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World Bee Day

May 20, 2021

We are living for this sunshine! There's been a slight lack of rain lately so many of our farmers are busy setting up irrigation, but the plants who need full sun are sure to be thriving. Did you know today is World Bee Day? Bees are incredibly important to sustainable development and they, and other pollinators like butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are constantly under threat. Did you know that nearly 90% of the world's wild flowering plant species depend, either entirely or in part, on animal pollination? More than 75% of the world's food crops, and 35% of global agricultural land, also rely heavily on animal pollination. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security (something we as a Farmers' Market are very passionate about!), but they are essential to conserving biodiversity. The UN states that protecting bees and other pollinators would be key to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminating hunger in developing countries.

How Can You Help?

If you’re looking for another reason to celebrate small scale farmers, look no further! Small scale farmers (like those found at your local farmers’ markets!) love their land. It’s often (but not always) passed down through generations and/or farmed by the same people for decades. These farmers feel connected to their land, and ensuring its vitality is as important to them as ensuring their own wellbeing. Many farmers host bee hives from neighboring bee keepers, or keep their own, and practice sustainable agriculture to ensure the health of the soil and surrounding wildlife. Always ask your farmer if you have any questions!

Sungold Market Garden’s honey, for example, is from hives they have on their farm, from bees who pollinate their plants. Healthy bees mean healthy plants mean full tables and full stomachs!

Becky from Entangled Roots is a beekeeper as well as farmer and practices gentle beekeeping. The reason behind the business name? It refers to “the deep connections – the entanglements – that all living beings and things have to one another.” This is beautiful – we are all connected to each other and to this earth. Bees are an important part of that connection!

It was around this time last year when I visited Berrylicious Fruit Farm. The bees were buzzing around, working on pollinating the blueberry flowers. Blueberry pollen is sticky and heavy and can’t really move on its own so bees are essential to pollinating the ~1000 buds on each bush!

If you’re wondering how you can help our pollinators, you already are! Buying raw honey from local farmers and buying food that was grown sustainably are two wonderful things you can do to help our bees and other pollinator friends.

Here’s a few other things you can do:

  • plant a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year;
  • protecting wild bee colonies when possible;
  • sponsoring a hive;
  • making a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside;
  • helping sustaining forest ecosystems;
  • raising awareness around us by sharing this information within our communities and networks; The decline of bees affects us all!

Things to look out for this weekend!

Sungold Market Garden will have the first sprouting broccoli of the season at market this weekend! Sugar snap peas are coming soon!

Orchard Hill Farm has their warm weather plants ready: tomatoes, peppers, basil, ground cherries, and natural dye plants. Their first head lettuce is ready and they have lots of asparagus! Green Garlic Kimchi and dilly carrot pickles are two new ferments they have as well.

Becky from Entangled Roots also have many more seedlings available now. New this weekend is hot peppers and okra plants! Okra plants also produce a beautiful flower.

Dave’s Beef & Lamb is also back at market this weekend! Make sure to stop by!

Wandering Bee Flowers is seeing a bit of a halt in their growing season. The spring flowers are nearly over as their summer flowers come in, so they will not be at market this weekend as they wait for more flowers to be ready. Hopefully they will be back next weekend!

London Brewing Co. has been at our market for two weekends now! Have you stopped by to introduce yourself? Let us know what you think about their organic craft beer! Lots of wonderful reviews are coming our way.

Victoria Day Weekend

Monday is a holiday! The Indoor Market will be closed on Monday, May 24th, but will re-open on Tuesday at 8am. Have a wonderful long weekend, and we hope to see you at the market on Saturday!

Who Can You Find at The farmers' Market this Weekend?

This is the list, folks! See who you can find at the Farmers’ Market this Saturday, May 22nd! Click on their names to find information on pre-orders and to learn more about their farms and businesses!

Check out their websites for more information about their products and to see what’s in season/currently available!

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