeeping as an accessory use to single family and duplex dwellings and for educational purposes in Public (P) zones within Delta. Corporation of Delta: Pesticide Use Control Bylaw No. 6788, 2009 To reduce the unnecessary application of chemical pesticides on residential and municipally owned land within Delta. Farming for Bees: Guidelines for Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms The Xerces Society Farming for Pollinators: Native Bees and Your Crops US NCRS and The Xerces Society Making Room for Native Pollinators: How To Create Habitat for Native Pollinators on Golf Courses; US Golf Association and The Xerces Society Organic Farming Practices: Reducing Harm to Pollinators from Farming The Xerces Society Pollinator-Friendly Parks: How to Enhance Parks, Gardens and Other Greenspaces The Xerces Society Feed The Bees presentation to the Corporation of Delta Monday, July 11, 2011 Page 6 of 6