Bees are one of the world’s most important pollinators for food crops. We rely heavily on bees and other pollinators for our food crops, and that includes not only plant crops but eggs, meat, and dairy products as well.
Lori poses with her bees.Lori poses with her bees.To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated May 20 as World Bee Day.
We all depend on the survival of bees. And though not everyone has the space or resources to grow their own food or keep bees on their property, we can make our surroundings less hazardous to our pollinator friends.
Ways to make your yard more bee-friendly
Senior Campaigns and Events Specialist Lori Harris found a honeybee swarm in a red maple tree in her yard seven years ago. At the time, Lori was intrigued by this finding, but it took her several years to finally take that leap and deep dive into beekeeping.
Lori's backyard hives.Lori's backyard hives.She started with two hives, caught a swarm last year, lost a hive over the winter, and then caught another swarm – bringing her beehive total to three.
“There’s an incredible amount to learn,” Lori said. “They’re complex little beings – magical really – the learning never ends. I’ve been doing this for three years now and I’m still a newbie. They let me know when I’ve done something they don’t like, I’ve been told many times (stings).”
Not everyone is cut out for beekeeping. However, if you can’t host a hive of bees on your property, you can make your space more friendly for bees and other pollinators. Here are some tips from Lori:
- Naturalize your lawn. Keep the wild strawberries, clover, dandelions, etc. It’s more pollinator-friendly and, in my opinion, so much more beautiful to walk through.
- Plant pollinator-friendly flowers, fruit trees, and shrubs.
An example of a bee hotel.An example of a bee hotel.Place bee baths around the yard.- Have a chemical-free yard.
- Get a bee hotel for native bees, bumblebees, and hundreds of other species.
