Making Ways for Pollinators

Making a difference in the ways we support native bee pollinators is what this full day workshop is all about. In this workshop we will learn: 

• The difference between a bee, fly and wasp 
• The five major families of native bees 
• The flowers that provide the highest amount of food resources 
• Threats all pollinators are facing 
• Where the majority of bees nest and where to look for them 
• How to create good nesting opportunities 
• What we must be doing to protect all pollinators 
• Elements of landscape analysis using maps of Listening Tree farm 
• How to start designing pollinator-attracting planting habitats using the farm as a model 
• The essentials of meadow making, including hands on experience planting native seedlings.

The day will be led by Tom Sullivan, owner of Pollinators Welcome, who has been designing beautiful pollinator habitat landscapes since 2009. A graduate of the Conway School of Landscape Design and designer of the first pollinator habitat nursery in Massachusetts, Tom teaches folks how to design and create pollinator habitats that meet pollinator biological needs by: appropriate siting of gardens in the landscape, choosing plants well suited to soil and sun, creating significant nesting opportunities and choosing pollinator life cycle protection through freedom from pesticides. 

We will start off the day with Tom giving a talk, covering most if not all the items listed above. The rest of our morning will be spent planting seedlings in two plots in the Listening Tree herb meadow and wetlands.

Then we will break for lunch--a hardy farm-to-table meal provided by Listening Tree Cooperative farmers.

During lunch Tom will be available to answer questions as well as run a loop showing native plants that are highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

After lunch we will review permaculture design maps of the land to locate important farm landscape elements, noting areas of planting and nesting opportunities to inform our design. When we get back inside we’ll dive into a three-hour design session, working on two designs that you will bring home with you.

There will be ample time to ask questions during Tom’s talk, the planting exercise, our walk about the farm, and when we are designing.

Registration is $50, paid by check. See Registration button for detaiils.

This promises to be an exciting workshop! Hope to see you there!

Register Now!