• Observation Hive: The Garden will purchase an Observation Hive to help with educating visitors and the community on the importance of honeybees and how they create food. This portable hive will allow The Garden education staff to take the hive “on the road” to the Garden’s classrooms or to local community outreach programs. Audiences will be able to view the honeybees at work safely and up close through the viewing area of the Observation Hive.

• Monarch Migration Day: The Garden celebrates autumn with family-friendly activities and programs each Sunday in October. In 2023, Monarch Migration will be the theme of one of the Sundays. Educational materials and take-home crafts will be provided.

    

• National Pollinator Week Activities: Spanning June 19–25, this year’s National Pollinator Week will include a variety of classes and drop-in activities for families.

    

• Pollinator Identification Signs: While the Garden places plant identification labels, this new signage will identify the commonly seen pollinators, whether bee, bird or other. These pollinator signs will be placed in the Hillside Pollinator Garden planting areas and provide information that connects the plant with its pollinator partner. The design will incorporate accessibility and inclusion sensitivity.

    

• Pollinator Adventure Backpacks: The Garden guests will be able to “check out” and use backpacks, sponsored by Giant Eagle, and their contents to explore Hillside Pollinator Garden. Reference books and other materials will be included in the backpack for families to take a deeper look at pollinators. The backpacks will help make the connection between pollination and food creation, one of the many important roles that pollinators fill for humans.

The Buzz About Bees & Food Production

As an organization committed to delivering fresh, high quality and sustainable foods to our Guests, Giant Eagle recognizes the role that pollinators play in food production. With almost 75% of the world’s food crop production dependent upon pollinators, it’s extremely important that businesses and communities alike take steps to protect the animals driving pollination.

This is especially true of the native and honey bee populations. Food supply is threatened every year by pesticide use, leading to the decline of our pollinators.
  

Giant Eagle recognizes that a variety of chemicals negatively impact pollinators, with the notable inclusion of the neonicotinoid and organophosphate families of pesticides. We're extremely proud that all our live plant suppliers are neonicotinoid - and glyphosate-free and that we no longer sell home gardening products that contain these toxic chemicals. Additionally, our company utilizes several community partnerships and unique product offerings to promote healthy pollination throughout our communities.