1.1 – A Moment that Matters

Introduction

Storyline

The Pollinators, a film directed by Peter Nelson and released in 2019, explores the complex network of beekeepers working to manage and regenerate bee populations. At an hour and 32 minutes long, The Pollinators focuses on Hackenberg Apiaries, a family-run beekeeping operation working on a national scale. Due to the rapid decrease of pollinator populations

as a result of loss of habitat, changes in climate and seasonality, and use of herbicides and pesticides, farmers across the nation are having trouble keeping their crops as there are not as many native honeybees as there once were. There are too many farms and not enough bees, so a lot of farmers are renting bees. In this case, beekeepers, like the Hackenbergs, load their hives onto tractor-trailers and haul them across state lines so they can pollinate crops right as they begin to flower.

Throughout the film, beekeepers, farmers, and entomologists are interviewed and all speak about the central role bees play in food production. They mention that one of every three bites a person eats was created as a result of pollination, and as the film goes on, the viewer sees plenty of examples of different crops that all need bees to produce their fruit.

Themes

The Pollinators covers a lot of ground throughout the film, both literally and figuratively. Most of the discussion is about how everything in agriculture and in nature revolves around pollination. This not only affects individuals but also entire food supplies and national food production. Overall, the main themes of the film are

-the importance of environmental conscientiousness as well as

-understanding how personal decisions can impact the greater good.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are simply unaware of where their food comes from and how it is produced. They have no idea the complex practices that go into large-scale farming and food production and are unaware of how vital bees and pollination are to the national food supply.

Microcultures

While the film looks at the microculture that is the beekeeping industry and how it impacts pollination as a whole, the two main groups within that microculture are the beekeepers and the farmers. While they are both on the same side in terms of advocating for pollination and understanding it’s importance, they look at pollination through slightly different lenses.

The farmers’ goal is to make money, to do which they have to have a certain yield for the season. This pressure to produce the biggest, best crops sometimes causes farmers to resort to herbicides and pesticides, among other management practices. They make sure their fields are void of any weeds or wildflowers and only care about production. This lack of natural farming methods leads to the death of a lot of native bees, which results in farmers needing to rent hives from beekeepers like the Hackenbergs.

 

 

 

While it is not overly common to see large-scale farming done while also being environmentally conscientious, some farmers are beginning to move in that direction. William Criswell of Lewisburg, PA has been committed to farming his fields with the environment and pollination in mind since the 1980’s, and his son, Lucas, has adopted these methods as well. In the film, the Criswells are interviewed and speak about the ways in which they make their farm more conducive to pollinators. In hopes of helping native pollinators and their own hives healthy, they plant cover crops like rye and allow native wildflowers to grow among them. Once the rye is harvested, they leave it to lay on top of the soil for the rest of the season so bees and other insects can use it for habitat and to pull pollen from the wildflowers. Lucas also brings up the issue that a lot of people do not understand where their food comes from and says that he hopes to help more farmers in their area adopt the same management practices they use on their own farms.

Additionally, the Criswell’s utilize something called a “pollinator strip,” which acts as a place for honeybees and other native bees to stop over while they are flying across their fields. In between crops, the Criswells plant a 10-15 foot wide strip of wildflowers in an effort to provide bees with more food and make their land more sustainable by not making it so “sterile.” They said that using this trip has not only made a noticeable difference in the amount of honeybees they see on their fields, but also gives them a better yield as they are promoting good pollinator health which in turn means that their crops are being better pollinated.

While the beekeepers are also invested in sustainable farming practices, they are also concerned by the complex network of pollination in the USA and how to keep their bee populations safe. Hackenberg Apiaries talked a lot about how there is such a short window for pollination for certain crops. Apples, for example, must be pollinated within a few days of blooming or the whole crop is lost. This means that when a beekeeper gets a call that hives are needed, they must immediately spring into action and get their bees to the farm ASAP.

This lifestyle of waiting for a call during harvest seasons and having to manage a national network of farming operations is one that is unique to this microculture of beekeepers and something that is very different from the routine of the average person’s life.

Another factor that beekeepers have to consider is the health of their hives and the perils that can come from having them travel around the continental USA. For example, one beekeeper mentioned the biggest risk that their hives face is mass deaths. While the farmers who rent the bees know not to use harmful sprays prior to the bee’s arrival, that is not to say that the farmer across the street or down the road didn’t spray their crops that week. Unfortunately, this can lead to an entire hive becoming infected which impacts the beekeepers as they have just lost their bees, but also the farmers because it prevents their crops from being pollinated.

