Gachina helps the bees

At Gachina Landscape Management, they believe in a sustainable landscaping, organic practices, beneficial insects and the sweetness of natural honey.

In the Spring of 2016, coached by Wade Loo (former chair for the board at JobTrain), Gachina joined San Mateo Beekeepers' Guild to widen its knowledge on bees and the production of honey. Thanks to the generosity of Ray Wolfgramm, (owner of NorCal Honeybee Rescue), the company was able to install a local rescued hive in the farm in June 2016.

Since then, employees have learned about the queen bee, her eggs and the hundred of workers that swarm out of the hive every day to bring back precious pollen. They have observed the flying class that takes place every day around 12:30 p.m. for the newbies. They've cheered the bees when they were defending the hive from ants, wasps and other predators, and they have learned how to safely harvest the honey and reap the rewards.

Honeybees are one of many pollinators: birds, flies, wasps, beetles, bats and other small mammals provide the same fundamental service. Pollinators biggest champions are bees, including over a thousand species of California native bees and bumblebees that do not produce honey but are still visiting flowers and transporting nectar as they move from spot to spot. They usually live in crevices in the ground or wood.

Pollinators are an indispensable natural resource in agriculture and healthy ecosystems. More than 80 percent of all flowering plants needs help with pollination and pollinators. By supporting healthy ecosystems, pollinators allow us to breathe cleaner air, protect from extreme weather and provide habitat for wildlife. Farmers and beekeepers are on the front line in playing a critical role for bee survival.

Now, The Gachina Farm has both a natural rescued hive and a man-made hive. The company has installed several bamboo bee houses for California bees and bumble bees. The bees are offered fresh water and forage throughout the year, and to protect their health and stamina, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are not used at the farm. This sustainable approach allowed the property to receive the Certified Wildlife Habitat Certification by the National Wildlife Federation a few years ago.

The collected honey is shared with the Gachina management team and some of its clients.

Contact Sustainable Landscape Manager Cristina Prevarin for more information at 650.924.3032 or cprevarin@gachina.com.