by Stephen Barrett

GMO Soybean Yield Increases with Honey Bee Visits

GMO Soybean Yield Increases from Honey Bee Visits This is the first report showing that using honeybee (Apis mellifera) and wild pollinators complementary pollination can enhance soybean productivity (Glycine max). Current industrial production of soybean involves autopollination and high loads of pesticides. Therefore, growers have neglected possible biotic pollination despite suggestions that soybean benefit from insect pollinators. Reports advocating possible biotic pollination are based on experiments where bees are caged with flowering plants and the absence of pesticides, thus not in field conditions. Therefore, here we compared in field conditions soybean yield produced (1) independently…

by Stephen Barrett

Don’t BEE Afraid! HoneyFest Saturday, Sept. 10th

This post originally appeared in Contact with Kettering Community Magazine Fall 2016 Research has shown that the bee population has declined significantly since 2008 due to habitat loss, reduced food sources, pesticides, climate change, and bee diseases. But why should the average consumer care about an insect that is commonly feared and thought of as a nuisance? Bees are pollinators--insects that cause plants to make fruit or seeds. They assist plants in reproducing by carrying pollen from flower to flower. Many crops are dependent on pollinators including pumpkins, watermelons, pears, peaches, plums, apples, and blueberries.…

by Stephen Barrett

Countryside Park’s New Pollinator Garden

With financial support provided by the Levin Family Foundation, a new pollinator garden has been installed in Countryside Park on the Washington Township Recreation Campus. Included in the design are seventeen varieties of native plants, three butterfly houses, a bench, and stepping stones. The pollinator garden is located along the northwest edge of Countryside Park which runs behind Rec West, the Recreation Center and east of the Rec Center. Pollinator gardens help restore and maintain abundant and healthy populations of butterflies and bees that are essential to pollination. Why are pollinators so crucial for human…

by Stephen Barrett

Upcoming Community Events

Follow this link to check out these upcoming events in your local Dayton community! Pollinator Workshop at Brukner Nature Center on June 18th Pollinator Honey and Bee Festival at Whole Foods Dayton on June 25th

by Propolis Projects

Getting ready for Spring 2016; New videos and presentations on the way

The spring of 2016 will hold lots of new endeavors for Propolis Projects, including many new projects, community outreach, and lots of opportunities to volunteer and to learn about what is affecting pollinators in the Midwest. Also, we will be making some new additions to this website, so stay posted for more pictures, videos, information, and updates about the activities of Propolis Projects and volunteer opportunities. Here's a taste of what's to come in terms of media here: City of bees Light queen walking around Groomed Mites and Families of Mites