Why We Need Pollinators In Southern Oregon

By Caryn Gehlmann

Without pollinators, we don’t have plants. And without plants we can’t make essential oils. So here at e3 we love the opportunity to educate ourselves on why we need pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, beetles and how we can support them. Through one of our local customers, we recently connected with an amazing non-profit organization, Pollinator Project Rogue Valley (PPRV), and learned what they’re doing to support pollinators here in Southern Oregon.

It turns out PPRV headquarters are just a couple blocks away from our office in Phoenix, Oregon. Four of us from our e3 team took a class by Suzie Gruber that they were hosting, Herbal Skin Care 101, which focused on using pollinator plants in tinctures and salves for skin care. I want you to benefit from their expertise as well so you can learn what you can do to support pollinators in your own backyard! So here’s my interview with Kristina Lefever, the President of PPRV for you to enjoy.

What is the mission of Pollinator Project Rogue Valley?

PPRV is working to raise the awareness of everyone in the Rogue Valley about pollinators and the critical role that bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and hummingbirds play in the world around us. We want people to know there is more to the word “bee” than the honeybee. Did you know there are more than 500 species of native bees in Oregon alone? Without these pollinators, we would be missing most of the food we eat every day – many fruits, nuts, and vegetables, even milk and meat, would disappear if there were no pollinators. And, most of the wild trees, shrubs, and flowers we enjoy here in the Valley would not be able to reproduce. We also educate people that pesticides are bad news for pollinators and people, especially the systemic pesticides called neonicotinoids.

Why did you become involved in PPRV?

In 2014, Talent had just become the second Bee City USA in the country, with help from PPRV. So, I joined the board, because I wanted Ashland (where I live) to bee-come the third Bee City USA in the country. We missed the goal by just a bit, but the good news is Ashland is the 5th BCU in the country and the second in the Valley! Phoenix and Gold Hill went on to become the 3rd and 4th in the Valley. There are now 64 BCUs nationwide. One of PPRV’s goals is to help anyone who wants their city to become a Bee City USA. Each of the 4 BCU chairs are on our board: Dolly Warden from Talent, myself from Ashland, Sharon Schmidt from Phoenix, and Lee Finney from Gold Hill. We are hoping Medford will be next! You can learn more about the national program at www.beecityusa.org.

What is the situation for pollinators here in the Rogue Valley?

We want people to realize how critical habitat is for supporting pollinators. As the Valley becomes more and more developed, there are fewer and fewer ‘natural’ areas. So we have to consider the types of plants we choose for our yards and landscapes. Are they natives? Do they support the pollinators by providing flowers with pollen and nectar? Or do they act as host plants – such as caterpillars that turn into butterflies, or for hoverflies, whose larvae are great aphid eaters?

What can people here in the Rogue Valley do to support pollinators?

The short answer is “plant plants”. The long answer is plant your yard or landscape so you have plants blooming all year long, from February through October, that support the pollinators in some way. Native plants are best, but there are some fabulous non-natives that are excellent long bloomers.

Here are some additional tips:

• Remember that some pollinators, like butterflies, need host plants to eat so plant extras for caterpillars to eat!
• Have a place for bees and butterflies to obtain moisture.
• Don’t use pesticides, even for weeds.
• Allow your garden to be a little messy. Because pollinators and other beneficial insects need places to nest and overwinter, leaving the leaves, stalks and stems of last years growth, and areas with bare soil and long grasses will help ensure the pollinators return to your yard in the spring.

We have resources on our website at pollinatorprojectroguevalley.org that can help people choose the best plants for their landscapes that also help support the pollinators. And we are always looking for more information to add to the list!

We are an all-volunteer organization and so we are always looking for people with creative ideas who would like to help us spread our message. We share an office at The Pollination Place (107 W. First Street) in downtown Phoenix, with Beyond Toxics and Center for Creative Change. We invite people to stop in and see us. (We’re not always in the office, so you might want to call ahead.)

If people want to plant an aromatherapy garden, which plants are good for pollinators?

I don’t know much about aromatherapy, but I do know that many of the plants that we think smell good are also great pollinator plants. Mint for instance is a bee magnet, as is rosemary, lavender, basil, oregano, and thyme, especially the red creeping variety. Fennel attracts all sorts of native bees, pollinating flies, and beetles. I also see butterflies on these plants.

What about using pollinator plants to make tinctures and salves? Any recommendations?

Calendula is one of the best plants for skincare, and is a great plant for the garden. Not only is it good pollinator plant, its bright yellow or orange flowers just make every garden better. And it self seeds, so you can just let it go around your garden and bee happy!

Why is it important for people to avoid pesticides?

First, you could write for days on this subject. Second, the word pesticide encompasses more than just a killer of pests like insects. If you look up the definition, there is a long list of what I call “’cides” that are categorized as pesticides. Most of the products that people fall into using are into the categories of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. And keep in mind many of the herbicides and fungicides are as equally toxic to pollinators and other beneficial insects as insecticides! Think about how their tiny bodies, some almost microscopic, can be impacted in the short-term or the long-term.

Avoid the “cides” to keep the pollinators alive. There is also mounting evidence that so many of the products people have used for decades not only cause cancer in humans and dogs, but also kill pollinators, fish, birds and more. Safer products and methods are becoming more and more available. And, yes, healthy soil that grows healthier plants will have fewer pests and weeds, so it’s just as important to not use synthetic fertilizers as it is to not use synthetic insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Looking for more information? A great resource is beyondpesticides.org.

What about natural substitutes for pesticides perhaps essential oils?

I know clove, spearmint, neem, and some other oils are used in non-toxic pesticide products. You still have to be careful – the products will kill bees if the insect touches the oil when it’s wet, and I’ve read that even these “good” products may have a negative impact on the good guys in the garden. If at all possible, I recommend waiting to see if and when a natural predator deals with the pest insect. And remember, the good bugs need bad bugs to eat!

I’m excited to take what I’ve learned from the amazing folks at PPRV to plant my own aromatherapy garden at my lavender farm. I need to keep my bees happy so we can continue to make local lavender oil! If you live in Southern Oregon, please come out to Lavender Fields Forever this summer to meet our e3 team. We will be opening June 15th – check our website for our hours. And don’t forget we love hearing from you! You can contact us or join us on Facebook with your feedback.