Note to organic gardeners. befriend a bee

[hoodat]

Right now the bee population is in a serious decline and it has been pinned on a build up of pesticides and herbicides in the hive. Commercial growers are allowed to spray in concentrations that won't immediately kill bees but what was not taken into consideration was that the bee concentrates nectar to produce honey and in the process concentrates any pesticides or herbicides that were in that nectar. This concentration turns a non lethal dose into a lethal one.
The bees are depending on us organic gardeners and growers to supply them with nectar that won't poison them. Try to take the bees into consideration when planting your garden this year. There are plenty of veggies and flowers that are attractive to them.
The bees have been very good to us. It's time to return the favor.

 

[lesa]

Yes indeed!!! I am so happy to have the opportunity to be a bee keeper....I am so thrilled to be working in my organic garden with the bees right along side me!

 

[Lavender2]

Native plants are excellent choices that may limit the care required.
Good thing to do a bit of research on plants for your area, their behavior issues, and which are best choices for bees, and for you.
I like this resource, and your local Ag extensions or bee keeper groups and societies are great also....

Wildflower.org

Herbs are great also... plant one to eat and one to let flower...:bee

 

[journey11]

Bees use about 7lbs of honey for each pound of wax that they make. Considering that most beekeepers reuse their comb for a couple seasons and that new foundation is made from recycled wax , there is a concentration of pesticides in the wax that stays with the bees all that time. This is why I ultimately decided to go with top bar hives (bees make their own fresh comb). I am happy to have my bees for pollination and I am willing to forsake top honey production in favor of their health and sustainability.

 

[ducks4you]

Too true. Animals aren't machines, and even machines can't do everything without breaking down all of the time!!

 

[vfem]

Native plants are excellent choices that may limit the care required.
Good thing to do a bit of research on plants for your area, their behavior issues, and which are best choices for bees, and for you.
I like this resource, and your local Ag extensions or bee keeper groups and societies are great also....

Wildflower.org

Herbs are great also... plant one to eat and one to let flower...:bee

Good idea!!! :watering

 

[hoodat]

Many seed companies also have mixes for sale thet are attractive to bees and butterflies. You won't normally see bees listed as being attracted because too many people fear them but anything a butterfly can use a bee also can.

 

[PotterWatch]

Just helped relocate a very small swarm to our community garden early this evening. Possibly moving another one tomorrow or the next day. I just checked on my bees a couple days ago and they are settling into their home very nicely!

 

[Greenthumb18]

Oh yes, will plant plenty of flowers for the bees. Just need to find flowers that they are attracted to. It will be worth it for them. Its the least we can do after all the flowers they pollinate, if it werent for them we wouldn't have many vegetables or fruits to eat.

:bee :bee :bee

 

[hoodat]

The apricot and almond growers in Californias central valley are in a bind right now. Beekeepers are refusing to send hives to them because of the high mortalities.