Bees: Why They Bee Awesome

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about why Bees are so important to the ecosystem, farms, and food, but I’m going to do it anyways.

According to the The National Wildlife Federation (and basically anyone following the concerning trend surrounding pollinators), the honey bee is not actually the pollinators we need to be concerned about: “There are more honey bees on the planet today than at any time in history” (The National Wildlife Federation). Obviously, this is not going to stop us from getting some hives for that sweet honey — a delicious addition to any meal, and fun fact: honey never expires! Never. Never ever. It’s important to remember that Honey Bees are not the only pollinators we can use for our fruit trees and veggies in the garden: butterflies, hummingbirds, bumblebees, and yes … even wasps and hornets (AKA pain fairies, AKA the devil’s angels, AKA the bane of my existence). The list of possible pollinators you can embrace in your garden are endless, but I’m here to talk about the Bees that are currently at risk.

“North America’s native bees … are in trouble—and these insects bear little resemblance to the familiar honey bee. Unlike honey bees, more than 90 percent of our nearly 4,000 native bee species live not with other bees in hives but alone in nests carved into soil, wood or hollow plant stems” (The National Wildlife Federation). These bees behave and look different from what we typically think of when we conjure up the concept of a bee. Most native North American bees are so small they’re mistaken for flies, live alone, and BLESSED BE THE FRUIT don’t sting. Another fan favorite, the Bumble Bee (adorable , huge, and hairy) has been “federally listed as endangered in 2017” (The National Wildlife Federation). The causes of the decline and possible extinction is an intersection of “pesticides, disease, habitat loss and climate change” (The National Wildlife Federation). No surprise there. And before you pull out your doomsday bags or huddle in the fetal position in an effort to self-soothe, there are things we can all do to help our native bee population.

We can stop using pesticides, and obviously the industrial farmers are not going to listen to lil’ ole me, but you can take over for them and grow the food you eat and choose not to use pesticides. If you live in a city, look up some community gardens that you can use. You can also choose to plant more native flowers and trees rather than removing them. An added benefit to this is that you get to plant gorgeous flowers and leave the planet more beautiful than you found it. Who needs a lawn anyways? Mowing sucks and requires gasoline. I love the current trend of rewilding lawns because it’s eco-friendly, requires less maintenance, and it’s way more aesthetically pleasing than some “perfectly manicured” 2 inch turf-lookin’ lawn.

This is all to say, yes, we love the honey bees, and definitely want to keep them safe, but don’t forget about the guys who don’t provide us with sweet nectar and instead help our crops grow and help keep our habitat harmonious. SAVE THE BEES!