Despite the “save the bees” mantra that started the bee advocacy movement several years ago, the bee population is still declining. With that in mind, shifting to organic and bee-friendly practices in your lifestyle can help support the bee population. Although your individual efforts are noble, learning how to advocate for honeybees in your community can bolster the necessary support to impact population growth.
Support Local Beekeepers
Your local beekeepers are already hard at work trying to save the bee population in your area. Use the internet, social media, and ask around to seek out beekeepers near you. Many beekeepers sell honey and beeswax products such as soap, candles, lotions, etc., for people to buy and contribute to their efforts.
Consider volunteering your time, buying their products, or offering a monetary donation to help keep a beekeeper afloat. Not only is local honey delicious, but consuming it can also help with seasonal allergies because it comes from local flora.
Become a Beekeeper Yourself
Aside from supporting other beekeepers in your area, you can make a world of difference by becoming one yourself. First, you should decide which subspecies of bees you want to keep, and then find protective gear to start your beekeeping journey. Next, visit The B Farm online for honeybees for sale in Billerica, MA.
However, if having your own colony doesn’t sound like the best fit, you can still advocate for the bees in many other ways. Don’t be afraid to get out there and speak up!
Plant a Bee Garden
Believe it or not, one of the biggest threats to the bee population is a lack of safe spaces to call home and get the necessary nutritious food sources to sustain a colony. You can plant a bee garden in your yard to create a small habitat for bees. You don’t need a huge space to do this; a few nectar-rich plants are better than nothing.
Trees for Bees
Bees get a substantial amount of their nectar from trees that produce flowers. When a tree blossoms, it provides thousands of flowers for bees to feed on. In addition, trees work as a shelter or habitat. With deforestation on the rise, you can help the bees by planting and caring for trees in your area.
Flowers for Bees
Even if you only plant flowers in potted containers, flower beds, or window boxes, you’re helping your local honeybee population get the nectar they need to make honey and survive. Black-eyed Susans, butterfly milkweed, and hibiscus are just a few of the most nectar-rich plants to plant in your bee garden.
Include a Bee Bath
The ultimate bee gardens include a bee bath. Similar to a bird bath, bee baths provide bees with a shallow water source. Bees need water to survive and make honey, but they don’t like to get wet. You can fix this problem by lining the bottom of a shallow container with stones and filling it with water. This way, the bees can rest on the rocks and collect water without getting their bodies wet.
Spread Awareness in Your Community
Spreading awareness in your community can take many different forms, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Your specific approach should depend on your community’s structure and what you think would work best to get the word out and make a difference in your area.
Start an Advocate Group
In many cities, starting a bee advocate group can make a massive difference. Start by gathering a few of your close friends and neighbors to join the cause. Next, you can start putting up flyers around town and making event invitations on social media to increase your group’s presence in your town.
Pro Tip: Having a catchy name for your group will help it stick in people’s minds and make them more likely to join the cause!
Host Sessions for Children
Although it might not seem like a big deal right now, the children in your community will become tomorrow’s advocates for the bee population. If your group includes children, you’ll be able to draw in more parents who want to get their children involved in the community and the environment.
Hosting educational sessions specifically for children can help them become more passionate about saving the bees early in their lives. Be sure to use kid-friendly facts and teach them why bees are essential to the environment and the economy in the U.S.
Host a Fundraiser
Whether online or in person, hosting a fundraiser to support honeybees is an excellent way to advocate for them in your community. Consider brainstorming a catchy hashtag with your group to drum up extra attention for the event. Your fundraising efforts boost awareness through information sharing and increase community building through emotional appeal.
Your advocacy group should decide beforehand whether the proceeds of the fundraiser will go to local beekeepers or larger bee advocacy organizations. Be sure to disclose the specific names of the beneficiaries to encourage people in your community to support the cause.
Advocate for Pesticide-Free Zones
The use of chemical pesticides in any outdoor area can be harmful to bees and other pollinators in your community. Before advocating for pesticide-free zones throughout your city, you should pledge your own property as a pesticide-free zone. Next, you can move on to other areas around your town. Take these natural steps to begin your pesticide-free advocacy journey.
- Switch to buying organic and pesticide-free foods and products.
- Refrain from using chemical pesticide sprays on your property, as they’re harmful to you and the pollinators.
- Consider displaying a pesticide-free zone sign in your yard to show your neighbors how important it is to maintain healthy practices for the environment.
- Begin encouraging your bee advocacy group to do the same for their properties.
- Branch out as a group to encourage schools, businesses, and your local government to support honeybees and bolster pesticide-free zones throughout the community.
By learning how to advocate for honeybees in your community, you can significantly impact your neighbors, friends, local businesses, and even the government. Consider writing letters and contacting your state’s senators and representatives encouraging them to change environmental policies. No matter how small your effort, every little bit counts when it comes to supporting your local bees.
If you’re interested in buying bees, contact us at The B Farm at (978) 384-0356. We sell bee nucs, queens, and more.
