National Pollinator Week - Bona Fide Juicery

Happy National Pollinator Week! This is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health, initiated and managed by the Pollinator Partnership. This week is a time dedicated to raising awareness for pollinators & spreading the word about what we can do to protect these species.

What are Pollinators?

Pollinating animals visit flowering plants to drink nectar & feed off of pollen. Moving pollen grains from flower to flower is a vital interaction that helps plants reproduce. There are various pollinating species in North America, including bees, butterflies, moths, flower flies, beetles, wasps & hummingbirds. These species are critical contributors to sustaining our ecosystem, aiding the production of natural resources such as countless fruits, veggies, nuts, ½ of the world’s oils, fibers & plant-based industrial products. They also benefit our environment by helping produce breathable oxygen, purifying water & preventing soil erosion. Right here in Wisconsin, various crops depend on pollinators, including apples, cranberries, cherries, green beans, cucumbers, honey, beeswax, and many other fruits & veggies!

Pollinating Populations Decline

Despite their importance in sustaining our ecosystems, pollinating populations are currently declining. Habitat loss is the most prevalent issue, as habitats that serve as food & nesting sites for these species are lost to agricultural, urban, and suburban development. Other problems facing pollinators include invasive species of plants & animals, misuse of pesticides, climate change, and parasites & diseases. This has caused numerous species of butterflies, moths, and native bees to become extremely rare, if not extinct.

Memory Lanes Pollinator Garden

There is a local initiative working to restore a habitat for pollinating species! In association with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Memory Lanes Bar & Grill in Clintonville, WI, is developing a 3-acre native pollinator garden! They will convert a retired hayfield into a space that will benefit local pollinator species (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.) and serve as space available to the community for public recreation.

This garden will host a variety of native Wisconsin grasses & wildflowers designed to support the pollinators’ nesting, laying, and foraging needs year-round. This space will mitigate stressors and enrich populations while transforming the garden into an education & community-accessible space! It will be open to the public, filled with opportunities to learn more about the plant & pollinator species that reside in the garden, Hummingbird & Butterfly gardens to explore. It will be available as a venue for photographers, outdoor weddings, outdoor classrooms, and other programs.

Bona Fide Juicery will be using National Pollinator Week as an opportunity to contribute to this garden! We will donate $1 from every slice of our Pollinator toast sold from June 20th to June 24th to the Memory Lanes Pollinator Garden! Supporting the species that provide us with many of our ingredients & help sustain our environment is extremely important to us. Stop in this week & grab a slice to help us support this project!