TJ and Olivia applied for funding through the Bee BC Program to address biodiversity issues in bee forage on their 2-acre ‘Vive Le Veg Farm,’ which supplies fresh produce to over 25 restaurants in the Vancouver area. The aim of their project was to introduce a variety of flowering plants that bloom year-round, ensuring a consistent source of nutrition, while also helping to mitigate bee-related diseases and pests, thereby bolstering population resilience. They also aimed to educate their restaurant partners about the important relationship between forage diversity, pollinators and food production.
TJ and Olivia’s first steps included establishing a baseline of bee forage on their farm and conducting planting experiments to assess the impact of various plant species. Once the optimal plants were selected, they planted seeds and seedlings in the new forage areas and installed an irrigation system. TJ and Olivia monitored the project using plexiglass covers to perform hive inspections without disturbing the colonies and pollen traps to assess the diversity of pollen sources.
The successful planting of bee-friendly forage plants resulted in increased foraging activity, enhanced hive nutrition and high honey yields. Regular hive inspections showed mite levels remained below 2-3% throughout the summer and early fall, suggesting that increased forage diversity enhanced colony resilience against Varroa mites. Pollen trap analysis showed increased pollen diversity, indicating that TJ and Olivia’s planting strategy successfully expanded nutrition sources for the bees.
In addition to their project’s successes, TJ and Olivia gained valuable lessons. Despite a strong summer, more than 50% of their hives did not survive the winter. While forage diversity supported colonies during the warmer months, TJ and Olivia noted that further investigation is needed to understand the winter losses. Many first-year plants didn’t bloom as expected, causing gaps in forage availability. Strengthening plant establishment in the future will be crucial to providing consistent, year-round support for pollinators. Overall, TJ and Olivia’s project demonstrated the positive impact of forage diversity on bee health and hive productivity, benefiting not only their own hives but also those of neighboring beekeepers and wild bee populations.
“This project has reinforced how vital small-scale, non-traditional farms are in enhancing biodiversity and supporting pollinator health. By intentionally creating diverse forage, we’ve seen firsthand how even a small farm can make a significant impact on bee populations. Encouraging young people to get involved in beekeeping and regenerative agriculture is essential—not just for the future of our food systems, but for fostering a deeper connection to the ecosystems that sustain us. Support for these initiatives helps ensure that farming remains a tool for conservation, resilience, and community building.”
