What Can You Do to Protect Bees?

If you’ve recently viewed articles about beekeeping on specialized websites, such as the one on silverlakefarms.com, then you might be interested in this activity altogether. The truth is that bees play a major role in the planet’s ecosystem, so we cannot really afford to lose them. On the other hand, our activity and the expanding urban areas place great stress on these highly active insects. 

In case you want to know more about what you can do to protect bees, it’s crucial that you understand a little bit better their needs and particularities. However, before getting into tips and tricks on what you could do to help in this matter, let’s take a look at what makes these insects so important. 

Why are bees crucial to our survival? 

There are around 20,000 bee species living around the world, and approximately 4,000 of these can be found in the United States. This says a lot about how versatile bees are but it also means that you first need to identify the type of bees that live in your area, before taking any protective measures. 

Many people are wondering whether we would starve without bees, and the answer to this question is “Probably yes.”. If you take a look at the food you are having for dinner, you can safely assume that bees have had something to do with pretty much any natural ingredient included.

They are directly responsible for pollinating fruits and vegetables, but they are also heavily involved in pollinating the food for those animals that we can then consume. Of course, this is without even taking into account the honey and wax that they directly produce and that have plenty of beneficial applications in our daily lives. 

With this being said, it’s pretty obvious that we cannot really make it without these insects, so the reports that state their numbers are decreasing should alarm us all. It’s always a good idea to make an effort and protect bees, but if you are determined to do so, it’s also crucial to get those measures that actually help them. 

How to approach this matter

Some people are tempted to take matters into their own hands, order a hive online, and then install it in their backyard. However, there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration before making such a decision. Plus, there are other measures you can take that are much simpler before becoming a beekeeper. 

First of all, you can join a local association whose members can provide all the necessary details about the local bee community. Keep in mind that simply introducing a new hive in an area, with bees that are not originally from there might affect the well-being of the native ones. 

In terms of simpler steps that can help bees in your area, you can consider letting part of your lawn grow back. These insects are not really into trimmed lawn, but they do enjoy having meadows in which they can hide and nest. Then you should also avoid using any kind of herbicide or pesticide in your yard. There are plenty of bee-friendly alternatives out of which you can choose. 

Of course, you can plant a little garden oasis that might contain special herbs and flowers that attract bees. Lavender, mint, or poppies are just a few of the ones you can include on your list. You should ideally choose plants and flowers that are native to the area in which you live. That way, you make sure that the flora is preserved as well, while bees get exactly what they need.