Organic Tulips Keep Bees Happy

If the old adage that “we are what we eat” is true, then eating healthy organic veggies from a local farm is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. “I grew up on a farm,” says Emily Lehrman of Fairfield, “and we ate mostly organic food.” These days, the family belongs to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and has weekly supplies of organic produce grown close by.

Emily Lehrman takes it a step further and makes sure her garden is healthy and organic, too. She is not particularly bothered if the grass is less than perfect – “at least it’s green,” she laughs. This year, she discovered a source for organic tulip bulbs. “Someone in my CSA sent me a link to the website for EcoTulips and I loved the variety of flowers they had,” she says. Emily ordered several different types for her own garden and sent some as gifts to family out west.

According to EcoTulips owner, Jeroen Koeman, his tulips are the only bulbs grown without toxic pesticides being sold in the United States. He imports the bulbs from an organic flower bulb farm in Holland, which is where most bulbs sold in the here are grown. “Pesticide-free flowers keep insects healthy and let our happy bees pollinate without being in danger,” he says.

Emily is waiting for the weather to cool off so that she can get her bulbs into the ground. “I’m going to risk planting some here at the front of the house,” she says, adding that there aren’t too many deer in her neighborhood. Tulips are like candy to the pesky creatures. “Next year I’m going to see if I can organize an EcoTulips fund-raiser for the Montessori school my daughter Naomi attends,” she adds.

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