If you’re watching the changes that are happening in the world, then you may want to do your part to get keep things back on track. One of the ways that you can help is to work to save the bees. Bees have been villainized for many years, but truthfully, they are one of the major players in the health of the world. Without them, we can say goodbye to many plants and flowers, which can put an end to a wide variety of foods and lessen the oxygen in the air. There’s a lot of options to help bees thrive again though and many won’t cost a lot of money or even too much time. These ten ideas are a great way to give back to the bees that help keep our world working like a well-oiled machine, so you can make this National Bee Month one to talk about.
1. Plant Flowers
If you want to treat the bees right, one of the best things you can do is plant a lot of flowers on your property. Flowers attract bees because bees feed on their nectar. Thus, having a safe place to feed can ensure bees can boost their population once again. You might also find that as your flowers grow they may even spread to create a more beautiful setting for your home. There are several flowers that attract bees, so look around to see if you favor any of them. Most of these flowers will cost mere scents to grow from seeds, so you will get a whole lot out of the process for next to nothing out of pocket. Some bee friendly weeds, like dandelions look great in the yard and grow naturally. So, you can attract the bees without these without putting in any extra effort.
2. Consider a Water Fountain
Like any living creature, bees need a place to stop and drink while they do their work. Having a fountain can make your property a safe space for them if you have something like this. You don’t even have to have to water fountain specifically for bees. For instance, you can set out a decorative bird bath that will be inviting to the bees. However, this could compromise their safety if you do have birds that frequent it. Another option is to set up small areas within your garden. As long as the bees can have access to a small basin of water, you will be helping them out immensely. Doing this can also help out animals that might not have other sources of water, which is especially important in the summer months.
3. Ditch the Lawn
For some time now, many Americans have prided themselves on having a lawn. Usually, this consists of a large area of just grass in the front and/or back of the home. Although lawns add a tidy look to the home, you can do a whole lot more with your land that might show off your individuality and creativity. One of the worst things about lawns, apart from mowing them, is they are horrible for bees. There is actually nothing for a bee to feed on and water isn’t common unless the lawn has just been watered. This can cause bees to have to leave many areas, which means lots of flowers and other plants won’t get pollinated. This can be a major problem if this happens frequently. So, do yourself and the bees a favor by planting more than just grass in your front and backyard.
4. Skip Pesticides
Keeping a garden is great for bees. In fact, it is one of the best things you can do for the bees and your own personal health. However, using pesticides to keep bugs away from your garden won’t do you or your bee friends any favors. Obviously, pesticides are going to kill bees. They are also harmful to human beings. So, instead of grabbing the Round Up, try a more natural solution to the bugs that are giving your garden a hard time. For example, you can keep away snails with beer. Other bugs can be detoured with vinegar and other natural items commonly found in the home. Ask your favorite gardener for some tips or look online to see how you can target the pests in your garden naturally.
5. Buy Local/Raw Honey
Bees are mostly appreciated for one thing. That is, their honey. It’s hard to live without this sweet treat. So, if you’re a honey fan, do the bees in your neck of the woods a favor by buying local or raw honey. You can usually find this type of honey at farmer’s markets. However, some grocery stores will sell raw honey. The only downside to shopping for these items is they tend to cost a bit more than the honey you would buy in grocery stores. You have to consider what is in grocery store honey though. Usually, it is mixed with a variety of preservatives, artificial sweeteners and other fillers that stretch the honey further. This isn’t necessarily good for you. Local and raw honey is actually great for your body and can even be used to help with allergies. This honey makes a great alternative for sweeteners too, so you can cut back on other items that aren’t good for the body. When you purchase honey like this, you are usually supporting the hive itself, so bee keepers can do everything in their power to keep the bees going strong.
6. BEE-SAFE Certification
If you love to be a part of a group, then you might want to check out the BEE-Safe certification program. This program is simple to get into and basically asks you to take a pledge to help the bees. You will be given a list of ways you can help the bees and things that you should stop doing that cause bees harm. The best thing is, it doesn’t matter if you’re an individual, company or school, as the program is open to all. You may even want to see if your children’s school would like to join the program, so you can further the knowledge needed to help keep bees alive and thriving.
7. Sponsor a Hive
If you live in a city, can’t have a garden, or find it impossible to do your part, then you might want to consider sponsoring a hive. The honey business can be a pricey one, especially since many people don’t want to become beekeepers. By sponsoring a hive, you are working to help keep a hive thriving. This will allow beekeepers all over the country and maybe even the world to do their part to keep their small group of bees safe and surrounded by the things they need to pollinate and create honey. Sponsoring a hive doesn’t take a lot of money either. There are many programs that do this too, so you might want to do a little research to see which program suits you.
8. Shop Wisely
In this day and age, being a consumer can be pretty tough. There are so many items that we are supposed to avoid if we want to do our part to end child labor, pollution and other major ethic issues. So, one of the best things we can do is educate ourselves to know which companies do good in the world. There are actually quite a few that work to help the bees. Burt’s Bee for instance is a great natural company that keeps bees. They produce everything from soaps to clothing. One of their most popular items is lip balm which is made from beeswax. Cheerios is another widely popular company that sells a wide variety of cereal. The best thing about Cheerios is they help keep you healthy and full, so you can get more than your money’s worth. There are many other companies out there that work to help bees safely complete their important work.
9. Have Your Own Hive
If you have your own land and would like to keep your own bees then you might want to look into starting your own hive. There are actually courses you can take to learn how to start and care for your own bee hive. Of course, this is one of the priciest ways to help the bees. You will need plenty of special equipment to take care of them and to protect yourself from any potential stings. Courses might also take a bit of money. However, if you’re willing to put in the money and the work then this can be a very valuable experience. You may even be able to make a profit from your homegrown honey or use the wax for crafts you can sell. Of course, make sure to keep in mind your city’s regulations and your neighbors before you begin on this investment.
10. Educate Yourself
One of the most important things you can do to help the bees is educate yourself. Knowing about bees and the myths that surround them can help you set the records straight when you have people trying to kill bees because of these myths. It will also give you the knowledge you need to protect them. Understanding how to preserve a habitat for bees and how to protect them is crucial in the upcoming years. As bees begin to die out, the world as we know it will shortly follow. So, look up as much as you can and share the knowledge. There are a lot of wonderful documentariesto watch on the subject, so have fun becoming a bee expert!
Keeping the bees safe is mandatory for the survival of the world. So, this National Bee Month do your part to help the bee population grow back to a healthy number. With a little extra work from everyone, we can help others understand that having bees is something we need to maintain our beautiful planet.
