With your support, we are planting and maintaining a native bee and insect habitat, enhancing local biodiversity, and creating a thriving ecosystem.
WHO
Who is a partner in the Bloom & Buzz project?
We are so grateful to be working with Xerces Society on the Bloom & Buzz project. Xerces is an international non-profit that focuses on protecting the natural world through conservation. They have an abundance of valuable resources and information that you can use in your own garden, so we encourage you to check out their amazing organization to learn more.
Who is benefiting from this project?
Native pollinators, beneficial insects, the ecosystem, and all of us!
WHAT
What is the Bloom & Buzz Project?
The Bloom & Buzz Project is our planting of a 15,000 square foot native pollinator and beneficial insect habitat in the Gorge. With this we will measure the biodiversity and carbon capture accomplished through our regenerative farming practices.
What was the first step?
When we decided we wanted to create a farm that was inviting to bees and beneficials, I (Yesenia) started researching flowers that could attract these. I found so many beautiful flowers that helped bees and beneficials thrive, BUT it was the revelation that the plants they needed the most were native plants. While I was excited to plant the pretty flowers so I could also enjoy them, I knew we needed native plants as well. We’re farmers and (spoiler alert) we don’t make a ton of money from farming. Therefore, I decided that I would grow pretty flowers to help fund planting native plants, with the goal in mind to help our pear farm.
What is grown?
NATIVE PLANTS! We planted 15 different types of plant varieties and 244 plants from Humble Roots Nursery in Mosier, Oregon. They’ve also published an excellent book called The Pacific Northwest Native Plant Primer to help you get started with native plants in the pacific northwest as well.
What farming practices are implemented?
We actively focus on being as friendly and welcoming to native bees and beneficial insects as part of our pest management program. We started by developing our Integrated Pest Management Program to control pests using the safest methods for beneficial insects. During harvest, we intentionally leave wasps nests be (haha pun intended), because they help control a key pest in pears. This often means skipping a tree and leaving all the fruit unharvested (our donation to the ecosystem). We trap earwigs where we have healthy populations and relocate them to areas that need more. We also release beneficial insects on our farms because it is one of our top priorities to improve our beneficial population.
WHEN
When did the project start?
We introduced the Bloom & Buzz Project to the community on July 13th, 2023 and we officially planted the native pollinator and beneficial insect habitat on October 24th, 2023.
WHERE
Where is the native pollinator and beneficial insect habitat?
Right here in The Gorge!
WHY
Why is this important?
Our experiences have led us to one conclusion: habitat. If we want more native bees and beneficial insects to visit us, we need to be friendly and hospitable. We need to roll out the red carpet and bust out the fine China!
Why do we care?
If we look at the bigger picture, beyond the farm, as humans, we are connected to the land and climate. Our lives depend on it just like the bees and bugs. We, as farmers, have felt (and still do, honestly) the extremes of a changing climate and seeing the real consequences. We see the changes in insect populations because it’s our job to keep a close on eye on them. The danger of collapsing native bee populations (and biodiversity in general) is a real concern for us because they are the foundation of our food system. We truly just want to do our part to help our local ecosystem because it’s good for all of us, especially the future world that we want our son to grow up in.
HOW
How are you able to support the Bloom & Buzz Project?
When you enjoy or gift Pear Bloom Farm flowers through u-pick, experiences, events and workshops, you are supporting this dream. 20% of profits from our flower sales are directed to the Bloom & Buzz Project. If you are unable to visit us but still want to support, we graciously accept donations here.
