BE~E INSPIRED BY NATURE TO NOURISH US ALL

It's 8 days since the commemoration of World Bees Day. I hope you did your part, because each of us has a role to play. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) among other organisations and member states like Slovakia has clearly stressed on the critical role of bees including other pollinators especially in agri-food systems including planetary health. However, despite their significance, climate change, pollution, habitat destruction and unsustainable farming practices continue to threaten these little creatures. There is no doubt that their decline also disrupts food security and biodiversity.

At Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA), Gracelands Community Nursery and Villa Farm Enterprise, we joined glocal bee protectors and we will continue to rise, for the protection of bees, through faith-driven actions like awareness creation, eco-formation, supporting bee-keeping initiatives as well as encouraging our members to support local beekeepers, plant pollinator-friendly plants as well as adopting sustainable agricultural practices that reduces and eliminate dependency of synthetic chemicals. Thanks to SAFCEI and @Fambidzanai Permaculture, for equipping us with skills to promote planting for both the people and the planet. Young people are now benefiting also. 

2025 is another year for us, as we witnessed the sprouting and growth of wild sunflower plants (Helianthus spp) very close to Gracelands Community Nursery, which is now a thriving forest that serves as a biodiversity haven and source of many ecosystem services for the local communities.

Recently, we had a sunrise walk through this bright yellow wild garden 🌻, just to observe such a thriving web connecting bees to helianthus, including other complementary plants and fruit trees grown within Graceland forest, then back to our beehives, for honey production. Besides capturing these beautiful pictures, we also recorded a video (to be shared soon), on the importance of Helianthus spp, not only for the bees, but also for aesthetic enhancement, habitat creation, erosion control, soil improvement including it's medical uses. This pollinator strip of wild sunflower is very key to us, especially in this period where floral resources are now scarce; they are helping to sustain our bee populations through the lean season. In the following weeks, we will begin to harvest some seeds to preserve and plant them to create new pollinator strips especially to new sites where we installed new bee hives.

As a young person of faith, who is actively involved in biodiversity conservation, land restoration, organic farming and climate action, l strongly agree that pollinators labor daily to nourish humanity, live in harmony, serve generously and pollinate life. They are not ordinary insects, but they are also signs of divine wisdom and interconnectedness. Saying it loud from a first-hand experience, and also drawing theological teachings and inspiration from #Laudato Si' and Al-Mizan ( LS 49 & Qur'an 6:38). As pilgrims of Hope for the earth, and all people of goodwill, especially the young; in solidarity - let us strive to protect what sustain us and those to come. Once again, 'Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish us all". It begins with a personal change of lifestyle - BeeTheChange (drawn from a Bee Documentary launched at COP28). 

Supporting Bees start by purchasing pure honey from local beekeepers; If you are looking for honey and bee wax; Again if you would like to visit our land restoration and bee-keeping initiatives to collaborate, or you are a young person interested in working with us:: reach us on: WhatsApp/Call +263 788 384 86; Email - info@villafarme.com/ info@rumbidzai.com or send a direct inbox message. 

#WorldBeeDay2025 #WorldBeeDay #BeeInspiredByNature #BeeTheChange #Faith4Earrh #FaithLedAction #FaithLedFoodSystems

@VillaFarmEnterprise

Gracelands Community Nursery