Power to the Pollinators: Tips for Creating a Bee-Friendly Brunch

Pollinators are small but mighty contributors to the ecosystem we share (yes, humans, you too are a part of the environment!). According to the USDA, these amazing creatures pollinate a third of the food we eat. So next time you gather with loved ones for brunch, be sure to take the pollinators who make that meal possible into consideration while you plan.

Here are a few tips to planning a bee-friendly brunch that will have your guests and the bees buzzing with joy.

Decorate the table with a native species bouquet

Make your guests feel right at home with native species wildflower bouquets from your own garden! Habitat loss is a big contributor to declines in pollinator populations, so give these keystone critters a place to stay in your backyard. Native plant species are best because they are species that pollinators have adapted too. Different pollinators like different plants. Everybody has a type! Do some research online to find out which native species to plant to attract a variety of pollinators to your garden. If possible, it’s best to have plants blooming throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

And remember, give herbicides and pesticides the boot. Weeds can be ugly to look at, but it’s important to consider the true cost of the convenience offered by toxic weed killers. I’ll take a garden with some weeds over a planet without pollinators any day!

Complement your gorgeous bouquets with the hand-embroidered Bouquet Tassel Napkins from India.

Use organic ingredients

Since pesticides aren’t good in your home garden, they aren’t good on crops, either. To make your brunch truly bee-friendly, stick to organic ingredients. Sometimes organic fruits and vegetables aren’t what some would consider Instagram material, but when it comes to produce, looks aren’t everything! Don’t let this stop you from adding these perfectly imperfect ingredients to your tablescape.

Plus, any collection of berries in the handcrafted Bowl of Berries Colander is sure to look sweet.

Buy local honey

Support local, small-scale beekeepers who are providing happy homes for bees in your community. Beekeepers collect honey that is considered surplus, meaning that you aren’t harming bee populations by enjoying honey.

End your bee-friendly brunch on a sweet note with a slice of honey blueberry bread! Baking is always better when done with a team, so grab an Upcycled Sari Apron and have some fun.

Recipe courtesy of the National Honey Board

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup sugar

1 stick (8 T) unsalted butter at room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup Greek yogurt

zest of 1 lemon

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 cup blueberries

For swirl:

8 oz. cream cheese

1 T honey

1 T sugar

pinch of salt

Directions

Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.

Add the eggs, honey and sugar to a large bowl and cream together using a hand or stand mixer. Beat in the butter, vanilla, Greek yogurt and lemon zest.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet.

Toss the blueberries with a teaspoon of flour and stir into the batter.

In a separate bowl, cream together the cream cheese, honey, sugar and salt until thoroughly combined.

Pour half the blueberry batter into a greased loaf pan. Spoon on the cream cheese mixture, top with the remaining blueberry batter and gently swirl with a butter knife.

Bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.