If you stop for a moment to observe the fields at Terra Romance Farm during the growing season, you’ll notice they are always full of activity. The farm is home to a vast and diverse array of native bees, wasps, moths and butterfly species that are an important part of the natural ecosystem. We intentionally manage the farmland to attract and support these incredible creatures by providing sources of food and habitat throughout the seasons. In turn, they benefit the farm by improving our crop pollination (resulting in a higher quality of fruit), and in many cases they even provide a source of natural pest control. Bee populations have been declining worldwide, and many large farms rent commercially-raised European honeybees (an invasive species which competes with native bees) to get enough crop pollination. Small farms like ours help protect and strengthen populations of native WV bees (and other pollinators) by providing optimal conditions for them to thrive, including pollinator-friendly crops, low/no-till soil preparation, avoiding chemical pesticides, and an abundance of nearby mature forest, meadows and water resources. Supporting local small farms means supporting local ecosystems!
