Encore Recording of Nature Speaks: Saving the Bees: What Does it Mean, and What Role do Honey Bees Play

Encore recording viewable for seven days.

The increasing popularity of backyard and urban beekeeping has brought up important questions of how to be a responsible beekeeper. Many people believe that the narrative of “saving the bees” is as simple as keeping a backyard beehive. What they don’t realize is that there is a complex ecosystem of native bees that need to be part of the conversation. We have over 4,000 species of native bees in North America that are in need of the same advocacy that we give to the honeybee. All of this begs the question: why do we keep honeybees?

The most obvious reason is for their honey, but the answer goes far beyond food production. They also serve as ambassadors for the countless native pollinators who don’t live in a colony we can easily access. Once people fall in love with the bees, they inevitably ask how they can help all bees? Professional urban beekeeper Grace Hart takes a close look at both honey bees and native bees, how to protect them and make sure they can coexist. This program is on partnership with the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission.

Grace will be presenting from the library's event room, please join us in the library or on Zoom.