Durham-based community gardens are invited to apply for the “Healthy Bee Healthy Me” Pollinator Garden Program 

Keep Durham Beautiful currently seeks applications from community gardens interested in installing a pollinator garden and interpretive signage near an existing community garden space. Four Durham-based community gardens will be selected to participate in the 2017 “Healthy Bee Healthy Me” Pollinator Garden Program.

The “Healthy Bee Healthy Me” Pollinator Garden Program is brought to you by Keep Durham Beautiful in partnership with Durham County Cooperative Extension to promote pollinator habitat throughout Durham City and County. The program is made possible in part by grants from The Burt’s Bees Greater Good Foundation and Triangle Community Foundation’s Support for Places: Environmental Conservation Public Benefit Program.

The goal of the program is to establish educational pollinator gardens in proximity to pre-existing community gardens to ensure the sustainability of nectar and pollen sources for our honey bees, native bees, butterflies and other pollinators throughout the year, and to increase the yield of the food crops grown within the community gardens.

Gardens selected to participate in the Healthy Bee, Healthy Me program will receive pollinator plants, tool loaning, technical guidance, and interpretive signage. Preference will be given to well-managed community gardens that serve low income or under-served populations, with a focus on food and revenue generation.

Providing bees and other pollinators with plenty of food sources throughout the year ensures the sustainability of their populations and increases the health and yield of the food crops grown nearby. Establishing pollinator gardens is one of the many ways that KDB promotes community greening and beautification.

For more information or to download the application visit: http://keepdurhambeautiful.org/programs/healthybeehealthyme or contact Keep Durham Beautiful at 919-560-4197.