The Buzz on Bees

Why are bees so important to the health of agriculture and the environment?

 

Ever wondered where all the food that you eat comes from? Well it might surprise you that a significant proportion is provided by bees one way or another.

If you look at the plate of food on your dinner table, bees have played their part either pollinating the many vegetables and fruits we eat directly, or pollinating the food for the animals that we then consume. And that’s not all bees do for us - honey and wax are two other important products that come courtesy of bees.

But honey bees are disappearing globally at an alarming rate due to pesticides, parasites, disease and habitat loss. If these little insects that help provide so much of the food we eat were to vanish, what would we do without them?

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What are some of the top threats that bees are facing?

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The number one threat to bees is Neonicotinoids, a systemic insecticide that is absorbed by a plant and remains active throughout the plant’s life-cycle.  The side effect of bees and other pollinators is a neurological disorder that causes them to become disoriented and confused.  This insecticide is collected in the pollen, an important source of protein needed by bees to raise their young.  Climate change, habitat fragmentation, and other factors are also contributing factors to bee declines.

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What are some things that the average citizen can do to help keep America’s bee population(s) in good shape?

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Many of the smallest bees have a short flight radius (about a quarter mile) and a single backyard could be their entire world. Therefore, it is important to avoid using herbicides and insecticides on your lawn and gardens.  Buy plants and seeds that are neonicotinoid-free.  Encourage bees and other pollinators to visit your yard, by planting a variety of flowering plants with different bloom times from early spring to fall.  Also, consider native plants and perennials that will provide consistency as they grow back from year to year, and allow the edges of your yard to remain wild. These are just some ways you can provide a healthy habitat for nesting bees and other wildlife.

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Stormsteg Alpacas & Fiber Farm’s owner, Kristyn, is a trained Beekeeper. Here’s a list of  some of her favorite bee attractant plants by growing zone;

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       Plant Type                                           
 

1. Bee Balm (Monarda sp.)  

2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia Hirta)

3. Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)

4. Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

5. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja Daridii)

6. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)

7. Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium Purpureum)

8. Lavender (Lavendula Augustifolia)

9. Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.)

10. Crocus (Crocus spp.)

11. Chives (Allium Schoenoprasum)

12. Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.)

13. Roses

14. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

15. Cranesbills (Geranium spp.)

16. Salvia (Salvia spp.)

17. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)

18. Common Heliotrope (Heliotropium spp.)

19. Cosmos (Cospos Bipinnatus/C. Sulphureus)

20. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia/Grandiflora)

 

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Check out our Tres Bee-a-che’s products in our online store. Where you can purchase some of the buzzing residents of the farm’s goodness. From Raw & Unfiltered Honey and Be Good to Bees- Attractant Seeds to Soaps and Salves. You are bound to fall in love with our Tres Bee-a-che’s! And be sure to sign-up for our farm’s newsletter, so we can keep you up to date with our up-and-coming announcements and farm news!