The Great Sunflower Project

Be a Citizen Scientist

The Great Sunflower Project has given local homeschoolers a chance to help scientists at San Francisco State University understand and protect pollinator (BEES) populations. They need to know more about bee activity and that’s where our work is helpful.

What do you need to do?

Plant the provided sunflower seeds. They've already sent me 25 packets of seeds to be used by our co-op. I will give them out to anyone interested in counting bees.

After your sunflowers have grown, you’ll collect data twice a month. Collecting data is just sitting outside for 30 minutes counting the bees that visit your sunflowers. You’ll give your best guess at what type of bee you see and record the temperature. I have data sheets to document your findings.

When you finish your 30 minute scientist stint, you’ll simply mail in your data sheet or enter the data on-line.

You’ll be helping bees and learning a little about bees, flowers, and the scientific process!

Please email Mary if you’re interested and I’ll bring the seeds and data sheets to co-op on March 31st.