It’s true that many types of bees are now on the endangered species list. But it’s also true that countless people have heard about the plight of the bees and decided to help. They’ve thought up some pretty creatively effective ways to support the bee community, including taking up new hobbies and buying local raw honey.
There is a part for everyone to play in protecting the bee population from further destruction. Here are just some ways people are making a difference.
Plant Pollinator-Friendly Gardens
From beginner hobbyists to expert horticulturalists, some gardeners have chosen to create a space for the bees to thrive. Bees are already helpful in pollinating the garden, so in return, some gardeners add plants such as blueberry, tomato, blackberry, or strawberry plants, which help bees thrive. Even the smallest gardens can provide enough room for one or two of these bee-friendly plants. There are other ideas for creating a garden in a small space, like a vertical or raised garden.
PRO TIP: See which bee-friendly flowers grow in your zone. You can choose from this HGTV list.
Some also mow their yards less and leave gaps in their gardens for the bees to nest in the ground. Also, by avoiding the use of chemical pesticides, gardeners are preventing any extra harm to both their own produce and the pollen that the bees glean from. It’s amazing how these little tips can make big strides toward rescuing these helpful insects.
Create a ‘Buzz’ on Social Media
People are spreading their support for bees by keeping their friends and family informed about the issue.
PRO TIP: Help create your own buzz on social media by using hashtags like #honeybees, #pollination, and #beekeeping. Every post, pic, and tweet helps keep others informed about our bees.
Even well-known brand Burt’s Bees ran a large marketing campaign in 2016, temporarily eliminating the letter “B” from their products, to promote awareness. There are quite a few platforms we can all use to spread the word. It’s a big issue that deserves our full attention.
Support Your Local Beekeepers
Local beekeepers are really doing us a favor by harvesting such a precious commodity within our communities. They are cultivating a habitat for the very bees we are trying to save from extinction. They take their time to make sure the hives are maintained correctly, even by using methods known as “Natural Beekeeping” which avoids the use of chemicals. When you buy honey or other products from local beekeepers, you help support their business so they can support the bees.
PRO TIP: You can use LocalHoneyFinder.org to find your own local honey! “This website helps you to find the type of honey you're seeking, in your own local area; whether raw or boiled, filtered or unfiltered, in the comb or extracted; as long as it is fresh and locally produced.”
Send Children to Beekeeping Camps
When prompted with the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up,” how often do you hear a child talk about their dream of beekeeping? Most likely, it’s not on their list of possibilities because it’s not a very common hobby or career these days. Upon noticing the lack of opportunities for kids to learn about beekeeping, some organizations actually started to host beekeeping camps to teach the next generation all about beekeeping basics.
PRO TIP: Check out the American Beekeeping Federation’s list of youth beekeeping resources to get started.
Start Your Own Beekeeping Business
If you want to dive into the world of beekeeping to start your own small honey business, then there are many resources available online that can help you get started. In addition to creating a business plan and researching business structures, you’ll also want to ensure you don’t make some of the common mistakes that befall new business owners (click here to check out this list of business mistakes).
PRO TIP: Try the Free Introductory Beekeeping Course by PerfectBee.com: “Our completely free course features 40 lessons, delivered to your inbox and introducing you to the wonderful world of beekeeping!”
We may never fully understand just how much humanity really gains from the help and support of the bee community. Let’s not wait until it’s too late to save bees from extinction. It’s time to stand up and “bee” the voice for something small enough to make a big change in our world.
This guest blog was submitted by Penny Martin, who blogs about animal adoption at fureverfriend.info.