Celebrate pollinators at the Farm at the Arb

Great River Energy is proud to sponsor the Honey Harvest & Flowers for Pollinators at the Farm at the Arb on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Farm at the Arb is a special section of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen focused on food, farming and sustainability.

This summer event invites visitors to explore the important role pollinators play in our environment while enjoying hands-on activities, local flavors and family-friendly fun.

The sponsorship is part of Great River Energy’s Pollinator Strong initiative, which represents the cooperative’s commitment to planting and restoring pollinator habitat.

At Honey Harvest & Flowers for Pollinators, guests can learn about honey harvesting, cut flowers to create their own farm bouquets in the field, taste honey in the Myers Education Center kitchen, visit pollinator-themed selfie spots, stop by the Luce Line Brewing Beer Garden and meet a beekeeper.

Visitors can also take part in the Farm Crawl: Pollinator Quest, a self-guided scavenger hunt available daily throughout the summer. Perfect for all ages, the interactive activity features six pollinator-focused stops near the Bee Center.

The importance of pollinators

More than 85% of the world’s flowering plants — including the plants that produce fruit, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, nuts and spices — need pollinators such as birds, bees and butterflies. However, these pollinators are declining due to a variety of threats, especially changes in how land is used. 

Because Great River Energy has a big footprint in Minnesota, the cooperative has been able to develop more than 300 acres of pollinator-friendly land in Minnesota.

Pollinator Strong educates people about the importance of pollinators and how to protect them. It also offers resources for and financial support to landowners who want to create or enhance pollinator habitats on their property.