Did you know bees are among the most important insects on the planet?

Without bees to pollinate certain crops, they wouldn’t survive. Can you imagine life without apples, peaches, strawberries, onions, avocados, carrots, almonds? The list goes on and on. These diligent little pollinators make it possible for many of our favorite foods to reach our tables.

Bees also pollinate flowers, encouraging growth, which helps to provide habitats for other insects and animals.

Bees keep our economy buzzing!

According to Honey Love Urban Beekeepers –

• Bees pollinate 80% of the world’s plants including 90 different food crops.
• 1 out of every 3 or 4 bites of food you eat is thanks to bees.
• The honey bee is responsible for $15 billion in U.S. agricultural crops each year.

Yikes!! We need bees.

But they are disappearing at an alarming rate due to Global Warming, habitat loss, such as agriculture & urban development, and pollution & pesticides.

Bees really need our help to thrive & I encourage you to take action –

• Plant bee gardens: Check out this super long list of bee-friendly plants, and here are some great tips regarding bee gardens from the Honeybee Conservancy. I love lavender & I know it’s a bee magnet. I will be planting lavender & teaching my daughter all about bees this spring!… And forget pulling your weeds?! Yes, you read that correct! Bees love clover, dandelions & wild flowers! (and skip the pesticides! There are natural & harmless alternatives.)
• Donate to bee research or beekeepers. There are tons of options out there! Here are just a few; Honeybee Conservancy, HoneyLove, Puget Sound Beekeepers Association, American Beekeeping Federation.
• Learn about beekeeping & the importance of bees by attending a local meeting or becoming a member: Washington State Beekeepers association.
• Check out the latest research & stay up-to-date with bee news on the Bee Culture blog.
• Buy local, raw honey: You can get a lot of great honey from your local farmers markets.
• Bees are thirsty! Put a small bowl of water in your yard + some stones for them to crawl on, and you’ve got a little bird bath + drinking water for creatures big and small.

Understand the importance of bees, and be kind. We need them. 

Kelsey Gray Photography