The Challenge Factory discussion

Save the Bees!
Challenge Starts July 1, 2024

There are over 20,000 bee species found in the world. This diversity encompasses some of the most important insects for agriculture, wild plants, and home gardens.
Many plants rely on pollinators, including bees, for pollination. Some plants are fully dependent on bees, while others are only partially dependent.
Fully dependent plants include brazil nuts, cocoa beans, kiwi and melons. Partially dependent plants include avocados, coffee and nuts. Other plants that rely on bees are almonds, apples, apricots, blueberries, cotton, papaya, passionfruit, and strawberries.

Take seven steps to help protect the bees! Each step requires 3 books.

There is an optional spell out for each level as well. For spell outs, you may use the first letter of the first word of the title (using or omitting an opening A/An/The), or the first letter of the author's first or last name.

Post your completions in your own thread. You may take as long as you need to complete this challenge.

Sample completion post:

TASK:
BOOK/AUTHOR:
PAGES:
DATE READ:
HOW IT FITS:

Plant a Bee Garden
Keeping a tidy garden may actually backfire for bees. This is because it removes items and sites that are usually used by the insects. Only honeybees form hives, while 70% of the rest of bees nest in the ground and 30% use cracks and crevices as their bee home.

One of the largest threats to bees is a lack of safe habitat where they can build homes and find a variety of nutritious food sources. You can create a safe haven for bees with pollen- and nectar-rich flowers by planting a range of shapes, sizes, colors, and bloom times. You don’t need a ton of space to grow bee-friendly plants — gardens can be established across yards and in window boxes, flower pots, and mixed into vegetable gardens. Seek out locally native plants as often as possible as many bee species have coevolved to feed exclusively on native flowers and need them to survive.

Tasks:
1. Read a book where the MC is not tidy.
2. Read a book with a flower pot, window box or other small garden on the cover.
3. Read a book with the word "crack" in the text.

Optional Spell Out: SAFE HAVEN

REMEMBER: Books completed before July 1st will not count for this challenge.

It's fascinating to learn about the diversity among bee species and how vital they are for our ecosystems and food production. I remember one summer when my backyard garden was buzzing with bees. It was both amazing to watch and a bit daunting at first, especially with kids around.

TASK: 3 Read a book with the word "crack" in the text
BOOK/AUTHOR: Home Is Where the Bodies Are/Jeneva Rose
PAGES: 256
DATE READ: 07/08/2024
HOW IT FITS: Ch, 14, Page 78
"Your own daughter won't even talk to you, so I'd say it would a step up for your too."
"Don't you fucking dare talk about my daughter you CRACK head," Beth shouts pointing her finger...

TASK: 2. Read a Book with a flower pot, window box or other small garden on the cover.
BOOK/AUTHOR: Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander
PAGES: 370
DATE READ: 09/05/2024
HOW IT FITS: There are window boxes, flower pots, small little garden areas of bushes and flowers.

TASK: 1. Read a book where the MC is not tidy.
BOOK/AUTHOR: Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs
PAGES: 256
DATE READ: 08/22/2024
HOW IT FITS: The MC Theodosia has a tea room which she has a tough time keeping tidy but thanks to her employees it works. But her office.....not even close. To find something she makes even more mess it is so untidy to begin with.

Spellout: SAFE HAVEN
For spell outs you may use the first and last initial of the author's name and the first letter of the title (using or omitting a/an/the)

S Saving Ferris
A A Love Letter to Paris
F Fellowship of Fear
E Espresso Your Love

H Home Is Where the Bodies Are 07/08/2024
A
V Veil of Hope
E
N

This completes the first task
Plant a Bee Garden

Go Chemical-Free for Bees
Regardless of which flowers you plant, avoid using pesticides and herbicides. Synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and neonicotinoids are harmful to bees, wreaking havoc on their sensitive systems. A garden can thrive without these harmful chemicals — in fact, one goal of a bee-friendly garden is to build a sustainable ecosystem that keeps itself in check by fostering beneficial populations. If you must use a pesticide, choose a targeted organic product, and always avoid applying pesticides directly to the soil or when flowers are blooming.

Tasks:
1. Read a book by an author whose initials are NOT found in the word PESTICIDE.
2. Read a book where the MC is very sensitive (your interpretation).
3. Read a book with the word "organic" in the text.

Optional Spell Out: SUSTAINABLE

TASK:1. Read a book by an author whose initials are NOT found in the word PESTICIDE
BOOK/AUTHOR: Off Base by Annabeth Albert
PAGES READ: 211
DATE READ: 11/06/2024
HOW IT FITS: The author's first and last initials are both A which is not in Pesticide
Irs
TASK 2. Read a book where the MC is very sensitive (your interpretation).
BOOK/AUTHOR: A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
PAGES READ: 376
DATE READ: 11/06/2024
HOW IT FITS: Female MC Iris comes from England to New York following the death of her mother and an abusive relationship. She is extremely shy, sensitive and easily hurt. By the end of the book having been around a noisy, boisterous Italian family she gets her strength back.

TASK 3: Read a book with the word "organic" in the text.
BOOK/AUTHOR: Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
PAGES READ: 432
DATE READ: 11/12/2024
HOW IT FITS: Page 115 ORGANIC is in the text
...... ridiculous. You buy Henry ORGANIC underwear for God's sake."

