Wild Native Bees at the Farm: The Evolution of Farming Practices (1800–2020) and Their Impacts on Pollinator Habitat in New England

This chapter delves into the historical transformations of New England homesteads from 1800 to the present, with a focus on how changing agricultural practices have shaped the rural landscape. Factors such as modern farm implements, industrialization, and forest regrowth have negatively altered crucial pollen reservoirs that supported bee populations. Using a landscape study approach, this qualitative assessment explores optimal practices in rural territory management to ensure the future of wild native pollinators. The pre-modern New England farmstead model emerges as a valuable resource for reimagining our relationship with agriculture and restoring ecological habitats for pollinators. Addressing the need for regional food sufficiency for both humans and bees involves cultivating diverse crops and implementing changes in farming practices that will resonate throughout the landscape. The chapter concludes by outlining steps for agroecological conversion—drawing on Cuban examples—, the revival of abandoned farms, and the reinstatement of food citizenship, underscoring the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman components.