East Central Illinois Master Naturalists just formed a Pollinator Taskforce. They are focused on getting more pollinator plants into the community and planning programs associated with pollinators and pollinator plants.

The Extension team created some wonderful handouts that have native plant suggestions for 5 types of habitat. We have been handing those out like crazy. PDFs can be found at (https://extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/pollinator-pockets).

We have the pollinator pocket program (see link above)

Educational Programs held (just ECIMN, does not include programs organized by master gardener programs):

March 18, 2019 – Making Pollinator Habitat Work on the Modern Landscape

May 16, 2019 – Wildflowers

July 15, 2019 – Champaign Prairie Areas

July 22, 2019 – Buzz on Native Bees

August 19, 2019 – Illinois Monarch Project

January 27, 2020 – Native Plants in the Landscape

They just had a table at the Mudpuppy festival and had information on pollinators for children

The Master Gardener program in Vermilion County is mostly organic (unless something crazy happens). The Master Gardeners in Champaign put in a native pollinator garden last year at the IDEA garden on campus.

In the training for MG and MN we talk about pollinators, native plants, and pest management.

The students on the Bee Campus committee met to discuss their plans for this year.

From: White, Morgan
Sent: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 7:47 PM
To: bee-campus@lists.illinois.edu
Subject: [bee-campus] Bee Committee meetings

Hello Bee Committee,

The student chairperson, Sara Mason, met with me, Brent Lewis, and Vince Spagnola today. We talked about the signage plans, committee meetings, funding options, potential events, and tracking progress (such as meeting notes) on the iCAP Portal.

We also set up this email list, so Sara can let the faculty and staff members know when a committee meeting is planned. Next time she calls a meeting, she will send it to this list. 

Thanks!

Morgan 

We have bought the bees and hives, installed the bees, and built the fence around the hives. The bees were not established enough to take much honey from them so we stayed on the safe side and allowed the bees to keep all their honey for overwintering. Recently we bought two more hives and are hoping to split our current hives to have a total of 4 hives at the sustainable farm. As the bees now have foundation built up they should start producing more honey and brood than last year, and we are expecting to be able to harvest ample honey next Fall.

• The first meeting was held on 1/31/2018 with the full committee, and the agenda focused on the overall plans for 2018. The chair reviewed the responsibilities of the committee and delegated responsibilities to each committee member.
• At the 2/14/18, 3/7/18, and 3/28/18 meetings, we planned the content and display of the Bee Campus web page. All code and design were done by two student committee members.
• At the 2/21/18, 3/21/18, and 4/22/18 meetings, we planned the first annual pollinator-awareness event. It was decided that the event would be a film screening and trivia night.
• The integrated pest management plan was developed via email exchanges.
• At the 5/10/18 meeting, we planned the habitat plan and permanent signage.

The current Bee Campus committee at the U of I is working to develop a University Habitat Plan and official web page this semester (Spring 2018). In addition, with funding from the SSC, we will be installing pollinator signage on campus this year. A goal is set to submit our first application for certification by June 2018.