Ypsilanti is a Bee City
On June 16, 2015, the City of Ypsilanti became the 12th certified Bee City USA participant. As a Bee City, Ypsilanti is committed to addressing pollinator issues, providing opportunities for education about the importance of bees, and hosting habitat restoration activities. Ypsilanti will continue to make the City safer for all its residents, including its pollinators. Adopted Resolution
The Bee City Ypsi committee meets on an as needed basis. Dates and locations will be posted here.
Event Buzz-
Festival of the Honey Bee September, 6th 2019
Festival of the Honey Bee aims to raise community-wide awareness and celebration of the honey bees impact on our local and global food supply and the pollinator population decline through art, and education. Festival of the Honey Bee is an annual city-wide event hosted by First Fridays Ypsilanti. Grab a Honey Bee Passport and explore all the local businesses elevating pollinators with unique events, through food, art, music, and more.The event features a block party in partnership with the Music and Arts Guild that features performances and live art. Vendors that specialize in beekeeping supplies, honey, bee-related art, and flowers line the streets.
Please see the City of Ypsilanti’s Beekeeping Permit Application if you are interesting in keeping bees yourself. Beekeeping is permitted on properties whose principal use is one- or two-family residential.
For information about local native plants that support pollinators, visit Michigan State University’s Department of Entomology Native Plants and Ecosystem Services and the Ypsilanti Native Plant Nursery
For more resources on how to protect our pollinators, visit The Xerces Society Webpage .