What do you know about saving the bees? Our furry little friends that help to beautify the Earth with their pollen! They give us the gift of beautiful flowers, and a ton of delicious fruits and veggies. Bees are actually the reason we have edible produce lining the shelves of our grocery stores. How boring would Taco Tuesday be without a hearty side of guac and salsa? Plant these to help save the bees!
Unfortunately, it’s no secret that the population of bees is in a rapid decline, and the honeybee population has decreased by 40% in the last few years. If you care about our pollinators (and you should!) here are 6 things you can do to help save the bees!
#1 Support Organic (and locally grown) Vegetables Whenever Possible
Non-organic vegetables can use pesticides and other chemicals that are harmful to the bees. When gardening at home, be sure to only use certified organic seeds, and make an effort to DIY your own pesticides. You would be surprised at how many bee-killing chemicals are out there!
#2 BUY LOCAL!
I could go on and on about how important it is to support local economics and agriculture, and this just proves my point! When it comes time to purchase a new jar of honey, be sure to buy only local! It is said that local beekeepers are a lot more likely to care about the health and well-being of their bees, whereas a large corporation may not be so concerned!
Life Pro Tip: Eating varieties of raw honey is said to help prevent the onset of seasonal allergies! Goodbye, sniffles.
#3 Refresh The Bees!
Bees weren’t given the nickname “busy bee” for no reason! Honeybees often tire themselves out throughout the day, and having access to food and water can help any stragglers that can’t seem to make it back to their hives! Off Grid World has a really awesome DIY tutorial that shows you how to make your own bee refreshment station. How fun would this be to sit and watch all day?
#4 Make Your Voice Heard
While bees are tiny and mighty, they still have a problem making sure their voices are heard! That’s where you come in! Make your voice heard by signing this petition from Greenpeace. Alternatively, talk to your government about conserving what is left of the bee’s ecosystem.
#5 Plant Bee-Friendly Flowers and Shrubs
There is such a thing as bee-friendly flowers and shrubs! Attract bees to your garden by filling it with plants that bees cannot get enough of. Bees love Lavender, Hawthorne, Winter Honeysuckle, Lilac, and Rosemary.
Cheerios is also sending out free packets of wildflower seeds to help #BringBackTheBees. Find out more here!
#6 Share Your Knowledge
Got a green thumb? Share your pollination tips and tricks with other gardeners throughout the country. You can register your garden to be a part of a nation-wide pollen directory that helps researchers. Save the bees with the S.H.A.R.E. map here.