Pollinator Project
Bees are an essential pollinator, vital to the health of the environment, food security, and human life. One out of every three bites of food people take is courtesy of bee pollination. The increased use of pesticides, fungicides and other environmental factors has caused a sharp nationwide decline in bee populations and other pollinators. Over an entire year, April 2023-April 2024, beekeepers in the United States lost an estimated 55.1% of their managed honey bee colonies. This is the highest loss rate reported since 2010-2011.
Our focus at ECI is to help rebuild and nurture the local bee population one hive at a time. We manage four European honeybee colonies and maintain our native pollinator garden at the Good Ground Heritage Garden . Our hope is to continue expanding our apiary and transforming the western shore of Shinnecock Bay into a safe haven for bees and other important pollinators in our community.
Under the guidance of Master Beekeeper Christopher Kelly, owner of Promise Land Apiaries, our current apiary supports a peak summertime population of about 250,000 bees! We use our hives and gardens as educational tools, spreading knowledge through hands on learning in ways to support the health of our local ecosystem.
SPONSOR A HIVE PROGRAM
To support the Pollinator Project, ECI raises funds through our Sponsor A Hive Program. This program gives community members an opportunity to help support our local bee population while learning about the inner workings of a beehive.
The cost to Sponsor A Hive is $500. Split the cost with a friend or family member!
Sponsors will receive a welcome email with information about the program, the beekeepers and your hive.
Your name/business will be posted on signage at the bee yard, included in ECI newsletters and on social media.
You will receive monthly email updates from your beekeepers with pictures and educational information during the season.
Sponsors will have the opportunity to join a hive inspection and take part in our Honey Harvest event.
The sweetest perk is receiving 6-8 lbs. of local honey, in late summer/early fall, determined by the health of the hives*
*Our focus for the 2025 season is to make sure we leave the bees with sufficient food stores to survive winter. We have lowered the amount of honey from past seasons with the hope of achieving this. We appreciate your support and understanding for the recent change.
The Ecological Culture Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law. For each beehive sponsorship donation of $500, we are providing 6-8 lbs. of local honey with an estimated fair market value of $150-$200. The tax-deductible portion of your gift is $300-$350.
The initial costs for our pollinator project were sponsored by a generous donation from the Leo S. Walsh Foundation, and proceeds from our Organic Farm-to-Table Dinners. We are also grateful to Dora Hughes, the former manager of the Good Ground Heritage Garden, who installed the Monarch Waystation as a tribute to her late friend Joan, who shared a love for butterflies 🦋
Plants growing in our native pollinator garden:
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syrica)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
Blazing Star (Liatris scarlosa)
Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
Joe-Pye-Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
New York Aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novi-angliae)
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervlrens)
Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
The native pollinator garden includes a Monarch Waystation
The Pollinator Project also includes film screenings of the award-winning documentary More Than Honey. Learn more from our Film Screenings & Community Forums page.