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APICULTURE
With global bee populations on the decline, apiculture is important to our regenerative model. Between 2020-2021, we have purchased 50 honeybee hives and 15 melipona beecheii hives as starter hives to practice apiculture on the farm. We plan to multiply these bee colonies into more than 300 hives placed in strategic points around the farm in the next 3 years.
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Bees are not only essential for crop pollination; they discourage destructive pests and act as bellwethers of ecosystem health. Raw honey from our hives also provides variety to our product mix and generates revenue.
Bee on citrus flower.
Melipona beecheii are the only bees known to pollinate vanilla, which could reduce need for hand pollination Honey bee swarms on our farm indicate a growing bee population.
Mulch with drip irrigation to conserve water
OTHER PRACTICES WE USE TO PROMOTE SOIL HEALTH:
• Shredded coconut husks to use as mulch and as a planting medium.
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Implemented low-till policy for annual fields. • Created design for compost operation to inoculate biochar and build soil microbiome.
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Planted nitrogen fixing cover crops • Applied agricultural lime to manage PH
Agricultural lime application Coconut husk shredder makes mulch and planting medium
In order to protect soil from sun and wind damage, we planted the nitrogen-fixing cover crop arachis pintoi in open spaces.
