Bees are indispensable creatures. These unappreciated saviors of the earth contribute to a proper food supply and other uncountable benefits. According to research, over 80 percent of flowering trees and plants depend on bees for survival. However, recent news shows that their population is declining at an alarming rate.
We can help bees by planting a bee garden, becoming a citizen scientist, creating a bee bath, providing homes for all bee types, teaching future generations on beekeeping, avoiding pesticides, providing trees for bees, and many others. Bees are important to the ecosystem and thus need care.
Fortunately, most individuals seek knowledge on how to help bees, but they lack the proper procedure. Nonetheless, there are multiple methods you can implement to help bees at zero cost. This post will identify 11+ methods you can apply to help bees. Read on!
Do Bees Need Our Help?
Bees need our help. This is because these creatures significantly contribute to our environment and our overall wellbeing yet they’re increasingly facing issues in their survival. Here are various reasons why bees need our help:
1. They Contribute to a Sound Ecosystem
Bees are the backbone species of our ecosystem since, without bees, most lives will end. Naturally, many animals rely on bees for survival since their typical food sources, such as seeds, berries, and fruits, depend on insect pollination.
On the other hand, pollination contributes to the growth of flowers, providing a habitat for most birds and insects. Finally, bees and their products, such as honey, serve as a food supply for different animals.
2. They Offer Essential Services to the Ecosystem
Bees serve as pollinators for multiple essential crops. Research shows that over 35 percent of crops depend on bees for pollination. Thus, a declining bee population can lead to a decline in food crops. This shows how bees play essential services within our ecosystem.
3. They are a Great Contribution to the Economy
Bees are vital for crop production since they pollinate most worldwide crops depend on them for pollination. This, in turn, contributes to massive crop yields. Further, these creatures’ role in pollination has been of significant economic impact. For instance, according to recent research, pollinators in America contribute over 24 billion US dollars, which is infinitely a third of their total food consumption.
How Can We Help Bees?
Here are 11+ methods to get started in helping bees:
Method #1: Establish a Pollinators Garden
Establishing a pollinator garden assists honeybees greatly. These bees depend on pollen and nectar from neighboring flowers for survival. Typically, shortness of flowers within your bees’ environment will lead to starvation. Therefore, establishing a pollinator garden is a practical way of ensuring a sufficient food supply for your bees. However, you need to provide a pesticide-free garden.
Unless you are allergic to various bees’ components, you can attract pollinators close to your property. The bees causing threats to people include the wild bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, relatives, and untrue bees. These bees are carnivorous and cannot be attracted to your pollinator plants.
Method #2: Avoid Pesticides
Pesticides are poisonous to humans and toxic to bees. Generally, most pest control remedies and chemicals used on gardens and lawns tend to weaken the bees and are most harmful when used at the flowering stage.
According to research, neonicotinoid pesticides stay within the pollen and nectar of flowering plants, where bees are more likely to get in touch with them. Such treatments weaken their immune systems, making them more prone to disease and possible attacks by pests.
Method #3: Support Local Beekeepers
Purchasing honey from local beekeepers is suitable for supporting their art and bees. This will lead to good environmental wellbeing and health in your town or city.
Raw honey from local beekeepers comes unpasteurized, undiluted, and unheated, implying that it contains all vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and delicious flavor. This honey is also a suitable treatment for abrasions, minor burns, colds, and flu.
Thus, by purchasing local honey, you’re contributing to your overall health and the health of your community.
Method #4: Practice Organic Farming
Honeybees consume nearby crops, flowers, and ornamental plants, and these plants mustn’t be coated with harmful substances that can weaken the hive. Most small-scale farmers are practicing permaculture and organic farming options on their farms.
This entails planting multiple crops without using pesticides. The good news is that bees within such areas are producing ‘grown without pesticides’ honey that is commonly available in the market.
Method #5: Turn into a Citizen Scientist
You can easily join a worldwide movement to gather data about favorite pollinators. Take photos and essential information about native bees and load them on the iNaturalist app.
Transform it into a group operation by sharing it with friends using a BeeBlitz event. Together, you can understand bees within various sites and cities and discover opportunities for raising them.
Method #6: Establish a Bee Bath
Bees work hard when collecting and foraging nectar, making them thirsty. Pack a bowl or a shallow bird bath with clean water, and organize some stones and pebbles inside to break the water surface. Bees will rest on the pebbles and stones to acquire a long tonic drink.
Method #7: Construct Homes for Native Bees
Did you know that most other bees are individual creatures than honeybees? 70% of solitary bees reside underground, while 30% reside in holes within trees and hollow stems.
Also, other species, such as bumble bees, construct their nests on barren land. Thus, you can save such bees by securing a part within your yard and setting up beehives to serve as homes for such bees.
Method #8: Establish a Messy Garden
Although most people prefer a weed-free garden bed and neat lawn, conventional lawns are a field for pollinators, and most weeds provide forage for bees. Thus, allow your herb and veggie plants to flower to supply forage to bees and minimize your garden roles.
Method #9: Protect the Bees’ Habitat
You can significantly contribute to supporting bees even as an urban area resident. For instance, you can actively participate in groups that work effortlessly to protect bees’ habitats.
Also, you can make donations to promote the fruitful work they’re performing. Such efforts will mark the overall bee sector performance.
Method #10: Create a Space for Pollinators in your Garden
Globally, there are over 19,000 bee species, most of which are individual nesting pollinators. Various pollinators require unique types of homes.
For example, cavity-nesting bees require holes on stems and hollow plant stems for laying eggs. Also, some species prefer hibernating during winter and always search for shelter spaces insulated with plant matter.
You can easily support pollinators in various ways, such as allowing space for bumble bees to establish underground holes or leaving woods to be drilled by carpenter bees. Also, you can leave the ground undug and some sticks in position to develop a natural habitat for pollinators nesting on the ground.
Method #11: Educate Tomorrow’s Beekeepers
Inspire future generations with lessons, guides, and activities to motivate them about bees. You acquire information from online sources and libraries to transform the attitude of next-generation to beekeeping.
Method #12: Wait Till Spring to Graze Leaves
Grazing leaves may seem an essential chore during fall. However, if you are aiming to help bees, it would be better to leave leaves till late spring when you can. Queen bees depend on leaf litter for warmth during winter.
Leaf litter also safeguards plants from harsh weather. Attempt waiting until local fruit trees such as pears and apples finish blooming. This is when most bees will emerge from winter hiding, and it’s suitable to graze leaves.
Summary
Bees are essential creatures to the ecosystem and our overall wellbeing. Therefore, it should be everyone’s priority to help these pollinators. Fortunately, we’ve identified various methods of helping bees within your environment. Prioritize on helping bees now!