I’ve been following climate connectors–a bird we love, the food we eat, our faith, families, and businesses–and sharing hopeful conversations on climate and community around the world. Producing the Climate Listening Project has been such a wonderful experience – collaborating with amazing organizations, traveling to beautiful places with great people, meeting new friends, learning about good things people are doing, and sharing stories along the way.

Renaissance Asheville Hotel came up with an idea to have the beloved honey bee introduce all the ways that pollinators are important to the natural areas we love, the food we eat, and so many of the things we appreciate and need. So, they reached out to collaborate on a video for the ‬Renaissance Hotels Global ‪#‎DayofDiscovery‬ and kickoff of National Pollinator Week. I love the Renaissance Asheville Hotel because they have honey bees on their roof and pollinator gardens on their property downtown. Plus, I thought it would be fun to share something fun from Asheville, North Carolina, a city I love very much.

Honey bees are loved by many people around the world – which makes them a great connector not only to Asheville, and the climate conversation, but also to introduce thousands of other pollinators. There are so many bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators that are important. Lots of groups and community members have been working together to create a pollinator-friendly environment in downtown Asheville. Check it out:

 

Asheville was the inaugural Bee City USA and since launching in 2012, all these cities have followed as well, planting native plants and considering pesticides to create sustainable pollinator habitats:

Talent, Oregon, Carrboro, North Carolina, Matthews, North Carolina, Ashland, Oregon, Clarkson, Kentucky, Hendersonville, North Carolina, Seattle, Washington, Phoenix, Oregon, Wilmington, North Carolina, Charter Township of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Ypsilanti, Michigan, Garden City, Idaho, Hales Corners, Wisconsin, Lake City, South Carolina, Gillette, Wyoming, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Mequon, Wisconsin, Beeville, Texas, Durham, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, Highland Beach Partnership, Maryland, Fort Bragg, California, and Decatur, Georgia.

Plus, Bee City Canada has launched in Toronto!

And, Bee Campus programs are in effect at Southern Georgia Tech, College of San Mateo, and Oregon University.

Many thanks to K23 Media for creating this sweet short and beautiful photos! And, thanks to Bee City USA, Monarch Rescue, Center for Honeybee Research, ZaPow, Tupelo Honey Cafe, Twin Leaf Brewery, The Nightbell, Chestnut, Sovereign Remedies, Asheville Bee Charmer, Asheville City Market, LaZoom Tours, Isaac Dickson Elementary School, artist Brittany Tantura, and all in Asheville who were a part of this project. We are excited to feature Kat Williams as the voice of the Honey Bee.

Since this video is focused on solutions, here are a few background articles on the topic:

“How climate change is messing with bees” via Smithsonian Magazine

“Bumblebees being crushed by climate change” via Science Magazine

“Climate change may disrupt monarch butterfly populations” via Scientific American Magazine

“Bees are losing their habitat because of climate change” via TIME

“Climate change is disrupting flower pollination, research shows” via The Guardian

Share your climate story and see what other people are saying on Facebook @ Climate Listening Project.