We often underestimate the power of the bee. The bee's role in the pollination of vegetables, fruits, nuts and flowers is essential to a plant's reproduction and survival. Alarmingly, the honeybee population has experienced a severe decline in recent years. Researchers have been unable to pinpoint a cause for the phenomenon, dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), but a significant reduction in the number of honeybees will have a direct effect on our own flowering food sources, leaving reason for all of us to be concerned.
As a leader in the revival of sustainable agriculture and a pioneer in the world of specialty vegetables, micro greens and micro herbs, The Chef's Garden relies on the diligent work of the honeybee. Our Bee Sustainable project provides bees with a high quality food source nearby to sustain their colonies. Believing that good nutrition can produce healthier bees and, in turn, healthier food products, we plant nutritious flowering plants that bloom throughout the pollination season so bees are better protected against other threats in the environment.
The Chef's Garden developed the planting schedule with guidance from The Ohio State University Honey Bee Lab and partnered with the Honey Bee Treasure, LLC of New London, Ohio to manage the bee hives on the land we've reserved for Bee Sustainable. The Honey Bee Treasure does not use chemicals or pesticides on or near their honeybee colonies in line with our own efforts to achieve a chemical-free growing environment.
Nine working hives on the Bee Sustainable plot have helped to revitalize the local bee population, and corporate and individual support of the program has raised awareness of the bee crisis.
Click here to learn more and find out how you can Bee Sustainable. Help us help the bees and, in turn, help ourselves!{\slide}
