Helping Bees and other Pollinators to Stay Safe
Bees are so amazing, these little engineers are responsible for the honey industry making millions of dollars on a yearly basis but the bee population is in danger because of their habitat being destroyed making way for roads, building structures, parks, and other infrastructures which means bees are now having to search for places to survive.
Now I know that we can’t save the whole world (the bee Population) but what we can do is our part in providing a home for them. The traditional way of installing garden plants is for beauty and not necessarily for helping to make a home for wildlife.
But now with the awareness of the decline of the bee population, there are persons known as beekeepers or honey farmers that specialize in caring for honey bees using them to provide services to vegetables and fruit growers. Bees that are kept by beekeepers are housed in boxes, beehives, etc… in the wild, however, their natural habitat includes rock cavities, caves, and hollow trees. Below we will be looking at ways in helping to preserve the bee population.
Turning your Garden into a Bee Habitat
A great way of helping to preserve the bee population is by providing native plants that attract them. When installing garden plants let’s not forget the ones bees are attracted to. Garden plants such as cosmos, snapdragons, zinnias, hostas, sedum, goldenrod, bee balm, aster, echinacea, foxglove, creeping thyme, lavender, sea holly, globe thistle, etc… These are just a few of the many garden plants to install to attract bees.
Pesticides
The use of harmful pesticides on garden plants will not only decrease the bee population but other pollinators including beneficial insects. Avoid using these chemicals as much as possible if you can. The introduction of beneficial insects in your garden by installing plants that attract them or releasing them in your garden area is a natural means (biological control) by bringing garden insect pests under control and will keep pollinators safe.
Herbicides
Weeds can become a big issue taking away from the natural beauty of a well-designed garden, weeds will also compete with garden plants for sunlight, nutrients, water, encourage disease, and garden insect pests. It is therefore normal and the right thing to do when it comes to ridding our gardens of weeds.
But herbicides when coming in contact with bees and other pollinators can harm them, why not go the natural way and pull them by hand. Now I know this can be labor-intense, but to make life a little easier why not monitor weeds so they don’t get out of control by putting a program in place where you can hand weed every so often.
The use of native plants
Planting native plants in a section of your garden that will attract bees is a great way in creating a bee garden or habitat while keeping them out of areas where you may want to use chemicals. Native plants will not only attract bees and other pollinators but are easy to maintain so consider going native.
Making bees your guest
Pull out the red carpet for bees by building an insect hotel, these hotels are a good place for them to use as a natural habitat. Bee hotels come in many shapes and styles. Following this link will help you better understand insect hotels.
Attract bees with water
It has been suggested that placing a bucket or a bowl of water in your garden with a few cork floating will attract bees.
Flowering vegetables and herbs
Growing food crops from your garden is a great way of saving a ton of money while growing healthy but why not create the best of both worlds and allow your vegetable and herbs to flower. These flowers will attract bees so both you and the bee population will benefit greatly.
Spreading the word
Spread the word informing people of the importance of bees and how the population is declining encouraging them to do all that they can do to preserve the bee population. Many people are not aware of the danger of the population being extinct and must be educated about what their contribution could mean.
Supporting beekeepers
Let’s do our part by supporting local bee keeps by purchasing the honey which is produced by the bees they care for. Local raw honey can be of great benefit to our healthy besides using it for other purposes.
Additional information
The good news, however, is that there are many organizations that have been established in helping to preserve the honey bee populations. Bees are a major part of the food production chain and it’s estimated that more than 30% of the world’s food supply is dependent upon bees to do their job which means these beneficial insects are in helping with food production. A study has also shown that bees are responsible for more than 70% of the world’s pollination, we can see then the importance of the honeybee. Below we will be looking at other benefits of the honeybee including some important facts which will amaze you.
14 Benefit of Honey
Here are just a few reasons why we should do our best in working with organizations to save the honey bee.
1. Bee honey is rich in antioxidants which help the body get rid of free radicals.
2. Honey will help in reducing triglycerides.
3. Strengthens the immune system.
4. Honey will help in promoting digestive issues.
5. Is believed to help in the lowering of blood pressure.
6. It can help to heal bruises and burns.
7. Honey contains antifungal and antibacterial properties.
8. Honey will help in relieving the sore throat.
9. Help in fighting infections.
10. It helps in the reduction of diarrhea.
11. Brings relief to the cough and cold symptoms.
12. Boost memory.
13. Honey helps to promote healthy skin.
14. Honey will help with healthy hair growth.
14 bee facts you should know
1. Bees are classified as beneficial insects.
2. Bees contribute to more than 30% of food production.
3. It’s believed that bees can recognize the faces of humans.
4. What I love about honey bees is that they help to create jobs.
5. It’s believed that honey never spoils.
6. The queen bee can live up to five years.
7. Bees have a great sense of smell.
8. On a single trip, a honey bee will visit more than 50 flowering plants.
9. Surprisingly as this may sound a bee’s venom is used in the medical field to treat high blood pressure and arthritis.
10. The queen bee can lay up t0 2,500 eggs a day.
11. There are said to be more than 16,000 bee species.
12. A single bee can only produce 1/12 tablespoons of honey throughout its lifetime.
13. A colony can contain up t0 60,000 bees.
14. Honey bees can travel up to 6 miles when looking for pollen.
The final word on bees
Bees like every living thing wants to survive, these beneficial insects are so important and make a big contribution with the honey they produce that has so many benefits. Let’s do our part to preserve bees by creating natural habitats and doing what else is necessary to keep them safe. With that said let’s get started on preserving these little enginers.
About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I read somewhere that if we had no bees in the world, we would all die. I wonder how true this is.
Great article on ways to help save the bees and there are so many little things that we can all do every day to make this a reality. I love the bee hotel idea, although I would be very careful where I put it, as would hate family members to be stung.
Amazing to think that one bee only makes 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime, and this would mean it would take many many bees to produce a jar of honey.
Bees are little wonders of nature that do such a big job by helping with the production of foods We should do all that we can to save the bees because these beneficial insects are so important to us. Have a good day and all the best to you, my dear lady.