Buzzing for Change: Outreach program aims to educate and protect honeybee population

Buzzing for Change: Outreach program aims to educate and protect honeybee population

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - A Blue Ridge, Virginia beekeeper is working to protect bees through her Honeybee Outreach Program. It’s helping people learn about these important pollinators and how to combat the decline in bee populations.

Since its start three years ago, the program has become popular, allowing communities to see first-hand how bees impact our lives.

“What do they do for us outside of the hive?” asked Heritage Apiary owner Vasilia McCrady.

“They pollinate,” said Colonial Elementary School students. Honeybees play a vital role in our communities.

“If we didn’t have the bees, we wouldn’t have all those fun things that we do, the things that we eat or even the clothes on our back,” said McCrady.

McCrady is on a mission to educate people about honeybees. Her interest sparked after seeing how her uncle in Greece cared for his bees.

“There is very much a more symbiotic relationship. They appreciate them, they respect them. Whereas here we seem to be frightened by them. So it was my main goal to get out there and touch the lives of people to let them know the importance of bees,” said McCrady.

But there’s nothing to be afraid of. McCrady explains bees don’t want to sting us because they die when they do. They just get scared and react to our actions. Bees work hard to pollinate crops and produce honey. We reap the benefits of both.

“They fill every single cell and then they put a cap on it, like you and I do with our water bottles so we don’t spill it; that’s how they store it for wintertime. Bees worked their whole lives to make this and when I harvest it, I’m only lucky to get maybe two jars out of it,” said McCrady,

The Honey Bee Outreach Program is for all ages, teaching about life in the hive, bees’ environmental contributions, and beekeeping basics. WDBJ7 tested students at Colonial Elementary about what they learned.

“We learned that the girl bees do all the work and the boys just get kicked out,” said Kaleeza Johnson.

“We learned about how to keep bees safe. Leave them alone and try not to step on them,” said Ellie McCullen.

“It was funny when they throw up in both of their mouths,” said Virginia Crowd. This act is done to transfer nectar back and forth to eventually create the honey we eat.

“I think it’s great, because bees are in our kids’ environment, they’re misunderstood, and kids don’t know how it all works together, and so for them to learn this at a young age, I think is great. And who knows; we might have some future beekeepers in our midst,” said Colonial Elementary Principal Tammy Riggs.

If bees do all this work for us and the ecosystem, how can we protect these little creatures?

– Plant bee-friendly flowers

– Avoid using pesticides, herbicides, and other agrochemicals

– Stay calm: Don’t swat or spray bees

– Call a professional for swarm removal

– Support local beekeepers

McCrady said she has gone down the honey hole and is stuck. She simply cannot stop learning about bees.

The Honeybee Outreach Program hosts events year-round at schools, retirement communities, festivals, and local libraries. McCrady also hosts tours at Heritage Apiary where folks can dive into a working beehive.

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