BOONE, N.C. — Paula Johansen loves bees.

Her love for the black and yellow pollinators took flight nearly a decade ago when her son was 4 years old. He was fascinated by the bees, so they began taking classes to learn how to take care of them. They now have two hives of their own. 

What You Need To Know

  • Bee Inspired Foundation has been created to help bees in Watauga County

  • The owner is working to create a pollinator corridor by planting flowers that bees enjoy in a 30-mile radius

  • She is hoping to expand in the future

"You're looking to see if you have got brood in all stages and honey," Johansen said. 

It's not easy work, she says, but it's meaningful. Over the years Johansen learned how sensitive these insects are. The bees travel five miles for food so it only takes one person spraying their yards with pesticides for a hive to die. 

"They carry it into the hive, and it can really cause what I think is part of the reason we have massive hive destruction," Johansen said. 

She wanted to do more to help the bees, so she started the Bee Inspired Foundation. The nonprofit is now going around Watauga County from Deep Gap to Zionville creating a pollinator corridor.

She is asking people to allow her to plant a garden on a section of their yard that is food for the bees. By doing this, she is ensuring that they have food and will come back to the area. 

"It's designed to create more habitat for insect life that helps in the farm efforts to keep pests out of the field," Johansen said.

These gardens, she says, will make a big difference in the future. 

"Help you become a bee hero, that's really what we want to do is help the world create millions of bee heroes around the world. Every little flower makes a difference," Johansen said.

If you are willing to allow Johansen to plant flowers on your property to help the bees, you can contact her here. All of the flowers are planted for free.