Category Archives: Environmental Youth Alliance

Group 17 – Environmental Youth Alliance – Planning for Pollinators

Some exciting last-minute progress is happening for group 17 as answers from the Vancouver Parks Board are finally coming in! There is some keen interest from one of the commissioners for setting up a native bee friendly space in Queen Elizabeth Park as part of their Greenest City initiative. The proposed bee space will act as one of the several pollinator hotspots across west and east Vancouver to increase the viability of urban agriculture. This is not the first time the VPB has partnered with the Environmental Youth Alliance – a few years ago they together established a native bee promoting site at Fraserview Golf Course. While group 17 will not get the chance to directly be involved with the Queen Elizabeth Park site, they are definitely excited to have had the chance to get the idea started.

Kat.

Group 17 – Environmental Youth Alliance – Planning for Pollinators

The purpose of this project is simple: to compile experience, opinions, and insights of urban farmers on the use of native pollinators (more specifically with bees). The long term goal is much more complex and involves the EYA using the previous information for planning bee-friendly urban gardens throughout Vancouver with connecting corridors to increase the native bee populations. This is all very appealing in concept and the group members are enthusiastic for what this could do for Vancouver’s flourishing agriculture. There is, however, some disappointment that collecting data is all that they are doing – no analyzing, no implementation, no involvement other than discussions with farmers. The excitement was ramped up a bit with the volunteering where group members got the chance to participate in planting apple trees, something that can be enjoyed by the community for many years to come. One group member mentions that it was a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests and views. Unfortunately the excitement plummeted down again during the weeding session. We all agree that weeding is important, but when it comes down to it weeding is weeding, especially when it’s in the rain.

Kat.