The Sustainable Agriculture Research Education Center (SARE) has come out with another great publication that can be downloaded for free.

Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers and Conservationist is a full-color, step-by-step guide for rearing alternative pollinators such as bumble bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees and other bee species. Alternative pollinators become increasingly more important as the honey bee population continues to decline.

This book is great for:

• Beekeepers – with detailed information on biology, disease, pest and chemical susceptibility, and instructions on how to rear and manage
• Growers – for understanding the business of pollination, matching pollinators to crops, and other important pollination decisions
• Concerned Citizens – learn of the honey bee’s plight, what we can do to protect pollinators and our food systems

As air temperatures start to rise at this time of year, so too can the mosquito population. There are about 200 species of mosquitoes in the United States, and all require water to complete their life cycle.  Although mosquitoes are plant pollinators, they are generally considered a nuisance to humans and can transmit disease.

The Clean Water Act requires states to develop and implement nonpoint source pollution management programs. While these developments are making steps towards improving our water, mosquito management is often overlooked during the planning stages of these projects.

To learn how to integrate mosquito management and stormwater treatment, please read UC’s free publication Managing Mosquitoes in Stormwater Treatment Devices that explains options available for reducing health risks, lowers costs associated with abatement and lessening legal liability.

The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Within the organization there is a pollinator resource center. The center is a collaboration of the Xerces Society and Neal Williams at the University of California at Davis.

The pollinator resource center provides a lot of great information for everyone. In addition to the basics, the site covers:

• Ways to increase native bee populations at conventional agriculture sites
• A toolkit for organic farmers designed to educate about farming practices to reduce risk and harm to pollinators
• Pollinator habitat management, including prescribed burns and grazing areas
• Ways to increase pollinators in the garden
• The important role parks and golf courses can play in enhancing, restoring and creating habitat for these important creatures
• Resources for teachers

Fact sheets are found in the publication section of the website. They are great sources of information, and some of the links and titles are included below.

Native Pollinators on the farm: What’s in it for the growers? An overview of the contribution native bees make to crop pollination, and their value to agriculture.

Butterfly gardening. Learn how to convert your garden into a paradise for butterflies.

Plants for native bees in California. Learn which plants best support native bees in California.

The Pollinator Partnership, which includes the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, the National Gardening Association and the USDA has put together a great online curriculum titled Nature’s Partners: Pollinators, Plants, and You. The curriculum can be found at http://www.pollinator.org/curriculum/index.php.

The education materials are designed for children in grades 3-6; however, I imagine most of us can learn a great deal from the website. The background information contained in each module is written for educators. Adults interested in learning about pollinators themselves will find a wealth of knowledge for the taking!

In addition to the great educational information, the site has fabulous photos, instructions for a wide variety of activities, ideas for community service projects, links for further information, and much more.