From Marla Spivak's TED talk about why bees are disappearing:

"When bees have access to good nutrition... they are better able to engage their own natural defenses. Each of our individual actions can contribute to a grand solution... so let the small act of planting flowers and keeping them free of pesticides be the driver of large-scale change."

To participate in the Sabin Bee Friendly Garden Project, contact Diane Benson at [email protected].

What's a Carrotmob and how can it help save bees? A Carrotmob is about voting with your dollars. It's a fun, easy way to support a business that's doing the right thing.  Garden Fever is a neighborhood garden shop that's doing the right thing by taking all neonicotinoid pesticides off their shelves. Neonics are highly
toxic to bees because they are absorbed by the plant and they accumulate in the pollen and nectar. When bees come to collect the pollen or nectar, they are poisoned. This is what happened in Wilsonville recently. Despite the dangers, some nurseries continue to sell these toxic products because they are profitable.

Garden Fever has agreed to stop selling neonics, so let's show our appreciation. Come by the store on Sunday, October 6 and shop for plants, seeds, garden tools, books and more. This is also a great
opportunity to do your holiday shopping.

Come and explore a variety of garden styles while learning how to create pollinator habitat in your own yard. To see photos and descriptions of all 13 gardens, check out the Backyard Tour Guide, then print a map. Or, pick up a map at Whole Foods at NE 15th and Fremont or the Backyard Bird Shop on NE 14th and Fremont. Other options: email tour coordinator Diane Benson at [email protected] or stop by 3926 NE 11th and take a map from the poetry box in front of the house.

The Bee Jamboree is an opportunity for people to learn about how to create bee-friendly habitat in their own yards. This years event, held in front of Whole Foods on June 29, drew several hundred people who stopped on their way into or out of the store. Some visitors had questions about the recent bumblebee die off and others wanted to know what kinds of flowers to plant. The kids enjoyed looking at bee specimens with a magnifying glass, and coloring pictures of bees and flowers. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning in June!

Bring the kids to meet bee experts Tim Wessels and Mace Vaughn at Whole Foods (NE 15th and Fremont) on Saturday, June 29 from 10:00 to 2:00. Tim will bring his bee-keeping equipment and Mace will bring his cases of bee specimens - dozens of bees of all types, from very tiny native bees to giant bumble bees. We'll also have samples of some of the best bee-friendly flowers for urban gardens. Hope to see you there!

This year, we're adding 13 new gardens to the front yard tour - here's a sneak preview. Remember, the tour is self-guided and it's free. Just print a map from the Garden Tour Map tab and take the tour any time - spring, summer or fall. To see previews and descriptions of the participating gardens, click here. To learn more about native bees, honey bees and how to create bee habitat, come to the Bee Jamboree in front of Whole Foods on NE 15th and Fremont, from 10:00 to 2:00 on Saturday, June 29.

About 50 people attended the April 21 event at Sabin Community Orchard, learning about honey bees from Tim Wessels and native bees from Mace Vaughn. We also planted 83 bee-friendly perennials and fruit-bearing shrubs and trees.

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement in November 2012 warning that exposure to pesticides can result in cancer, decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems in children. They recommend that families learn about integrated pest management, which means seeking out the least toxic methods of dealing with pest problems in the home and garden.

The Oregonian's recent article on this topic provides specific tips for pesticide-free gardening, such as spraying plants with water to remove aphids, or picking slugs off plants by hand.

If you'd like to learn more about natural gardening techniques, come to the Sabin Bee-Friendly Garden Tour on Sunday, July 14 from 11:00 to 3:00. The tour is free and includes 15 bee-friendly backyards in the inner NE Portland neighborhood of Sabin. We'll have natural gardening experts on hand, to chat with you about non-toxic methods of pest control. We'll also have several experts on honey bees, native bees and other pollinators, to answer your questions about these critters and explain how to create healthy bee habitat in your garden. For more information, please see the Garden Tour tab on the Sabin Community Association website: sabinpdx.org

Earth Day is a perfect day for bees at the Sabin Community Orchard!  At this upcoming Sabin Bee-Friendly Garden event, folks can learn from the Xerces Society and local beekeepers about the pollinators in our
neighborhood and how our gardening choices help or hurt them.  Then, those who  want to pick up a shovel can help plant shrubs and perennials to attract bees to the Orchard—and some more fruit trees to take delicious advantage of all those bees.  Optional tour of the tickle bees at the Sabin School field afterwards,
weather permitting.  This event is made possible by a Neighborhood Small Grant from NECN and ONI.  All ages welcome!   

When: Sunday, April 21, 2:00-4:00 pm
Where: Sabin Community Orchard, NE Mason between 18th & 19th
RSVP if you will help plant: [email protected]