Last summer, I wrote an article about Why Bees are Important. I had every intention of publishing a follow-up on how to save bees. Things came and went and this article did not happen 🤪. But – summer has come around again, so this year I am finally publishing said article.
How to Save Bees
So, after we learned why bees are so important, I thought I would give you some tips as to what we – all collectively and you personally – can do in order to save bees. Let’s dive in…
Don’t Hurt The Bees
This one may be fairly obvious – but don’t hurt the bees. Bees do not want to harm you. They have only one goad. And can only sting once. After that, they (unfortunately) die. They are your friend – so no need to hurt them 😉.
Get to Know Your Local Farmer
Farm practices differ widely across different farmers. A lot of them spray pesticides, which definitely harm the bees. You may be thinking “organic is better” which may well be the case but not always. Organic farmers can also use some forms of sprays and pesticides (which are meant to be less harmful to humans). The best way to know whether farmers are working with the bees and helping them is to ask the farmers. A lot of them, for example, grow bedding meadows on the rim of their fields in order to ensure that they have nectar.
Help the Bees to Survive
You can hang an insect hotel (a small place where bees and other insects like to hide), or plant some bee-friendly flowers. Bees also like to have grass as natural as possible, so try to avoid having an overtly-manicured garden and rather opt to have an area of your garden (or the entire one) a bit more “wild”. Most of the nectar bees make comes from trees. If you can, think about planting a tree for bees. Bees love trees as they provide excellent shelter. Tree leaves also provide great nesting materials for bees and the wood gives shelter.
Build a Bee Bath
This one is fairly easy, inexpensive, and perhaps even fun to set up. Build a bee bath. Bees can be thirsty when they are collecting nectar all day. You can easily make a bee bath by filling a bird bath or a shallow dish with some water and putting some pebbles (or similar) into it that break the water’s surface. The bees can then sit on said pebbles and take a drink from the water without fear of drowning or “falling” into the water.
Support Local Beekeepers
Local beekeepers work really hard to support and sustain life for bees. You can support those local beekeepers by buying local honey and other bee-related products locally. Many beekeepers make soaps, lotions, propolis, and candles from their hives. Plus local honey may help with seasonal allergies as the bees pollinate and collect nectar from flowers that are growing around you (and may be providing you with an itch to your nose).
And that is it for this week 🤗. I hope you enjoyed this excursion into how to save bees. From small changes to slightly more expensive ones – I think there is something for everyone here. Thank you for reading 🥰!! Beautiful cover photo by Shelby Cohron on Unsplash.
