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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Officers identified in Dunsmuir shootout ... Eugene man admits to sending suspicious letters, OSP says ... Prank raises hopes of In-N-Out in Grants Pass ... Officers identified in Dunsmuir shootout ... Eugene man admits to sending suspicious letters, OSP says ... Prank raises hopes of In-N-Out in Grants Pass ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Comment By Sharon Schmidt MailTribune.com By Sharon Schmidt Posted Apr. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Sharon Schmidt Posted Apr. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Like the taste of honey? Interested in beautiful gardens? Do you like to eat fruits and vegetables? So do some Phoenix Oregon residents who think helping Phoenix steer toward applying for a Bee City USA designation is a partial means toward those ends. As the volunteer organizer of the Oregon Honey Festival, which promotes education about honey and bee culture, I look forward to any opportunity to improve the health of honeybees. Honey production is in decline throughout the nation, and that fact signals a warning about what could happen to farming and food production if there is further decline in the numbers of pollinators. Applying for and obtaining a Bee City USA designation is a chance for Phoenix residents to connect with nature. As the Phoenix City Council moves forward on the project, there will be opportunities for residents to participate in activities that beautify the environment and encourage pollinators of all types to live here and help us pollinate crops. Robin Webb, a retired nurse and an experienced beekeeper, and I visited with the Phoenix City Council on Jan. 20 about applying for the Bee City USA designation. Webb, who grew up in rural Williams, is well aware of the necessary role honeybees play in agriculture. Every third forkful of food we eat is due to the efforts of a pollinator. If they disappear, crops will fail and we will have little in the way of grain, fruits and vegetables. Annie Drager, a longtime resident of the Rogue Valley and former member of the steering committee for Blue Heron Park Community Garden and the Phoenix Garden Club, joined in support of the council acting to apply for the Bee City USA designation. In a letter to Mayor Bellah she wrote, "Since we live amid orchards and farms that depend on bees, in particular, for stimulating the pollination and growth of fruits and vegetables, it makes sense to get this designation." She also expressed hope that greater public awareness would lead to a reduction of toxic pesticide use and greater care in the use of pesticides. Marcia Wineteer, a Phoenix resident and former president of the Siskiyou Chapter of the nonprofit Oregon Native Plant Society, also presented a letter to Mayor Bellah and the City Council in support of applying for the designation. In it she said employing best management practices, including avoiding plants that have ever been treated with neonicotinoids (known to be toxic to bees), would ultimately help orchardists, gardeners, landowners and natural ecosystems that support wildlife. Bee City USA originated in Buncome County, N.C., pioneered by the Buncome County Beekeepers Association after beekeepers noted a decline in bee health and honey production. Honey production is still in decline nationwide and residents can do something to encourage pollinator health. On March 16, the Phoenix City Council unanimously voted to recommend going forth with the application to become a Bee City. Mayor Bellah also tasked the Parks and Recreation Committee to study and propose ways in which the project may meaningfully unfold in Phoenix. Already ahead of many cities, Phoenix has an ordinance that addresses beekeeping. Obtaining the Bee City USA designation would contribute positively to activities that promote bee health and human health. Phoenix residents wanting to read more about Phoenix city government, Bee City USA, pollinators or honey,can find resources online at www.phoenixoregon.gov ,  www.BeeCityUSA.org , www.pollinatorprojectroguevalley.org or www.OregonHoneyFestival.com . Application costs for the Bee City USA designation are minimal. They include a designated city staff representative (to work with resident volunteers), time to formulate and evaluate community goals, a commitment to recognize pollinator week and the cost for a decorative sign designating Phoenix a Bee City. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Committee meets in April to continue this work. Sharon Schmidt of Phoenix is the volunteer organizer of the Oregon Honey Festival scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 in Ashland. She is involved in beekeeping and in human and environmental health.   By Sharon Schmidt MailTribune.com By Sharon Schmidt Posted Apr. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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