Member farmers of the Beemster cooperative, along with the Dairy where our cheese is made, planted the Beemster Bijenlint, or the Beemster Bee Corridor. The Corridor’s diverse flower array is strategically selected to provide a food-rich habitat for pollinators such as wild bees, honeybees, butterflies, and moths. “Wild bees have had a hard time in recent years,” says Grietsje Hoekstra, Beemster’s sustainability manager at headquarters in Holland. “Together with our farmers we want to make a positive contribution to protecting their habitats.”
Bees are the world's most important pollinator of food crops; about one third of what we consume every day relies on pollination mainly by bees, and also by other insects and birds. Climate change, pesticide use, and development have damaged meadows throughout Europe and the world over the last several decades, threatening bees and the ecosystem they help uphold. The Beemster Bee Corridor is a step to help support the bees and in turn, the vitality of the environment in the Beemster Polder and beyond.
The Beemster Bee Corridor was first planted in 2019 and has continued to grow each year. The mix of native plants and wildflowers includes both annuals and perennials, allowing a variety to grow each year. Providing variety further nourishes and supports pollinators, soil and the microbial environment.
Sustainability is a core priority at Beemster as we work to become Climate Positive by 2030. The bee corridor will help cultivate a thriving ecosystem now and for many years to come. Creating opportunities for biodiversity like this, on our farms and in our surrounding community, is just one step on the path for sustainable generations.
Did you receive one of our Beemster Bee Feed flower seed packets and are looking for planting information? Keep on reading!
Each seed packet covers an area of approximately 25 square feet (5’ x 5’). Choose a spot that receives ample sunlight and has good soil drainage.
Prepare your soil by removing grass and weeds. Disperse seeds, loosely cover with soil and gently tamp down. Water after planting and regularly. For more detailed planting guidance, please visit American Meadows.
