Okay, so bees are pretty amazing, and we’ll get to the reasons why in a second, but why we really came here is to let you know that there are a lot of small things we can all collectively do to save them. Record scratch. ‘Save them?!’ you may be asking, yeah, bees are endangered, and they need our help. Let’s get started!
First of all, why do we care so much about the bees? Well, no-brainer, bees give us honey. That thick, sweet substance that is delicious, never goes bad and has medicinal purposes. But that’s not even the only reason we need to protect them at all costs; bees pollinate one-third of our food, by way of crops such as apples, strawberries, and cotton, as well as alfalfa seeds which are used for beef and dairy feed. And because of how much bees contribute to crops, they’re keeping our economy alive and well. Point is, we need the bees bad, so we need to make sure we’re helping them any way we can.
(image via: pixels)
So how can we help save the bees exactly? We’re glad you asked, let’s have a look.
Step away from the pesticides. We totally get that you don’t want harmful creepy crawlies in your garden destroying everything, but pesticides are toxic to bees. Instead of using sprays with harmful chemicals, opt for a natural option to repel unwanted guests such as garlic or onion spray, or even soap shavings.
Stay wild. Whether you have a salsa garden, an everything else garden, or just a whole lot of wildflowers growing around where you call home, leave them wild rather than keep them manicured. A lot of these plants are great for bees to forage in. And as a bonus, you don’t have to mess with these plants for a while!
(image via: the spruce)
Make a bee bath. Bees have important jobs and they get pretty tired too, but you know what they love no matter what? A refreshing dip in a little bee bath. You can create this for the bees by simply taking a birdbath and filling it with water and stones.
Plant a bee-friendly garden. Last but certainly not least, planting a bee garden is a great way to make sure you are surrounded by happy, healthy bees. Luckily bees are attracted to some of the most colorful, most fragrant plants such as honeysuckle, sunflowers, mint, poppies, lavender, lilacs and so many more! If you don’t have a ton of space, you’re in luck because you don’t need it. Bees will find their way, so you can get all kinds of creative with flower boxes, pots, and window boxes.
(image via: backyard boss)