“This post was created as part of the Friends of the Earth #BeeBold Campaign in which I am a financially compensated blogger. The opinions are my own and based on my own experience.”
I know they are important, but not everyone understands why, so before we get to the 'how' lets talk about the why.
Save The Bees
The message is simple enough, save the Bees. Pretty straight forward actually...
But it never is just that simple.
A few of you are wondering, but how, what can I do? A few others may be wondering why, what purpose do the bees serve? And a scary few of you may just not care.
I live in PA, I know we are not the most popular state, but we are important. You may not know this, but my state is filled with produce! I can't get to my local town without passing at least 10 farms and I hate to brag, but we have some pretty awesome farmers markets.
Living in an area that is filled with farm lands I've always known the importance of bees! Heck every year when I grow my little pumpkin patch I get super excited to see those pollinators around, because I know that they are helping me!
I know they are important, but not everyone understands why, so before we get to the 'how' lets talk about the why.
Bees and other pollinators are essential for two-thirds of the food crops humans eat everyday such as almonds, squash, cucumbers, apples, oranges, blueberries, and peaches.
One out of every three bites of food we eat is pollinated by honeybees.
Bees contribute over $20 billion to the U.S. economy and $217 billion to the global economy.
If you ever heard the term busy as a bee now you know why! These little pollinators work nonstop around the clock working behind the scenes to make our crops grow.
And how to we repay them?
With death!
With death!
Bees are dying at alarming rates, and neonic pesticides are a key contributor to the problem.
Yes you read that right, we our purposely killing these essential pollinators. Why? Mason bees are non-stinging super pollinators who help keep our gardens and crops growing. Why eliminate them?
I'm a pretty logical person, so I just can't seem to understand why a person would pay to destroy something that is a $20 billion asset?
Heck if I made someone $20 billion I would be paid $100's by the hour, we pay the bees by killing them off?
We’re calling on the Obama administration to immediately ban pesticides linked to global bee declines to protect the nation’s food supply, environment and economy.
The current widespread use of bee-toxic pesticides is unacceptable and doing way more harm than good.
Neonics are toxic to bees.
Neonics are toxic to bees.
The law need to change, we need to ask, NO DEMAND, they restrict neonics in the U.S. as Europe and Ontario, Canada have done.
If you could careless about the bees maybe you will wake up and care at least about your own survival.
Beekeepers have lost an average of 30% of their hives in recent years, with some beekeepers losing all of their hives and many leaving the industry. 30% of an entire industry is gone! Just really sit there for a moment and let that sink in. Not only are we killing the bees, but now we are putting 30% of an industry out of work. This is already one huge industry that is suffering from the bees dying off.
It is causing farmers unable to meet their pollination needs for important crops like almonds, berries and more. We are in big trouble when the farms can no longer grow crops.
Neonics can kill bees outright and make them more vulnerable to pests, pathogens and other stressors while impair their foraging and feeding abilities, reproduction and memory.
Neonics are widely used in the U.S. on 140 crops and for cosmetic use in gardens. Neonics can last in soil, water and the environment for months to years to come.
Neonics are also harming other helpful insects and animals critical to sustainable food production and healthy ecosystems, like wild bees, butterflies, dragonflies, lacewings, and ladybugs, birds, earthworms, mammals and aquatic insects.
I hope I have your attention now, because this is serious.
Okay so how can you help?
For those of you whom need to use something to keep pest from your garden there are other non-harmful products that can be used for pest control.
Other everyday ways to help is provide a habitat plant organic only native and pollinator friendly plants. I say native because the bees in your region are already adapted to these. And plant many this way bees can forage on a few each trip.
Provide a nest! I was provide a super cute bamboo bee house by Friends of the Earth to help my local bees. Make sure to set it up properly so the bees can benefit from it without coming to harm.
Also you can set up a bee bath! Not only is it easy, but it is now a stylish part of my yard.
And finally we have to demand a stop to the use of Neonics! Are bees are important that help us every single day. The least we can do is protect them.
Want to do more check out this Map Link to see what people in your area are doing to help.
Also!!
Right now Friends Of the Earth is having a Bee Brunch campaign to help spread awareness!
To learn more please see my link below:
Brunch for Bees
http://www.foe.org/
If you could careless about the bees maybe you will wake up and care at least about your own survival.
Beekeepers have lost an average of 30% of their hives in recent years, with some beekeepers losing all of their hives and many leaving the industry. 30% of an entire industry is gone! Just really sit there for a moment and let that sink in. Not only are we killing the bees, but now we are putting 30% of an industry out of work. This is already one huge industry that is suffering from the bees dying off.
It is causing farmers unable to meet their pollination needs for important crops like almonds, berries and more. We are in big trouble when the farms can no longer grow crops.
Neonics can kill bees outright and make them more vulnerable to pests, pathogens and other stressors while impair their foraging and feeding abilities, reproduction and memory.
Neonics are widely used in the U.S. on 140 crops and for cosmetic use in gardens. Neonics can last in soil, water and the environment for months to years to come.
Neonics are also harming other helpful insects and animals critical to sustainable food production and healthy ecosystems, like wild bees, butterflies, dragonflies, lacewings, and ladybugs, birds, earthworms, mammals and aquatic insects.
I hope I have your attention now, because this is serious.
Okay so how can you help?
For those of you whom need to use something to keep pest from your garden there are other non-harmful products that can be used for pest control.
Other everyday ways to help is provide a habitat plant organic only native and pollinator friendly plants. I say native because the bees in your region are already adapted to these. And plant many this way bees can forage on a few each trip.
Provide a nest! I was provide a super cute bamboo bee house by Friends of the Earth to help my local bees. Make sure to set it up properly so the bees can benefit from it without coming to harm.
Also you can set up a bee bath! Not only is it easy, but it is now a stylish part of my yard.
And finally we have to demand a stop to the use of Neonics! Are bees are important that help us every single day. The least we can do is protect them.
Want to do more check out this Map Link to see what people in your area are doing to help.
Also!!
Right now Friends Of the Earth is having a Bee Brunch campaign to help spread awareness!
To learn more please see my link below:
Brunch for Bees
http://www.foe.org/