It’s the newest trend, right? Beekeeping in your own backyard. I’ll admit, I even thought about it. But since a. Mike and I are terrified of bees and b. I can’t keep a houseplant alive, it didn’t sound like such a good idea for our family.
But, I’m no dummy. I know bees are incredibly important to our world. We’ve all heard that the human race would cease to exist a mere four years after bees went extinct…or something like that.
So, if you’re like me, and beekeeping is not your thang, check out these alternatives to supporting bees without being a beekeeper.
© Viktor / Dollar Photo Club
Support Bees WITHOUT Being a Beekeeper
Buy a Mason Bee House
Mason bees are known to NOT sting, and they are 20x more efficient at pollinating. You won’t get any honey from these honies, but the upside is there is really no work for you other than just hanging it in your yard per the instructions provided.
“Pardon the Weeds, I’m Feeding the Bees” Sign
In a roundabout way, I’d like to take credit for these (not really). My mom thought that if people had a way to advertise that they were intentionally letting weeds grow on their lawn, they would be more likely to quit it with the chemical fertilizers that kill the bees’ first foods of Spring (like dandelions!) So, she contacted my SIL who has the know how, and she was able to produce these signs. Some of the proceeds go to…you guessed it…saving bees.
Joules Bee Wellies
I own a pair of these bad boys. They are perfect for rainy Spring days. You know what else they are good for? Donating 5% of the sales to the British Bee Keepers Association.
Buy Local Honey
You know who helps keep the bee population alive? Bee keepers. You know what they need to do that? Money. You know how they make money, honey? Honey. You know who makes honey? Bees. It’s a perfect little circle.
Buy Bees for Someone Else
I’m not talking about leaving a box of sting-happy yellow jackets on your rude neighbor’s porch. I mean you need to take a look at Heifer’s program where for $30, you can send honeybees to a family in need. The family can then help pollinate their existing crops or successfully grow new ones. They can also profit from the honey and wax products from the hive.
Plant Flowers
Go to FeedaBee.com where you can receive a free packet of seeds that bees will love. If you have nowhere to plant them, you can always send the seeds to someone you love.
Hanna Rosengren makes the absolute most adorable literature and totes that advertise which flowers bees love most. From postcards to posters, you can spread the word by buying one of her gorgeous pieces and displaying it for all to see.
Teach Your Kids
Donate money to Pollinator Partnership and receive a curriculum that will “increase students’ understanding in science, math, and language arts by connecting them to plants, pollinators, food, and gardens by creating habitat for pollinators.”
Bee Appy
Download the Bee Smart Pollinator Gardener app. It is “your comprehensive guide to selecting plants for pollinators specific to your area. Never get caught wondering what plants to buy again!”
What other ways do you support bees without being a beekeeper? Load the combox with your ideas!
Plant pollinating attracting plants! And if you vegetable garden let some of your veggies “go to seed”. We let some broccoli go to seed last year (kind of out of laziness) and oh my goodness our bee population seemed to explode. The bees need food.
Another couple of suggestions….don’t spray chemicals in your yard, plant flowers and shrubs which have blooms bees like. If anyone complains, then remind them about the veggies and fruit they eat are possible only thanks to bees.
Bees!!! The most I will probably every do is buy local honey, but man will I ALWAYS buy local honey- soooo good!
Plus local honey is supposed to help acclimate your allergies by getting your body used to the local pollens/allergens. So it’s a great one to do!
I’ve often daydreamed about raising bees – I dated a guy for a while who raised them and the whole operation was so fascinating – but yeah. I’m also terrified of them, so I don’t think that would work. Although, my most memorable field trip in school was to a bee farm where we ate fresh honey right off the comb, and it was the most delicious thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.
I need one of those Mason Bee huts for my garden… that would be great.
Iris, The Starving Inspired
I just love bees and THESE are some great ideas for this time of life where bee-keeping just isn’t practical (apt complex blah, blah blah…).
Our neighbors are so good at putting out flowers to help with the bees. I hadn’t really ever thought about it, but she’s done such a great job of making sure everything looks nice but is still bee friendly. Like lavender around her shed or other random flowers.
I am going to send this to my niece in Colorado who is crunchy, has a baby and loves bees. :) And by “send this to my niece in Colorado” I mean I will post this on her facebook page. ;)
I thought I saw a FB button? Or was I imagining it?
Sorry for the triple comment. I shared it from your fb page. :D
so neat! My SIL and her hubby are part of a city bee farm (I never knew they had these in the city, did you?!) and I LOVE getting their delicious honey when they harvest! I’ll have to remember your links, though, next time I feel like giving money towards the bee cause!
xox
giedre
http://www.walkingdotphotography.com
Thank you for sharing such an informative and interesting post. Keep up the good works.