UBC is hosting a series of events to help people create pollen trails to benefit the bee population.
Britain’s doing it. Norway’s doing it. America’s doing it. Vancouver’s doing it. And now a UBC professor says it’s time for Kelowna to do it too.
Bee streets, pollinator pathways and sweet nectar trails are being planted across the planet by concerned citizens. Nancy Holmes, UBC professor of Creative Studies says Kelowna doesn’t have one yet, but she’s hoping that’s about to change.
Border Free Bees, a UBC art project under the direction of Holmes, is inviting people who live in Kelowna’s lower Mission neighbourhood to join the Kelowna Nectar Trail Project. Once complete, the Nectar Trail will be some seven kilometres long, and through a series of flowery areas, will connect three places rich in wild bee populations; Summerhill Organic Winery, the Myra Bellevue Creek corridor and the UnH2O Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.
“All it takes is one square metre of land, a handful of seeds, and a little love for plants and pollinators,” says Holmes. “And, of course, people who want to help save the bees.”
Nectar Trail “wannabees” and people in the community are invited to attend the following free workshops as part of The Kelowna Nectar Trail sessions.
Who: Okanagan Xeriscape Association’s Eva Antonijevic
What: Growing Water-wise Plants for Pollinators in the Okanagan
When: Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Okanagan Regional Library Mission Branch, 4105 Gordon Drive, Kelowna
Register: www.eventbrite.ca/e/growing-water-wise-plants-for-pollinators-in-the-okanagan-tickets-32271440748
Who: Tanis Gieselman, with Seeds Co. Community Conservation
What: Bee-coming a Part of the Solution: Gardening with Native Species for the Nectar Trail
When: Saturday, April 1 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Okanagan Regional Library Mission Branch, 4105 Gordon Drive, Kelowna
Who: Summerhill Winery’s Gabe Cipes
What: Growing Without Pesticides: A Biodynamic Approach
When: Earth Day: Saturday, April 22 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Summerhill Winery Biodynamic Gardens, 4870 Chute Lake Road
Who: Erin Udal and Geoff Campbell with Border Free Bees
What: Bee ID workshop and introduction to Pollinator Citizen Science App
When: Saturday, May 13 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Okanagan Regional Library Mission Branch, 4105 Gordon Drive, Kelowna BC
This project is funded by Telus’s Go Wild Community Grant program as well as the Public Art Pollinator Pasture Research project at UBC. The Kelowna Nectar Trail Sessions are supported by the Okanagan Regional Library and Summerhill Winery.
To find out more information about the Nectar Trail or register for an event, contact Border Free Bees at ecoartokanagan@gmail.com, Nancy Holmes at nancy.holmes@ubc.ca or visit the Border Free Bees website at: borderfreebees.com/kelowna-nectar-trail
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