Give Bees a Chance

You’ve probably heard that honey bees are in crisis. Still, you might be asking, “What’s the big deal? I don’t eat that much honey.” I used to wonder that too, but now I realize that the honey bee decline is a much bigger — and stickier — issue.

You can thank a pollinator for one out of every three bites you eat. Bees help produce more than 100 types of crops, everything from almonds to watermelons. They’re also vital to the clover and alfalfa that feed beef and dairy cows. In other words, if you care about food, you need to care about bees. Healthy bees are essential to a varied and abundant food supply.

Background

In late 2006, North American beekeepers began to report mysterious losses of entire colonies. This phenomenon, known as “Colony Collapse Disorder,” focused international attention on honey bee decline. Since then, managed honey bee colonies have continued to die off at an average rate of 29.6% each year.

What Can We Do?

Scientists and beekeepers theorize that the honey bee decline may be caused by a combination of factors, including parasites, loss of habitat and increased exposure to pesticides, including systemic insecticides. Although the problem is complex, there are a few simple steps we can take to help preserve pollinators (and secure the future of food):

Mix it up. Plant native flowers with different shapes, colors and bloom times. Blooming herbs, fruits and vegetable are good choices too!

Dare to go bare. Preserve some brush piles and bare patches of soil to help native bees dig nests.

Don't spray it. Pesticides can impact bees' learning and foraging skills. If you can, skip pesticides altogether.