Observations

Reactions

While I was watching this documentary, I gained a better understanding of how this international network of beekeepers and “man-made” pollination works. Prior to watching, I had a very good understanding of sustainable farming practices and the general information behind how pollination is important to food supplies and produce. While I did not grow up on a farm, I was in 4-H for many years and am very familiar with the impact pollination has on produce, land management, and large-scale farming operations. I also feel that I have a bit of a personal connection to this topic because my family has a bit of acreage that we manage using sustainable practices to provide habitat for native flora and fauna of Pennsylvania. The property is surrounded by farmland so we’ve planted wildflower mixes and cover crops as a way to help pollinators and promote better native pollinator health in an area where there may not be a lot available to native bees.

This documentary was also very encouraging to watch as it was refreshing to have a look into an industry that understands and cares about pollination and is making genuine efforts to help bees. So much of the USA is dominated by industry and has been fragmented so seeing various efforts to help bees was great.

Moment that Matters

The Pollinators was packed with meaningful moments but one that really stood out was the encouragement from beekeepers, entomologists, and farmers to do what you can to help pollinators. I feel that sometimes people aren’t motivated to do things that help when they are surrounded by people who aren’t willing to go out of their way to be more environmentally conscious. Toward the end of the film, there was a montage of all the interviewees saying how individuals can do their part to help bees. Whether that means buying local honey, getting your own hives, planting native species in your yard, or turning your lawn into a wildflower meadow, it all helps. I thought that was a very nice change of pace as it was encouraging to hear experts in the field say that doing what you can as an individual really can have a positive impact on the greater good.

 

1.2 – Microcultures

Within the complex network of national pollination, there are four main groups, or microcultures, within the microculture. In section 1.1, the main groups mentioned were the beekeepers and farmers. In that sense, farmers was referring to smaller, sustainable farmers who are “on the same side” as the beekeepers. For a sense of clarity, those initial farmers will now be referred to as “sustainable farmers.”

In addition to sustainable farmers, the other groups are the beekeepers, corporate/large-scale farmers, and entomologists/ biologists.

All of these groups contribute to this network of national pollination, and their interactions not only drive pollination and pollinator health, but also inform how the spaces are used throughout the film. Considering this network is so large and constantly moving, there is not such a concrete location to analyze. The following analysis is based on the ever-changing network, and points out consistencies that occur across different situations in the film.

Enacting Rights in Public Space

Access:

Since this microculture of beekeepers/ farmers is so niche and is a business, not much of it is public. One cannot visit an apiary or a farm on any given day. This is because so much is at stake for both groups. Beekeepers must maintain the health and safety of their bees, and farmers are in possession of their produce which sometimes totals to millions of dollars. Because of the nature of both sides of the business, none of the sites are accessible to the public. The one part of the equation that is accessible to the public is when produce hits the shelves in grocery stores. Although it is not universally accessible because a person has to pay for the produce, it is the part of pollination that is visible to the public and as a result of the network of microcultures.

Freedom of Action:

There is very little freedom of action within this process because it is all very scientific and specific. There is a set of steps farmers and beekeepers must follow to ensure the health of bees and success of crops. For example, beekeepers cannot switch the techniques they use to transport bees or keep them healthy as it risks the health of the hives. The same goes for farmers. Prior to the bees arriving, they must closely monitor the stage in which their produce is so they can time the arrival of the hives with when their crops begin to flower, and be sure to not use pesticides or herbicides within that window.  For both groups to ensure success, there is not a lot that can be altered in their processes.

Claim:

Carr’s theory of claim applies mostly to large farming operations in terms of land use. At one point in the film, the fact that 5% of all land in the USA is used to produce corn. Environmental experts then discuss how that is an absurd amount of acreage to be dedicated to a single crop that has a harmful environmental impact. This conversation then shifts to focus on large-scale farming operations in the Dakotas that have damaged and changed the landscape due to their expansion and the amount of space they occupy within the landscape.

Change:

Change is the theory that is the most relevant to these microcultures. The entire essence of farming is manipulating the landscapeand developing it to use for the production of crops. I would say that is a permanent addition to the landscape. This theory of change is also seen considering how beekeepers are constantly adding and taking away hives on different farms and across the country. While these are more abstract changes than furnishings in a public park, they still represent the ebb and flow of this network of microcultures.

