About our POllinator Habitat

We’re excited to share our new project: a pollinator habitat on our land! Our goal is to create a safe haven for pollinators by removing invasive plants and replacing them with native wildflower seeds, shrubs, and tree seedlings. This space will feature winding walking paths, allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature up close. Most importantly, we’re committed to using no chemicals, staying true to our natural approach to farming and beekeeping.

Our honeybees live in the adjacent lot, and we’ve noticed that they sometimes struggle to find enough food, especially during certain times of the year when weather conditions are less favorable. Beekeepers call this period the "dearth"—a time when there is a shortage of nectar and pollen for the bees to forage on. We’ve tried planting traditional crops and flowers, but the invasive plants on our land have been relentless, outcompeting our efforts.

This is when we decided to take a different approach. After carefully consulting with wildlife specialists, weed scientists, and entomologists, we developed a plan to remove the invasive weeds organically and by hand. It’s a slow and labor-intensive process, but it's the only way we feel comfortable moving forward, considering we harvest honey from our bees and are committed to natural beekeeping.

Our plan focuses on restoring the land with native plants that are not only beautiful but also essential to the local ecosystem. By introducing a diverse range of native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees, we aim to provide a year-round food source for our honeybees and other pollinators. The walking paths we’re creating will allow visitors to explore the habitat, learn about pollinators, and appreciate the beauty of these native plants up close.

We are excited about this project because it aligns with our philosophy of natural beekeeping, which involves using no chemicals and allowing our bees to thrive in a more natural environment. Our honey is some of the best-tasting around—raw, lightly filtered, and local—and we want to ensure that our bees have access to the healthiest and most natural foraging options possible.

This is just the beginning of our journey to transform this space into a thriving pollinator habitat. It’s a labor of love, but knowing that we’re creating a safer and more sustainable environment for our bees and other pollinators makes it all worthwhile. We can’t wait to see the habitat in full bloom and share this special place with our community.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue to make progress on this exciting project!

1. Clear Sections of Weeds and Debris:
   
   • Start by clearing designated sections of the area, removing large weeds, brush, and debris that could hinder the growth of new plants.

1. Bush Hog Where Needed:
   
   • Use a bush hog to mow down dense vegetation and overgrown areas, especially in sections where manual removal isn't feasible.

1. Remove Weeds Manually:
   
   • Hand-pull remaining weeds, focusing on the root systems to prevent regrowth. This step ensures minimal soil disturbance and maintains the integrity of the native seed bank.

1. Use Organic Methods for Weed Suppression:
   
   • Apply organic weed control methods such as vinegar-based herbicides where necessary.
   • Implement tarping (occultation) by covering areas with black plastic tarps to block sunlight and heat the soil, effectively killing off weeds.

1. Plant Wildflower Seeds:
   
   • After weed suppression, broadcast wildflower seeds at the appropriate times for each species to ensure optimal germination and growth.

1. Plant Shrubs and Seedlings:
   
   • Plant native shrubs and tree seedlings in strategic locations to provide additional structure and year-round food sources for pollinators.

1. Ongoing Maintenance:
   
   • Continually monitor the habitat for new weed growth and remove them manually.
   • Maintain walkways and paths, keeping them clear of overgrowth.
   • Repeat tilling or mowing in areas where invasive plants persist to ensure the success of the wildflower habitat.

• Woodland Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
• Large Flower Tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora)
• False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
• Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
• Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)
• White Clover (Trifolium repens)
• Common Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)
• Common Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
• Clasping Coneflower (Dracopis amplexicaulis)
• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepius tuberosa)
• Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
• Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
• Lance Leaf Tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata)
• Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis)
• Moss Verbena (Verbena tenuisecta)
• Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
• Common Vetch (Vicia sativa)
• Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa)
• Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
• Dwarf Goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata)
• New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
• Field Peas (Pisum sativum)
• Winter Rye (Secale cereale)
• Oats (Avena sativa)

• Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum)
• Elliott's Blueberry (Vaccinium elliottii)
• Deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua)
• Hoary Mountainmint (Pycnanthemum incanum)
• Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)
• Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
• Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
• Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
• Winter Heath (Erica carnea)

• Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
• Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
• Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
• American Plum (Prunus americana)
• Southern Crab Apple (Malus angustifolia)