OK, so I totally made that up. But if you read the news at all, you know that our honey bee populations are in trouble. Colony Collapse Disorder is now being described as perhaps the most serious bee die off across the country. Losses of 30 to 90% of hives are being reported by beekeepers, creating tremendous stress on an industry already in decline. There are already concerns about how crops are going to be pollinated if these losses continue and no one is even sure why it is happening. The California almond crop alone requires 1.3 million hives for pollination, roughly half of all hives in the United States.

But did you know native bee populations are suffering population declines as well? These native bees are much more well adapted for pollinating native flowers; some, like the mason bee, are even more efficient pollinators than the famed honeybee. Healthy native bee populations can help with some of the pollination, but pesticide use and habitat loss are taking their toll on their populations as well.

What can you do to help? A lot actually.

1. Know your forage region. Click on your state for a list of important pollen and nectar sources for bees in your area. Have some growing nearby? Protect them. Can’t find any? Consider planting some. Their bloom times are given as well so with some planning, you can provide a food source throughout the growing season. Of course, the efforts of a single gardener will not have much effect. Bees forage over two to four square miles to collect the nectar and pollen they need, but the combined efforts of many gardeners will have an impact. Which is why #2 is important.

2. Talk to friends and neighbors. Pass along this list and encourage at least small bee plantings, even if it is just a small container garden on the driveway. Oh, and you know that patch of clover growing in your yard? Consider leaving it, or at least part of it. Clover was at one time intentionally planted in lawns to fix nitrogen. Chemical fertilizers have since taken its place, but it continues to provide the same benefits as well as a food source for bees. And if you have enough, you can even consider making some clover jelly.

3. Take a more organic approach to your gardening. Pulling weeds and hand picking parasites may be tedious, but it is way more selective than any chemical pest control on the market. Particularly Sevin, as popular as it is, has been indicated in pesticide poisonings. If you must spray, read the label carefully and follow instructions. Don’t spray while plants are in bloom. Spray in the early morning or late evening when bees are not present. Don’t contaminate water sources, including puddles near the plants. These simple measures will help reduce the number of bees affected by the pesticides gardeners most commonly use.

4. Consider purchasing more organic produce. It is pricier, but organic pest management is not as detrimental to bees as routine spraying.

5. Be judicious in your bee control measures. Some people are allergic to bee stings or are just afraid of them. If this is you, please do not use pesticides to kill them. Find out what is attracting bees to your yard and eliminate that instead. There are a variety of imported ornamentals that are beautiful and of no use to bees. Without a nectar source, they will do little more than fly on through. But also make sure you know the difference between a bee and  wasp. Many people confuse the docile honeybee with the more aggressive yellow jacket.

6. Lose the mulch. That’s right. One of the most frequently recommended organic means of controlling weeds and retaining moisture for an organic garden actually decreases the availability of suitable habitat for many native bees, 70% of which burrow in the ground. You don’t have to get rid of all of it, however. Pull some away, perhaps hidden in the shade of your planting, where bees can more easily burrow and provide you with a full season of pollination.

7. Plan your garden according to a bee’s tastes. Did I mention that already? Well, it bears repeating. And the list provided with the forage map may include the most significant pollen and nectar sources in your area, but perhaps you desire a bit more variety in your garden? Sedum and butterfly bush may not be significant enough to make the list, but that doesn’t mean bees won’t stop by your plantings! Check out the plants listed at The Melissa Garden and I’m sure you can find a combination of plants both you and the bees will love.

8. Try making a bee house to replace some of their dwindling habitat. A pile of junk, a more fashionable bee boudoir, or even a coffee can may all be used effectively to encourage native bees. (And an old flower pot can be used instead of that coffee can, and turns out much more attractive!)

9. Start your own hive! You would be surprised how many places not only allow, but actively encourage beekeeping. Even within city limits! States know that the bee industry is approaching a crisis and they are hoping to fill in some of the gaps with hobbyists like you and me. The state of Nebraska even has a yearly “bee school” where they teach you every thing you need to know to get started. And there’s a ton of information online, at your library and within your local beekeeping organizations. We’ll see how well that works for us once our bees arrive to populate our two hives!

10. What are you doing? What would you like to do? Sounds like a great homeschool project . . . to improve bee habitat in your own backyard!

bee honeybee native bee colony collapse disorder CCD green environment