This month, meet our 1% for the Planet partner in Alberta’s capital: Edmonton & Area Land Trust (EALT). They care for land that has been donated, preserving nature so that local wildlife (pollinators included!) can continue to live there happily. You can see why we were drawn to EALT when looking for a 1% for the Planet partnership in this region!

  • BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO SUPPORT LAND CONSERVATION

    EALT is raising awareness for nature conservation so that future generations can take over and benefit as well. They educate Albertans through presentations, workshops, educational hikes, and more. Their mission is to care for nature and biodiversity with the help of locals: neighbours, volunteers, partners, and land donors. And where there is biodiversity, there are pollinators!

  • AN EXCITING PARTNERSHIP FOR OUR BEES

    When our Lead Beekeeper in Alberta, Sean, began searching for the perfect local 1% for the Planet partner, she discovered that Alvéole’s and EALT’s missions were intrinsically linked. Not only were they involved in conservation lands and biodiversity preservation, but they were also well versed in pollinator education!

    “We found EALT online and were really intrigued and excited by their pollinator education programs, which include building bee hotels, bat boxes, and planting pollinator-friendly species.”

    – Sean Higgins, Alvéole’s Beekeeping Team Manager in Alberta (Canada)

GARDENING TOGETHER FOR THE LOVE OF POLLINATORS

To launch the partnership, Sean decided to lend a hand volunteering with EALT on a historic property on the edge of town, the Smith-Blackburn Homestead. Needless to say, it was a rich learning experience!

“They had recently installed a large pollinator native plant garden which I helped mulch and weed. It was awesome to connect on a sunny day with the EALT and some of their regular volunteers. I worked with an older woman who was an incredible steward of the area and I learned a lot about the region’s native plants and pollinator species.”

– Sean Higgins, Alvéole’s Lead Beekeeper in Alberta (Canada) in Alberta (Canada)

A group of people plant seedlings in a plot of soil.

CONSERVING NATURE… RAIN OR SHINE!

While we’re all for leaving greens to grow wild, sometimes nature conservation also means protecting indigenous vegetation from invasive species. Last June, EALT planned an event to preserve the native plants in Alberta’s New Jubilee area along the north of the Saskatchewan River by removing some tansy, a noxious weed. This conservation easement (a land donation with the purpose of preserving the species living there) is “one of the largest remaining tracts of old-growth forest within the city of Edmonton, making it key habitat for a diversity of wildlife” (EALT). Our team was there to help, no matter the weather!

“With our little team and about 12 other people, we tackled it all in no time! Such a lovely day and it ended with a massive rain storm which, naturally, was so much fun! These are the days that bring me so much joy, feeling grateful.”

– Paige Mattie, Beekeeping Team Manager in Alberta (Canada)

  • ABOUT 1% FOR THE PLANET

    In 2021, Alvéole joined 1% for the Planet, an international movement of organizations that donate 1% of their annual sales to nonprofits working to protect the environment.

    To support green initiatives, we’ve chosen to team up with nonprofit environmental organizations in every city where our bees buzz.

    Stay tuned! Every month, we’ll introduce you to one of our partners and tell you how they’re changing the world.