Love Thy Pollineighbor – August 2018

The Jville Market was fluttering with excitement Sunday, July 8, for the Jacksonville Pollinator Society’s (JPS) 2nd annual Pollinator Appreciation Day Event.

JPS team members chatted with visitors while the children’s booth, run by our youth advocates, was abuzz with activity. Pollinator Project Rogue Valley (PPRV) educated folks about Nontoxic Rogue Valley, native pollinators, and the Buzzway, Southern Oregon Monarch Advocates (SOMA) inspired with monarch caterpillars munching on milkweed, and Southern Oregon Beekeepers Association (SOBA) delighted with an observation hive. Did you find the queen?

A big THANK YOU to:

  • The unbeelievably phenomenal Jacksonville Pollinator Society team who showed up, setup, stayed, and closed up: Sharon Belttary, Nancy Cyr, Lauren Kemple, Melinda Maginn, Adam Mull, Kristy Newell, Maretta Stiles, Steve Yancey, our youth activists Kjersti Mull, Adriana Mull, and two new youth volunteers, Sarah and Stella. I have immeasurable gratitude for these incredible individuals who, in addition to giving their time and passion, also contributed household items, homemade cookies, expertise, and tools to help make our event a success.
  • Martha Hess of the Jville Market for her enthusiastic support of our efforts.
  • Kristina Lefever and team (PPRV), Tom Landis (SOMA), Leslie Lundgren (SOBA), and all the worker bees who charitably shared their knowledge, time, and brilliance.
  • The Weatherly Inn of Medford, Three Sisters Midwifery of Jacksonville, and the Grimes-Barlow family for kindly sharing their tables, chairs, and canopy respectively.
  • Steve Yancey for generously donating lavender to help raise funds for JPS.
  • My husband, Scott, who unconditionally supports my pollinator endeavors.
  • Dozens of market vendors who enthusiastically participated in the pollinator scavenger hunt.
  • Neal and Kristen Beck of Little Heathen Honey for the super sweet donations—dozens of honey bears and beautiful beeswax molds!
  • Jamie Unger of Fresh Start Natural Beauty for donating lip-smacking beeswax lip gloss.
  • Diane Wallace for donating a cool beehive chalice to use for future events.
  • Medford Builder’s Exchange for their excellent copies and patient support.
  • Dozens of generous, local businesses and residents who have sponsored our project through donations.
  • The friends and neighbors who came out to support us.

Questions answered, conversations ensued, information shared, fun had, and it was all for the love of pollinators. If you missed it, we’ll bee back next year!