Earth Day Pollinator Project in Benton, AR

Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our Benton, Arkansas facility started making plans for Earth Day and for continued employee engagement throughout the summer.  One part of the plan was to start an employee garden to grow fresh herbs and vegetables.  For the garden to be productive, the team considered bringing in a couple of beehives and planting wildflowers.

While we must postpone the employee garden until next year, our maintenance personnel (following facility social distancing guidelines) moved forward with as much of the project as possible.  Before Earth Day, they were able to sow 2 acres of wildflowers.  Additionally, they planted 50 live oak and 50 poplar seedlings!  And now this week the bees have arrived.  Two of our employees will serve as on-site beekeepers.  We will check back in later this summer to check on our wildflower fields and look at all pollinators, including the bees, butterflies and birds.