Flower Get Well Soon

At least one third of food we eat is due to the pollination by honey bees. Today, there is an alarming decrease in the honey bee population in the world predominantly due to spread of viruses. This makes it imperative that we take adequate steps to ensure the survival of honey bees.

To make sure that honey bees remain healthy and productive, here are a few simple steps -

If you are keen on bee keeping, the first step is to purchase a beehive. Beehives are available at your local beekeepers. After obtaining the honeybees, the next step is to look for an outdoor space that is bee friendly.

Plant plenty of flowers like sunflowers, flowering herbs, beans, peas, mint, foxgloves, larkspur, hollyhocks and asters to encourage honey bees to visit. Another excellent pollen source is the fruit trees. So, ensure that you plant plenty of fruit trees and garden shrubs such as hydrangea, Hebe and buddleia.

You can help grow the honeybee population by encouraging your local authorities to allot some space in open space in your city. There is a lot of scope for bee friendly planting such as a hanging basket, a roundabout or a park. These communal spaces can be enhanced by planting meadows of wild flowers to attract honey bees. It is necessary to spur authorities to re-establish agricultural land meadows and rural areas. As a responsible citizen, you can also help with the maintenance of planted areas especially if there is a shortage of resources.

Another way you can help with growth of honeybee population is to allow space in your garden for the local beekeeper to use, if you are not sure about managing your own hive. A beehive in your garden will make an amazing difference. Your vegetable and fruit crops will be better and your flowers will be abuzz with bees.

If you find a swarm of honeybee in your garden, report immediately to the authorities. They will send a local beekeeper to collect the bees. Unless disturbed by spraying water, honey bees in a swarm are very gentle by nature.

Though honeybees have inhabited Earth for the past thirty million years, humans have learnt how to produce honey only in the past 5000 years. To spread awareness among children and other groups, you can invite your local beekeeper to share their knowledge on this useful and amazing insect. They will be able to tell you interesting facts and folklore surrounding this ancient species.

To help local beekeepers cover the cost of bee keeping, you can help by purchasing local honey. This honey is pure and tasty as it is processed in a natural manner in keeping with the food standard requirements. Local honey also has an exclusive flavor reflecting the local flora.

Last but not the least, if you want to become a beekeeper, learn all about this wonderful insect and learn from the bee keepers on how to handle them. Ensure that your bees are productive and healthy by gathering enough knowledge and skill on beekeeping.