Celebrating Pollinator Week 2022: Let's All Get Involved

Pollinator Week is an annual observance celebrated at the end of June. This special week, observed June 20 to 26, is meant to celebrate and educate on the importance of pollinators and encourage individuals and businesses alike to get involved in opportunities to support the well-being of pollinators.

Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, wasps and other insects. Pollinators transport pollen from plant to plant, enabling the plants to reproduce. Worldwide, humans depend on pollinators for crops we eat. In the U.S., about three quarters of the crops grown for food need help from pollinators!

Pollinators are Essential to Life on Earth

Plants are an essential part of life on Earth since without the help of pollinators, the majority of plants would not reproduce. They serve many roles, including being part of ecosystems, increasing oxygen levels, purifying water and preventing erosion, and are a source of food for both animals and humans.

Though most pollinators are small in size, their impact is large. Pollinators are hard at work every day, and whether we recognize it or not, we are extremely dependent on them, so we need to take care of them.

The Rodale Institute, located in Berks County, PA, is on a farm of more than 300 acres. The Rodale Institute is a leader in experimental organic farming and education. The Rodale Institute helps farmers transition to organic farming, conducts research on regenerative organic farming and furthers methods, and, provides consumer and community education around the importance of organic farming.

Your 2 Cents Program

Rodale's Your 2 Cents Program unites producers, consumers, researchers and educators to launch the next generation of farmers. Wedderspoon is proud to support this important initiative that has a longstanding impact on communities.

It Takes a Village to Support Pollinators

Humans rely on pollinators much more than most people realize. Without pollinators, we could not survive. So, it is important than we all do our part to support our precious pollinators.

There are countless things we can do, big and small, to support and protect pollinators. We encourage you to celebrate Pollinator Week by making a commitment to doing your part. Some ways you can support pollinators include:

• Plant a pollinator-friendly garden in your backyard, or, rally your neighborhood or township together to make a local park more pollinator-friendly.
• Provide water for pollinators by placing a small dish or fountain in your garden or yard. Bees and other pollinators will drink from it. However, note that it's important to ensure there is a landing spot for them, so they can drink the water without getting their feet wet.
• Buy all or more organic products, to support organic farming, which is least harmful to pollinators.
• Support local and national organizations that do important work to protect and support pollinators.

Though Pollinator Week is celebrated for just one week, we can celebrate the importance of pollinators every day! We hope you will join us in support of protecting pollinators today, and every day.