We are rehabilitating a small patch of beneficial insect habitat in West Eugene. This project is a partnership with Huerto de la Familia to serve Latinx and underserved community members who grow food their families need in the garden behind Kennedy Middle School. Food scarcity is a serious issue for working families. We are working to help provide fair and equitable access to nutritious foods by teaching youth and community members about the role of beneficial pollinators in healthy gardens and healthy foods. This project will support creating and maintaining the Pollinator Garden at Huerto de la Familia. All community members are invited to attend work parties and educational activities.

A single bee has the potential to provide gardeners with at least 125 pounds of fresh produce each year. More healthy native bees with plenty of food and water available year-round means healthier plants and a healthier harvest for families that rely on this low-income garden space. We’ll also use this working model of an organic, pollinator-friendly garden to teach gardeners how to make it work for themselves in their own food-growing spaces.

This symbiotic relationship – between gardeners and bee enthusiasts – sets the stage for a resilient community better able to adapt to a rapidly changing climate and support pollinator and human health alike in local food growing spaces.