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A haven no more? A bee sanctuary at UC Davis faces funding crunch
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08.08.19
by Debbie Arrington
resource for anyone interested in creating their own pollinator garden. “Part of our challenge, our primary mission is education,” Casey said. “There aren’t many grants for education in gardening.” Colony Collapse Disorder, which killed billions of honey bees, is what originally prompted The Haven’s creation. In 2008, A bee is at home in the Haagen-Dazs an estimated 60 percent of hives nationwide Honey Bee Haven. were lost to this mysterious malady. “Honey bees still have issues, but it’s the native bees that are of much more concern Honey bees aren’t the only ones at risk. So is at the moment,” Casey said. “Honey bees their Yolo County haven. are essentially managed livestock; native bees live Officially named the Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee pretty much solitary lives.” Haven, this buzzing sanctuary on the UC Davis Native bees are threatened by development campus is facing a funding crunch. Known on because about 70% nest underground. “A housing campus simply as The Haven, it needs to raise at development comes in—who knows how many least $15,000 to continue to offer its bee-friendly nests are destroyed?” she said. tours and classes through the end of the year. Adding insult to an already tough situation, “It’s an ongoing concern,” said Christine someone recently broke into The Haven’s office Casey, who manages The Haven. “We have no and stole about $700 in donations and equipment, dedicated source of funding. It’s a little puzzling. including power cords, a battery charger, volunAt this point, over $1 million has been invested in teers’ hats and gloves and even the wheels off a this garden.” hose cart. Most of that money came from sources other “They pried open the lock on the door with a than its original benefactor, ice cream maker crowbar,” Casey said. “They really went through Haagen-Dazs. It donated the initial $125,000 to everything.” establish this pollinator garden, which opened in To help out, the Sacramento Area Beekeepers 2009 on west campus next to the Laidlaw Honey Association launched a GoFundMe page for The Bee Research Facility. The company also chipped Haven. Other donations of materials as well as in some money used for salaries. cash have started to come in. “It’s been more than five years since we’ve had Casey plans more fundraising, including an open any contact with them,” Casey said. “We’re still house Sept. 21. She’s optimistic that The Haven can calling it ‘Haagen-Dazs’ in absence of anything continue to be a welcoming home to bees. else. But it leads a lot of people to assume we’re “This is such a unique resource,” she said. supported by them.” “We’re actually getting more visitors every year. Instead, Casey cobbles together grant money That’s what’s frustrating; we’re growing.” Ω and small donations to keep the gates open. Thousands of visitors each year drop by The Haven to see the bees and the garden they love; Debbie arrington, an award-winning garden writer and lifelong admission is free. Feeding about 80 different gardener, is co-creator of the sacramento Digs gardening blog and species of bees, about 260 different kinds of flowwebsite. ering plants grow on the half acre. It’s a wonderful