This completes task 2
Go Chemical-Free for Bees

Provide Trees for Bees
Did you know that bees get most of their nectar from trees? When a tree blooms, it provides thousands of blossoms to feed from. Trees are not only a great food source for bees, but also an essential habitat. Tree leaves and resin provide nesting material for bees, while natural wood cavities make excellent shelters. Native trees such as maples, redbuds, and black cherry all attract and support bees. You can help bolster bee food sources and habitat by caring for and planting trees. Trees are also great at sequestering carbon, managing our watersheds, and cooling air temperatures.

Tasks:
1. Read a book with the word "essential" in the text.
2. Read a book where a character is a good cook (food source) for other characters.
3. Read a book with a shelter of some kind on the cover (tent, lean-to, etc.)

Optional Spell Out: BLOSSOMS

TASK:1. Read a book with the word "essential" in the text
BOOK/AUTHOR: One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
PAGES READ: 368
DATE READ: 01/06/2025
HOW IT FITS: P. 345
.....that, because although something ESSENTIAL was missing from my life, it wasn't a partner. They say you have a second brain in your gut.......


TASK:2. Read a book where a character is a good cook (food source) for other characters.
BOOK/AUTHOR: Christmas at the Little Village Bakery by Tilly Tennant
PAGES READ: 322
DATE READ: 02/28/2024
HOW IT FITS: Millie the owner of the bakery is run off her feet with bakery order and catering jobs including cooking Christmas dinner for at least 12 if not more people. She is a food pusher and nurturer.


TASK: 3. Read a bookwith a shelter of some kind on the cover (lean-to, tent, etc)
BOOK/AUTHOR: Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm by Rebecca Raisin
PAGES READ: 306
DATE READ: 05/05/2025
HOW IT FITS: There is a little roof of a building on the left hand side of the cover next to a tree. That is the barn where they store all of the farm equipment.

This completes task 3
Provide Trees for Bees

Create a Bee Bath
Bees work up quite a thirst foraging and collecting nectar. Fill a shallow bird bath or bowl with clean water, and arrange pebbles and stones inside so that they break the water’s surface. Bees will land on the stones and pebbles to take a long, refreshing drink.

Tasks:
1. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word WATER.
2. Read a book where a character becomes very thirsty.
3. Read a book where the MC is very shallow.

Optional Spell Out: REFRESHING

TASK: 1.Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word WATER.
BOOK/AUTHOR: Stealing Bases by Tarrah Anders
PAGES READ: 237
DATE READ: 07/05/2025
HOW IT FITS: Both author initials can be found in WATER
WA(anders)T(tarrah)ER

TASK: 2.Read a book where a character becomes very thirsty
BOOK/AUTHOR: Sweat by Jonah Yorke
PAGES READ: 463
DATE READ: 06/22/2025
HOW IT FITS: Both the MC's and most of the other characters are part of the school soccer teams and they are constantly thirsty during their practices especially.

TASK: 3.Read a book where the MC is very shallow
BOOK/AUTHOR: Pucks & Pranks by Tiffany Noelle Chacon
PAGES READ: 136
DATE READ: 07/13/2025
HOW IT FITS: The male MC, Elliot Adler, a professional hockey player, is a prankster and is such is seen as a player with a shallow persona and heart. He is hiding his real personality and the love for his high school sweetheart with his attitude.

This completes Task 4
Create a Bee Bath

Protect Ground Nesting Bees
Did you know that 70% of the world’s 20,000 bees — including bumblebees — live underground. There, they build nests and house their young, who overwinter and emerge each spring. Ground nesting bees need bare, mulch-free, well-drained, protected soil in a sunny area to create and access their nests. Leave an untouched section for ground nesting bees in your garden!

Tasks:
1. Read a book that has a bare yard in at least one scene.
2. Read a book whose author's initials are in the word UNTOUCHED.
3. Read a book with a character who builds a nest (can be a figurative nest if the character is a human).

Optional Spell Out: UNDERGROUND

TASK: 1.Read that has a bare yard in at least one scene
BOOK/AUTHOR: The Vines Between Us by C. G. Macington
PAGES READ: 232
DATE READ: 08/09/2025
HOW IT FITS: The vineyards have been neglected for at least 10 years. Following the death of the owners the two next in kin get together and walk the bare ground and dying bushes of their vinyards.

TASK: 2. Read a book whose author's initials are in the word UNTOUCHED.
BOOK/AUTHOR: Afternoon Delight by Dani Collins
PAGES READ: 326
DATE READ: 08/16/2025
HOW IT FITS: The author's initials are DC and can be found in
untouCheD

TASK: 3. Read a book with a character who builds a nest (can fe a figurative nest if the character is human)
BOOK/AUTHOR: The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols
PAGES READ: 352
DATE READ: 08/29/2025
HOW IT FITS: Lily-Ann one of the tenants in the cottages has this nesting habit where she goes into the other cottages and tidies up, washes dishes, changes the sheets and makes the cottage feel homey from the smallest to the largest cottage.

This completes Task 5
Protect Ground Nesting Bees

Leave Stems Behind
30% of bees live in holes inside of trees, logs, or hollow plant stems. Don’t cut those hollow stems, which are valuable bee habitats. A hollow stem may not seem like prime real estate to us, but to the mason and other bees, it’s a cozy home in which they may overwinter. Wait until the spring to cut back dead flower stalks, leaving stems 8 to 24 inches high to provide homes for cavity-nesting bees.

Tasks:
1. Read a book about a character who waits to do something until later.
2. Read a book with an author whose initials can be found in the word CAVITY.
3. Read a book where a character stalks something.

Optional Spell Out: PLANT STEM