Episode 6: Supporting Honeybees and Native Pollinators
Options for supporting bees without the ability to keep a hive, or before jumping into installing an apiary
Why are bees important?
Honeybees and native pollinators travel from flower to flower for pollen and nectar which they bring back to the hive. During this process they transfer pollen attached to the hairs on the legs between the flowers. This pollen transfer is what fertilizes a crop’s reproductive system creating food. Without pollination and bees, there would be far less food. Native and wild plants would also go unpollinated resulting in a major lack of food for wildlife, thus collapsing entire ecosystems.
Why are bee numbers declining?
According to USDA, “Beginning in 2006, experts noted significant yearly declines in honey bee colonies... Years of research determined the decline was likely attributable to a wide range of stressors such as pests, diseases, pesticides, pollutants/toxins, nutritional deficits, habitat loss, effects of climate variability, agricultural production intensification, reduced species or genetic diversity, and pollinator or crop management practices.”
Source
Plant bee friendly trees
Embrace weeds, wildflowers and prairie spaces
National Wildlife Federation native plant finder by zip code. Ranks plants by use of butterfly and moth species as host plants. Includes trees, grasses, flowers and shrubs
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Plants
Lease land to beekeeper
Lease Honey connects land owners and farmers with beekeepers looking for space. Helps to increase crop yields, raise bee population numbers and can even cut down on property taxes in some states.
https://leasehoney.com/
Interplant flowers and flowering herbs in the vegetable garden to attract/feed bees and increase crop yields.
Farmers’ Almanac
Chart of companion plants by vegetable. Also lists benefits of various plants.
https://www.almanac.com/companion-planting-chart-vegetables
Pollinator Perennial Garden