In order for the addition of a second honey bee hive at the LFSOG to be as ecologically viable as possible, the following recommendations should be considered:
Regarding honey bee forage, LFSOG should endeavor to plant flowers that are preferred by honey bees, and flowers that are morphologically distinct- this will increase honey bee efficiency. The chart below provides an outline of beneficial flower additions.
| Plant | Bloom Time | Grown at the LFSOG |
| Oregon Grape | February – April | |
| Alfalfa | Early – Mid Spring or Fall | |
| Buttercup | March – May | ✓ |
| Centaurea | March – May | |
| Sunflower | March – May | ✓ |
| Foxglove | April – June | |
| Red-flowering Currant | April – June | |
| Comfrey | April – August | ✓ |
| Cherry | Late April | |
| Raspberry | Mid Spring | |
| Russian Sage | Mid Spring | |
| Buckwheat | Mid – Late Spring | |
| Basil | Late Spring | |
| Blueberry | Late Spring – Summer | |
| Apple | Late Spring – Summer | ✓ |
| Oceanspray | June – October | |
| Borage | June – October | |
| Yarrow | June – October | ✓ |
| Lavender | July – September | |
| Aster | July – September | |
| Mint | August – September | |
| Lupine | Mid Fall | |
| Witch Hazel | December – February | ✓ |
| Phacelia | Fall – Spring | ✓ |
To promote bee health, the primary goal of the LFSOG should be to ensure that the honey bees have adequate forage to maintain their own food supply (honey reserve). It is also critical that there is enough honey (90 pounds) left in the hive over the winter. Supplemental feeds should minimized: this will promote bee health and prevent disease in the colony.
Positive interaction between honey bees and native pollinators reveals that the LFSOG should support native pollinators: the presence of native bees increases the pollination efficiency of honey bees. Moreover, native bees such as mason bees and bumblebees offer great pollination services because of their adaptation to this climate and their ability to practice buzz pollination. The LFSOG can support native bee species by incorporating local plants and mason bee houses. A list of ways to incorporate native plants and habitat can be found under “Other Bee Species”.
In terms of pollination services, the agroecosystem of the LFSOG does not demonstrate a need for an additional honey bee hive; however, if a second honey bee hive is added, consideration should be given to the style of hive. The most ecologically viable choice would be a hive that mimics the natural habitat of the honeybee; therefore, a Warré hive would be the most appropriate choice.
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