There are close to 450 different bee species in New York State, so why does everyone focus on the invasive non-native honeybee?!? Join bee rancher, farmer, and award-winning jammer Laura Klahre (Blossom Meadow Farm) for an eye-opening alternative pollinator discussion of Long Island’s native bees, flies, wasps, butterflies and moths. In our increasingly suburbanized landscapes, herb gardens serve as critical habitat for pollinators (food, shelter, and place to raise their young) as well as corridors to connect patches of natural habitat increasing gene flow, promoting reestablishment of locally extinct populations, and increasing species diversity within otherwise isolated areas. Native pollinators are not domesticated and need to be coaxed/managed to supercharge the pollination of your garden, farm and forest – herb gardens are a great management tool!
Laura Klahre’s work life has spanned the Dept of Interior, Peconic Estuary Program, and The Nature Conservancy before incorporating her farm in 2009. Blossom Meadow Farm in Southold NY specializes in growing organic berries to make award-winning jam (national Good Food Awards, International Flavor Awards, World Jam Festival) and raising mason bees for sale as cocoons. Now widely coined as Regenerative Agriculture, Blossom Meadow Farm embraces nature to improve soil health and maximize seed set, resulting in consistent harvests of premium fruit each year.
Non-members pay $5/person at the door. Please consider becoming a member and enjoy our programming all year long. Seasonal parking rates apply.