Habitate Sponcership

Habitat Sponsorship

Habitat Sponsorship

We have had many people ask us how can they help us with our pollinators. There are two ways: Hive sponsorship and Habitat sponsorship. As this is being written we are still working on some items with the habitat sponsorship program. We will keep you informed.

Prior to the introduction of honeybees, native solitary bees were the most ubiquitous bee pollinating in North America; today these species pollinate side-by-side in most ecosystems. Unlike the social, hive-nesting honeybees, solitary bees nest as individuals. Most are ground nesters like bumble bees and sweat bees, but many, namely mason bees and leafcutter bees, are cavity nesters. Cavity nesters lay their eggs in small holes–like those in wood made by birds and insects, or in dried hollow reeds or stems. They start by filling the back of the cavity with nectar and pollen then depositing an egg and sealing it with mud or chewed leaves in a mason-like fashion.

There are more than 4000 native species of bee in North America, many of which can be found working alongside the well-known honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollinating plants. The honey bee, while very important to agriculture, is a nonnative species; it was brought to North America from Europe and is now considered “naturalized” (established and widespread in the wild, though not indigenous). Bees are incredibly busy, not just collecting resources for themselves but also pollinating trees, shrubs and wildflowers, as well as most agricultural products –it is estimated they are responsible for pollinating one third of our food supply. With the recent decline in many pollinator species, and an increase in public concern, it is important to understand the ecology of these beneficial insects so we can better provide appropriate habitat for them

Bees are one of the most important pollinators in the world. They play a huge role in supporting humans. Pollinators maintain genetic diversity, boost biodiversity, help plants reproduce, increase fruit yields and enable the dispersal of species into new regions. This means that they support fauna and flora at each level of the food chain. . To make one pound of honey, bees have to fly 55,000 miles & tap two million flowers! Not only are honey bees incredible pollinators, they also are the only insect in the world to produce food that humans can eat. Please note as bees forage over long distances (3 miles). Organic honey is rare, not imposable. If you see honey labeled organic ask questions. We do everything in our power to limit exposure, but we cannot control everything. We raise our bees sustainably.
Although many of us think they are a nuisance, every third bite of food we take is made possible thanks to bees. Which is why they need our help. Since the 90’s, the worldwide bee population has been dramatically declining. There are many possible reasons for this decline, but the main reason is the usage of pesticides. New study shows that we have lost 75% of our insects.

Researchers know that better habitat attracts more pollinators. Yet simply planting more flowers may not solve the problem of pollinator declines. Many ecologists agree that restoring plant diversity to depleted landscapes is key to bolstering bee populations. The presence of plants that flower at different times during the spring, summer and fall helps to ensure that pollinators have food throughout the growing season and that everyone can find something they like to eat

Where has all their habitat gone?

Throughout the world, there have been significant losses in bee habitat. In the United States, grassland prairies, once rich habitats supporting pollinators and wildlife, are now functionally non-existent. Recent surveys suggest close to a 99.9% loss over the last 150 years, primarily due to increasing agricultural intensification

Bees survive on nectar and pollen from flowering plants. Large-scale landscape change, loss of wildflower-rich prairies to crop monoculture or conversion of open lands to suburban development, for instance, is a threat to pollinators and may play a major role in declines by making it harder for bees and other pollinators to find a meal.

Similar losses are occurring in other ecosystems that once supported pollinators. Increasing human populations are driving ever-increasing conversion of wild areas for farmland, suburban, and urban purposes. With these areas come other threats to bees, including increased pesticide use, poor habitat management practices (mowing down wildflowers before they are able to set seed), and other varied problems that come with living alongside increasingly dense human populations.

How does your sponsorship help? The habitat sponsorship program helps displace some of the cost of plant and maintenance of pollinator habitat. It takes three to five years for an area we plant to look good and provide food for pollinators. Yes we raise honeybees and our plantings may take a lean toward them. We believe in biodiversity and that we need all insects. Even as we say bees we are including all beneficial insects. Such as butterflies, bats and predatory insects just to name a few.

This means that we need to provide, for all of them:

Continuous food supply, when insects are active in Michigan in spring, summer, and fall

Cover from bad weather and other things

Places to raise young, including bare ground, and bee houses, as well as snags and other logs for wood-nesting bees, bat boxes, and much more.

Maintenanceof this habitat, Ensuring invasives don’t take root and more

We will be sending you news letters on the progress of the hive and habitat. I would like to say weekly, there are times of the year that may not be possible.

We will need some information from you:

1) Your email address for newsletters about the habitat.

2) Your mailing address. Some items may need to be sent to you.

3) Signed Acknowledgement of Risk and Rewards. See below

Your privacy is important to us. Your information will not be sold or shared with any one. Any questions or concern please contact us.

Payment Methods:

We are in the process of setting up our website to accept payments but have not yet completed it. We can accept credit cards/debit cards over the phone or in person or send us a check. We use Pay Pal and can accept all cards they except. Make checks out to Kusar Farms LCC. We will ask for your address, phone number and email address. This will help us contact you if we need to. Also to send email newsletters up dates

When you sponsor habitat you will receive the following:

Habitat Sponsorship Levels:

Pussy Willow Level

Other $$ (What do you want to send)

At this level you will receive