I.) THE MISSION

We are petitioning for local retailers– including Wegmans, Lowe’s, and The Home Depot– to adopt a “safe-area” for the protection of our native plants against harsh chemicals. This initiative requests a designated Pesticide Free Zone within the garden centers of these stores, maintained by organic, bee safe certified insect repellent. This area must be labeled as “Pollinator Safe” to ensure full customer transparency. 

II.) THE PROBLEM

Many “pollinator-safe” marketed plants that are being sold at stores in our community are pre-treated with harsh chemicals, such as neonicotinoids. While these are supposed to maintain a short-term, pest free environment for the plants, they offer no long-term benefits, and instead cause more problems for our gardens in the future. These chemicals remain in the plants' nectar and pollen for months, resulting in a high mortality rate for honeybees, a decrease in garden yields due to the lack of pollinator, and the unintentional contamination of our soil due to the pesticides. 

III.) THE IMPACT

Honeybees and native North Carolinian pollinators are at risk of being endangered. Not only are they necessary for our gardens, farmers, and beekeepers, but essential to life as a whole. By incorporating this into stores, we will protect our plants, gardens, farms, and community.