SFF - Conservation Initiative, Inc.

Globally, bats are important pollinators in tropical and desert climates. Nectar and fruit eating bats are important pollinators for many edible crops, such as dates or agave.

But in Virginia? We do not have bat species that pollinate. Our native bats are still critical to our ecosystems though--and they help with pest control, feeding on mosquitoes, beetles, moths, and other insects. Our bats just don't act as pollinators!

More on bat pollination: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildflowers/pollinators/who-are-the-pollinators/bats

The heat has made these initial days of summer a bit of slog, all the more reason to tap into a Slow Summer with Three Ships. Our newest mainstay blend "Sweet Virginia" is a call to celebrate the Commonwealth from the Mountains to the Sea. Our mission with Sweet Virginia is to source an approachable coffee for all drinkers and brewing methods. Right now it is a delightfully bright washed process coffee from Colombia.

Be on the lookout for more from our Slow Summer We've got some exciting things planned with great Virginia brands.

Pesticides may get rid of all the little bugs you don't want in your garden, but they're also harmful to the pollinators you do want. To keep your garden safe from pests without harming pollinators, you can try some of these pest-control alternatives in your garden:

Hand-Picking: Reduce pest populations by removing them by hand.

Physical Barriers: Use row covers or copper tape to keep pests away from your plants.

Companion Planting: Plant herbs and flowers like marigolds, basil, and lavender to naturally repel pests in your vegetable garden.

Mulching: suppress w**ds and create a habitat for beneficial insects. As the desirable native plants grow, their shade will start to reduce w**d growth and will fill in to create Green Mulch.

Fuel up for the 4th Three Ships. Open on Thursday to power your 4th of July Adventures.

“Ghost” the gentle giant

New Waverly,Tx