Our Impact
Making a difference in Heard County
Bee populations are declining in many regions due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, disease, parasites, and climate change. In the United States, annual honeybee hive losses remain high, with 2025 proving especially challenging for beekeepers. Pollinators are essential to both ecosystems and food production, helping produce one out of every three bites of food we eat and pollinating 80% of the world’s flowering plants. Without them, much of our food supply and natural landscapes would not survive.
To address this issue locally, Dinah Rowe, Heard County 4-H agent, partnered with fourth-grade teacher Kelly Atkins to secure funding for a school pollinator garden. Their collaboration earned a 2024 Carroll EMC Bright Ideas grant, making the garden a reality. Students played an active role in planting native Georgia species, watering and weeding, gaining hands-on experience while learning
about environmental stewardship and local ecosystems. By using indigenous plants, the project highlights the importance of creating sustainable habitats for pollinators.
The garden also supports participation in The Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a multi-state effort that tracks pollinator activity to assist researchers, farmers, and policymakers in understanding
population trends and agricultural impacts. Additional funding from the West Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District provided educational signage identifying plant species and common pollinators. A recent Georgia 4-H Northwest District grant will fund cameras that live-stream garden activity to classrooms, allowing students to observe pollinators day and night, even during inclement
weather. This ongoing project is creating lasting educational and
community impact.