Each one of us can help save the bees
Would you like to help the bees? There are a number of ways to show your support.
- Fight pesticides, fight the lobbies and politicians that refuse to support sustainable bee-keeping and agriculture. Sign the petitions, join a local ecological association or militate for organic farming. Vote for a political party that that respects the environment, the balance of ecosystems and our food! Stop using pesticides and herbicides (weed killers) in your own gardens and balconies.
- Why not install one or more bee hives in your garden, on your land or roof? Do you have a large garden far away from your neighbours? Do you own some land in town or in the countryside, tended or wild, overgrown or wooded, flat or on a slope, are you an individual or a company? It does not matter. By permitting me to install one or more hives on your land you are helping to diversify the bees food supply and to protect them in case of disease in one apiary . Of course not all sites are suitable as there are regulations such as minimum distances to respect, logistics and access constraints, intensive cultures in the vicinity likely means pesticides etc. Of course in such cases where it works our you will be rewarded with a few pots of raw natural honey each year.
- Become a bee-keeper. Would you like to start bee-keeping and own your own hives? I can help you with administrative declarations, acquisition of hives and colonies of bees, practical tips and tricks and installation as well as pointing you in the direction of people who can train you.
- Buy local, buy organic –Prefer and promote food that is local and organic over intensively produced processed food where possible, use shops and markets that have a short food supply chains (linked as directly as possible to the producer) for fresh or natural foods such as honey. By buying organic you not only avoid feeding yourself and your family pesticides but also encourage farmers to practice responsible agriculture and shops to stock their products.
- Sensitise family and friends to the threats facing, and the dire situation of, honeybees, along with the consequences of their extinction.
- Plant bee friendly plants in your garden or on your balcony or leave a part of your garden wild and overgrown.
- Support your local bee-keeper(s) – buy their products, invite them to your clubs or schools and provide opportunities for them to sensitise the public to the issues facing honeybees. Call them to remove swarms or buy them a pint of beer 🙂 (only joking – I just added that last one for fun and to see if you are still reading).