Community science counts: Census meets storytelling
How the Great Southeast Pollinator Census inspired a regional movement — and a children’s book
By Emily Cabrera
Six years after founding the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Becky Griffin held something remarkable in her hands — a children’s book inspired by the project she built from the ground up.
"The Great Pollinator Count," written by Susan Richmond and published by Peachtree Publishing, is set to hit physical and digital bookshelves on April 15. The book celebrates the power of community science, pollinator conservation, and the educators and students who bring it all to life.
Richmond first learned about the pollinator census through the social media buzz following Georgia’s inaugural statewide count in 2019. Intrigued by the project, she reached out to Griffin, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension community and school garden coordinator, and asked to interview her for a book about student-led science. After that first conversation, Richmond knew the census itself deserved to be the heart of the story.
“She told me she wanted to center the book on the census,” Griffin said. Richmond later sent Griffin her manuscript for review, then, in 2022, traveled from Boston to Georgia to participate in the census firsthand. Richmond joined Griffin at West Fannin Elementary School, counted alongside Union County High School FFA, and even visited Griffin’s own native prairie to witness the work up close.
Author Susan Richmond and her husband traveled from Massachusetts to Georgia to take part in the census, joining Becky Griffin and her husband in the field.
Author Susan Richmond and her husband traveled from Massachusetts to Georgia to take part in the census, joining Becky Griffin and her husband in the field.
To ensure the book’s illustrations reflected accurate pollinator anatomy, artist Stephanie Fizer Coleman consulted Griffin for reference photos and scientific clarifications.
Griffin said the book's influence is already spreading. The Georgia Farm Bureau is featuring the book as part of its literacy efforts, ensuring copies reach schools across the state. It's also included in literacy grants through The Bee Cause Project — a nonprofit dedicated to pollinator education in schools, for which Griffin serves on the board — and Florida’s state pollinator education initiative.
“The book adds the ‘A’ to STEM, making it STEAM,” said Griffin, referring to the arts and a popular acronym for science, technology, engineering and math education. Griffin often works with schools looking to integrate language arts into their science curriculum. Plans are already underway to create lesson plans to accompany the book, helping teachers expand pollinator education across disciplines.
Griffin and Richmond will tour together this spring, visiting gardens, schools and bookstores for book readings and signings.
The tour kicks off Friday, April 18, at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia, where visitors can meet both the author and the woman who started it all. Richmond will give a reading, and Griffin will share the real-world story behind the census and its growing movement.
Upcoming book tour events and locations in Georgia:
This book will spark curiosity about insects in a way that young entomologists will love — it’s the kind of excitement we hope to cultivate through the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.
Now in its seventh year, the Great Southeast Pollinator Census has grown well beyond its Georgia roots. Scheduled for Aug. 22–23, this year’s Census includes Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and, for the first time, Alabama. Griffin has also heard from groups across the country, with educators in the Midwest showing particular interest in adapting the program as a regional model.
“It’s something everyone can do,” Griffin said. “You don’t need a degree in entomology to participate. Our pollinators matter, and everyone’s count matters. In Georgia alone, pollinators contribute $600 million to the economy each year, and as development increases, natural habitat is shrinking.”
When Griffin first launched the census, she met countless biology teachers who had never received formal training in entomology. They'd developed beautiful school gardens but didn’t know how to teach students about the insects they attracted. That gap inspired her to make pollinator education accessible and exciting for everyone, starting with kids.
Now, the census weekend feels more like a regional celebration. “It’s like Christmas in August,” Griffin said. “WSB-TV does the weather forecast for the event, we’ve got Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp involved through the First Hive, breweries host events, schools blast our Spotify playlist — it’s a pollinator party weekend.”
Grab your sweet tea, pull up a lawn chair and get counting.
Ahead of the census, explore what your local UGA Extension office has to offer, check out pollinatorcount.org for videos and resources, or find a local event from the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Facebook group.
And don’t forget to share your pollinator tea moments on social media — whether it’s a mason jar of mint tea or your grandma’s floral teacup next to a blooming pollinator plant. Snap a photo and tag it with #DrinkingCensusTea to be part of this sweet and scientific Southern tradition.
Census butterfly pea tea recipe
Ingredients:
- Fresh or dried butterfly pea flowers
- Boiling water
- To taste: ice, lemon, sugar, honey, milk
Instructions:
- Boil water. Heat 2 cups of water to a rolling boil.
- Add flowers. Place five to 10 dried butterfly pea flowers in a teapot or cup.
- Steep. Pour hot water over the flowers and let steep for five minutes (or longer for richer color).
- Strain and serve. Remove flowers and enjoy warm, or chill for iced tea.
- Squeeze in lemon juice for a color-changing effect!
News media may republish this story. A text version and art are available for download.
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