Just Leave It BEE!

Shh,

Listen,

Do you hear it????

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

That sweet faint buzzing and humming of the beautifully plump bumble bee or the speedy, hardworking honeybee?

On a crisp spring morning you might see them hovering over the clover in your lawn. Or impatiently waiting for those first spring flowers to bloom so they can relish in the nectar.

Whatever they are doing, it is so very important that they are present in your yard, especially if you are a farmer or gardener, for the fruits of your labor will be abundantly rewarded. Quality and quantity will increase with the power of these hard working pollinators.

Since some may not be aware of the major importance that bees have on our lives...

Here is a little crash course!

I know bees scare people and some are allergic to them but that doesn't mean that you need to load your lawns and gardens with chemicals to rid yourself of them. Herbicides, fungicides and pesticides CAN and DO kill bees as well as other pollinators that are vital to our continued existence.

Einstein himself stated that if we lose the honeybee we would all die in FOUR years.

Do you wish to test this theory?

Not me!

One third of the food you eat is pollinated by honeybees alone. The other two-thirds are done by other bees and insects like butterflies, moths, beetles, ants and so on.

They pollinate more than 90% of all fruits, vegetables, flowers, nuts and seeds.

Honeybees have been around since the beginning of recorded history and are considered to be the oldest living organisms on the planet. Bees are also the most important pollinators in the U.S. and they help to maintain the health of many other plants and animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and fish).

Are you gathering how important they are yet?

According to the USDA honeybee colonies have declined by more than 90% since the mid 1990's, and it's only getting worse due to the ever present applications of chemicals, destruction of their habits and the climate change.

There is also an increased call for farmers to produce higher yields and with this demand comes a complete negligence and disregard of quality, instead opting for quantity, and the impact it is having on the environment. In turn, more chemicals are being used to meet these demands and because of this more native pollinators and bee colonizes are being destroyed. Honeybees are then being shipped in from over seas to do the killed-off pollinators jobs due to the pesticides that were sprayed to "help" their harvest yields.

You'd think more bees are good, we need more pollinators right?

So why is this not a good thing?

Well in doing this, it is also pushing out the native bees and other pollinators that still remain in those areas. Competition for the nectar is underway and some the surviving native pollinators are forced out or die off. This has a major effect on the biodiversity and the already daily decreasing number of native plants, pollinators and wildlife.

More herbicides and fungicides are needed because the soil is not given enough time to rest and rebuild. The land is over-tilled (worked) so it can be planted right away for another crop that is needed or for the same crop for a second round.

And so this vicious cycle continues...

To sum this up, increased demand by consumers puts pressure on farmers to produce more than should be done yearly. This pressure is huge, because if they can't meet the demands they will lose the sale to a competing farm that is willing to do it, for they too need to survive and provide for their families.

Do you see the domino effect that is happening?

Higher Demand by Consumers = Bigger Yearly Yields & Sales =

Increase need for more farmland = Destruction of Natural Habitats =

Increasing the Carbon Footprint = More Overworked Soil =

More Chemicals used to help rebuild Depleted Soil Health =

Killing of Pollinators and Other Native Wild Life = Production of a Lesser Quality Product = Increasing Human and Wild Life Chemical Consumption = Polluted Water Ways =

More Health Issues and Diseases = Which Equals = Which Equals = The list never ends...

I need to clearly state that Farmers are NOT the problem, at least not the only problem and Not ALL farmers are trying to hurt the planet but they CAN all help be part of the solution.

In addition WE, the consumers, as a society ARE the problem. We have played a major role in the downfall of our ecosystem, but I believe we too can and must be the solution.

We want the product NOW and aren't willing to WAIT.

We are NOT accepting that products are only available seasonally.

We don't care where and from which country the products come from. Nor do most care if its locally sourced or if its sustainably and organically grown.

We are ALL guilty of this.

I know I AM and I'm striving to do better.

That almond milk on your shelf that you think is the healthier and more eco-friendly alternative, not even close. In fact, almond farms are some of the worst producers responsible in the decline of pollinators.

I truly believe that farmers are some of the hardest if not the hardest workers in the world. They are also one of the most criticized and judged professions as well.

If you think farmers make loads of money because of their land mass or yearly sales to major conglomerates, you are mistaken. Their overhead is beyond, and all the red tape and pressure on them is unparalleled. Because of this a lot of farmers are selling their family farms (some of them many generations old) to those conglomerates. The passion and drive to be able to pass the farm on down the line has dwindled because of said demands and lack of income. With this, the American family owned farms are dying off.

Don't let this happen!

Farmers have a lot of things they must do in order to change the way the industry thinks. A new method is imperative for the survival of all living creatures, including humans. Or rather an old method needs to be reintroduced. The way things used to be farmed before politics and major (non-farming) conglomerates changed the way the American Farmer farmed.

However, I do strongly believe it is also up to us consumers to recognize and accept the responsibility and the impact that we have placed on the farmers, the worlds economy, and the ecosystem.

It's up to our generation and the generations that follow us to leave this earth better than it was given. To always strive to do our part and to improve where we can.

• Do your part by keeping your land chemical free (not even using NEEM oil or organic fertilizers) and in doing so you are choosing to NOT encourage the production of said products.

• Choose to buy local from the small backyard farmer at the markets and maybe get signed up for a subscription through them. Not only are you helping support their business you are also providing a healthier alternative for yourself and your family.

• Start your own kitchen garden and/or a pollinator garden.

• Start a community garden with your neighbors or family.

• Search on social media for local farmers and reach out to them to see if they have extra produce to share with their neighbors instead of the BIG guys.

• Meet your farmers (trust me, they want to share what they do with others).

• Provide habitats for wildlife in your yard.

• Feed the birds, which are here to help with the balance of pest control.

• Feed your soil with a good compost tea to improve soil health which also helps to keep weeds at bay.

• Minimize the amount of lawn you have and instead plant more native plants, shrubs and trees (my goal this year).

• Disturb the soil and the natural habitats around you as little as possible.

Buy doing any or all of these things you are helping with the increase of pollinators and improving the biodiversity in your area. The list of things you can do are abundant and even the smallest change can have a grand impact.

I believe that ONE person CAN move mountains but nothing is accomplished overnight!

Please do your part!

BEE Aware (of the problem)

BEE Patient (with the process)

BEE Encouraging (of each-other)

And just as Importantly,

Just Leave It BEE (let Nature do it's job)!