In the beginning
God gave us plants, seeds, trees, flowers and fruits. With this gift of provision and beauty came “the birds of the air and every thing that creeps on Earth” — animals that would fertilize and propagate our gardens. In other words, we were given a host of specialized species called pollinators. Pollination happens when pollen is carried to flowers by wind, water, or pollinating animals such as birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths and beetles.
Are pollinators in trouble?
Worldwide there is disturbing evidence that pollinating animals have suffered from disease, parasites, pesticides, loss of habitat, and competition from non-native plant and animal species.
- An alarming number of honeybee colonies have been lost over the past 20 years.
- Many pollinators are “listed species,” meaning that there is evidence of their disappearance in natural areas.
Why should we care about pollinators?
Pollinators bring us nearly one of every three bites of food we eat and are vital in the procreation of nearly 80 percent of the flowering plants on the planet. Worldwide, roughly 1,000 of the 1,200 plant species grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals. These foods include apples, blueberries, chocolate, coffee, melons, peaches, pumpkins, vanilla, and almonds. In fact, pollination by honey bees, native bees, and other insects produces billions of dollars worth of products annually.
How to get involved – Pollinators need our help.
Our small congregation at UPC has taken the first step. We are creating our first pollinator garden at the south-east corner of the church property. Funded by members of the church and our Hope in Action fund, this small area is the first in what we hope will be a larger project.
We would love to hear from you – our friends and neighbours.
Once you see what we have started, we would love to get additional ideas and community involvement. It will not only support the previous species of God’s earth, but beautify the land on which our church sits.
Bee A Part of This Project!
Please reach us at office@upc.community with any suggestions or if you would like to be part of the group planning, designing and making it happen.
Pollinator Garden Plan
