Pollinators around the world are in a state of decline due to loss of habitat, pesticide use, climate change, parasites, and diseases. Among these vulnerable pollinators are honeybees. Though not native to the United States, honeybees have become crucial to pollinating many of our crops: 80 percent of all flowering plants and over 130 food crops are pollinated by honeybees. And, of course, they produce honey! 

In an effort to support the honeybee population and provide educational opportunities to the community, Riverview Road Apiary and Chillicothe Public Library are working together to install a honeybee hive on the library property. The City of Chillicothe was also instrumental in this process, adopting a special resolution allowing the library to move forward with this project. 

The bees will arrive in mid-April, and their new home will be in the patio garden. You’re invited to come by and watch our key food pollinators work this summer! The library will also be hosting a number of informational programs about honeybees. Luke Harvey will present an introduction to the library bees on May 24 at 6:30pm and discuss honeybees further on June 28 at 1pm. At the library’s Family Storytime on June 27 at 6pm, he will talk about life as a beekeeper and read a story. 

More information about the library programs is available at www.chillipld.org or by calling 309-274-2719. You can also keep your eye on the library’s social media to see when hive maintenance is happening, and drop by to watch the process!