 

Ownership and Disposition:

The two main forms of ownership in this film are the beekeepers owning their hives, but perhaps more relevant to the landscape is the farmers owning their land and their crops. With this land ownership comes great responsibility because not only do they have to understand how to farm the land, but they also must take care of it and use the help of beekeepers to maintain the health of the land and “pay it forward” by using sustainable farming practices and understanding the importance of the connection between themselves, their land ownership, and the role of pollinators and beekeepers.

Relationship Matrix:

Interactions Matrix:

 

1.3 Ecologies of Place

The Tip of the Iceberg

What?

This image is of a person buying a package of almonds at a supermarket. Perhaps they are just going to have them as a snack or maybe they’ll use them in a recipe, but the important part of this image is that the almonds are ready for consumption and are neatly packaged in an appealing little pouch. They are cleaned and prepped, and look extra perfect under the shiny lights of the grocery store. The label might say something like, “organic” or “locally grown” which could catch the eye of a shopper and encourage them to purchase the almonds even more.

How?

This person is simply buying the almonds at their supermarket, which requires little effort. Maybe they had to drive, walk, or take a bus or subway there, but the action of walking through the aisles and putting the almonds in their shopping cart isn’t too taxing. I imagine that the action of buying the almonds has a positive impact on the user as the almonds do look appealing and delicious, and I also imagine that the user is thinking of all the ways they could use the almonds when they get home. Maybe as they are scanning the pouch at self-checkout or on their trip home with their almonds they are dreaming up recipes or thinking of a salad or pastry they could put them in. Maybe they are so excited about their almonds that they couldn’t resist opening the package and enjoying a few handfuls on their trip home.

Why?

While this simple action of buying almonds at the supermarket is something that seems mundane and routine, the almonds themselves represent the tip of the iceberg, and represent the entire ecology of national pollination and food production. For those almonds to end up in a pre-packaged pouch on a shelf at the supermarket, they needed to go through seemingly endless steps and a lot of effort just to be produced. California produces 80% of the world’s almond supply and 100% of the United States almond supply, and large-scale tree nut and almond production operations do a lot for those almonds to end up in grocery stores.

Once the almond trees begin to flower, farmers have to immediately put in a call to beekeepers, like Hackenberg Apiaries, and tell them to get their hives to California ASAP. If the farmers do not keep a close eye on their crop and miss the pollination window, they lose millions of dollars worth of almonds. When the trees begin to flower, the bees arrive and are set loose into the fields to pollinate the flowers which will eventually turn into almonds. If that whole process is executed correctly, then the almonds are harvested, cleaned, packaged, and shipped to the company that divides them into the little pouches that are then sent on another tractor-trailer to the supermarket, where they are then placed onto the shelf.

While it is not a punishable crime for almond consumers everywhere to not have an understanding of what happened for these almonds to arrive at their local stores, it is a shame that there is not a bigger appreciation for the complex network of national pollination and farming. I imagine that very few people spend their trip back home from buying almonds thinking about what had to be done to get them onto that shelf, or being thankful for the health of bee and pollinator populations. The same goes for the entire produce department at the supermarket, and for many of the packaged items people buy. Thinking about almonds being the tip of the iceberg for understanding pollination makes me wonder, if people knew how essential pollinator health was to most foods they consume, would people be more inclined to buy from local farmers who use sustainable methods, or would it encourage them to plant pollinator-friendly plants in their backyards? While a better understanding of the network of pollination may not encourage everyone to care more about pollinators, it would at least help people appreciate pollinators.

1.4 Informing Design Through Ethnography

A Speculative Future Scenario Based on a Set of Formal or Informal Rule or Policy Changes

The main reason that “man-made” or supported pollination has to take place is due to the decline of native pollinator populations. This decline coupled with the exponential expanse of large-scale farming and development across the United States has left native pollinators with little habitat and few resources. While traveling hives, like the ones from Hackenberg Apiaries, allow for acres and acres of crops to produce fruit every year, supported pollination does not make the conditions for native pollinators any better. Supported pollination is a bit like putting a band-aid on a cut that needs stitches, it addresses the issue in that it acknowledges it and may provide a temporary fix, but until the problem is properly addressed, nothing is going to get better.

In order for real strides to be made to address the crisis that is native pollinator decline and loss of habitat, rules and policies must be put in place in an effort to make a real change. Part of the problem with large-scale farming and development is that there are no formal rules in place for how to support pollinator populations after the land has been changed. There are no ordinances that say “10% of all developed farm land must contain pollinator strips or native wildflower meadows,” and Homeowner Associations in new developments don’t tell residents that they have to plant something other than grass seed in their back yard.

