There are about 400 Bee City USA programs across 47 states, all with a mission to sustain pollinators by increasing native plants and nest sites while reducing the use of pesticides.

The entire Bee City movement started in Asheville 12 years ago with the efforts of Phyllis Stiles. During the thick of a month of pollination celebration here,  I talk with Stiles about her path to pollination through beekeeping and the start and growth of Bee City Asheville and Bee City USA.

We talk about how to responsibly keep pollinator-friendly gardens, the dangers of non-native plant species and the ecological challenges and stakes at hand. We also get into what governments and other institutions are doing to stave off pollinator loss and promote conservation. 

A week of pollination-focused events in and around Asheville starts June 17.

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