Author: Laura Maggard
Planning Unit: Lawrence County CES
Major Program: Master Gardener
Plan of Work: Enhance the Strong Agicultural and Natural Resource Base
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
"Sadly, over the past 15 years, colonies of bees have been disappearing, and the reason remains unknown. Referred to as ‘colony collapse disorder’, billions of Honey bees across the world are leaving their hives, never to return. In some regions, up to 90% of bees have disappeared!" (National Geographic). With honey bee populations decreasing, the Lawrence County Master Gardener's made the decision to take a stand towards increasing honey bee populations and bringing awareness to the community about the importance of pollinators. The Lawrence County Agricultural and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent and the Lawrence County Master Gardener's wrote a grant in order to get funding to support this cause. The Kentucky Pride Initiative awarded the Master Gardener Club $1950.00 for a pollinator project in Lawrence County. With the funds, the club put a hive of bees at the Lawrence County Extension Office to use as an educational resource to teach about honey bees. The hive is managed by the club members and is used as pollinators for the demonstration garden located at the Extension Office. The remainder of the project money was put towards 2 pollinator gardens. The pollinator gardens are located at the Extension Office and at Fallsburg Elementary School. Only Kentucky Native plants are allowed in the gardens and the plants are all pollinator friendly. The Master Gardeners partnered with Lawrence County 4-H Teen Club to decorate the garden at the Extension Office and a separate 4-H club was formed at Fallsburg Elementary for the garden at the school. The students were taught by Master Gardener volunteers about the importance of pollinators and what we can do as gardeners to protect them and how we can help save the honey bees. The Master Gardeners and the ANR Extension Agent in Lawrence County will continue to use the pollinator garden and honey bees as an educational tool and resource to bring awareness to pollinators and educate youth and adults.
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