I think this is precisely where the problem lies for pollinators and the decline of their populations and loss of their habitat. If everyone would just do their small part and make a small sacrifice by using some of their land or property to support pollinator populations, there would be at least a better chance that the decline could be stopped or at least slowed.

In a perfect world, the future scenario I would propose to help native pollinator populations would be to develop and enforce the following national policies to help pollinators:

1. 5% of the total acreage of all farmland in the USA must be dedicated to providing habitat for pollinators. This could be done by having pollination strips, plots dedicated entirely to wildflower meadows or general pollinator habitat, or by any other way the farmer would see fit, such as leaving the remains of crops after harvesting to provide cover for pollinators.  While this may seem like a big request, the impact it would have on native pollinator populations would be immeasurable. Having bits and pieces of pollinator habitat here and there would allow for a national network of pollination and would help to combat pollination deserts and habitat fragmentation.
2. All homeowners must have some form of pollinator habitat or food source on their property. With the expansion of development and increase in urban sprawl, new suburbs and developments are popping up all over the United States, and are wiping out all kinds of habitat and native plants useful to pollinators. Most of the time, when looking at a suburb or development, the only thing you see are the houses, paved roads, sidewalks, and driveways, and grass monocultures. These developments can sometimes go on for acres and acres and have no habitat or suitable food sources for pollinators.

Seeing that both of these new policies would be a big request as farmers would have to give up a small percentage of their possible yield and homeowners may think it is not fair for someone to dictate how they manage their property, it would be ideal if there were supplemental programs in place to help all of these efforts. The following are some ideas that could help establish these policies and make them more manageable and attainable for people:

1. Farmers would receive some sort of stipend or reimbursement for the land that they would be giving up for pollinators. Perhaps that could be from the FDA or the EPA or other similar government agency, whether that be state or federal, and would ease the burden on farmers.
2. Small scale farming operations and organic/ herbicide/ pesticide-free farms would be able to reduce their pollination acreage seeing as how they are already making an effort to use sustainable practices and help pollinators.
3. Homeowners would be able to receive free seed bundles and materials to make their own “bee hotels” from federal or state agencies to provide habitat for pollinators. By receiving seed packets of flowers native to their area, homeowners could put them in pots, raised beds, window boxes, or in small plots in their front and back yard so that they could enjoy the flowers and so pollinators would have a better chance of establishing a network of food and habitat in developments and in pollination deserts. Bee hotels, on the other hand, provide habitat for nomadic and solitary bees. These types of native bees do not have their own hive, but still need some form of shelter and something as simple as putting dried bamboo into some PVC piping can increase their chances of survival. The addition of both flowers and shelters for bees in developments and other monoculture situations would greatly benefit native pollinator populations
   

This image is from a PDF from the Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State, and shows how to install a bee hotel. The full PDF can be downloaded by following this link and downloading the PDF from the hyperlink listed as “Making a Solitary Bee Hotel.”

 

 

 

 

 

Development Before:                                                                       After:

Farmland Before:                                                                              After:

While these policies are not entirely likely to work as the general public is not very aware of the important role pollinators play in our ecosystems and in food production, the only way to begin repairing the damage done to pollinator populations is to implement rules, even if they seem overbearing or harsh. That is also why I think that another approach to the issue would be to implement some kind of curriculum in American public schools to teach the benefits of pollination and teach about where produce and much of our food supply comes from, and the role pollinators play in that. This new curriculum could also be implemented through some kind of outreach program, perhaps through land-grant or state universities in the same manner 4-H is run nationally. This would, hopefully, be very impactful as a new generation of people would be more aware of the important role pollinators play and would want to help care for them. Perhaps if more people were aware of the importance of pollinator populations, people would be more motivated to do their part in protecting bees.

Much of this fight for implementing policies to help pollinator populations unfortunately comes down to whether or not people want to do the right thing for the collective and practice good stewardship and care for the environment around them. Because some people do not own land or did not grow up learning about farming or where their food comes from, they may not feel inclined to help pollinators simply because they do not understand their importance and what will happen if we continue to ignore the issues facing our pollinator populations. Hopefully, through education and outreach, people would learn that simple things like having flowers, more than one kind of plant, leaving leaf litter and piles of sticks, or putting out a plate filled with rocks and water in their backyard would help pollinators. At the end of the day, it really does come down to the willingness of the individual to help the greater good, which could be influenced by these policies as well as education and outreach.