It’s National Pollinator Week 2023 🐝 This special week recognizes the extraordinary role of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats in maintaining our food production and ecosystem and how we can protect pollinators.
Pollinators are essential for our ecosystem and food supply. These tiny creatures do all the heavy lifting by pollinating over 75% of our flowering plants and nearly 75% of our crops.
According to the USDA, honeybees alone are responsible for pollinating $15 billion worth of US crops annually. Imagine a world without apples, oranges, almonds, strawberries, and even coffee! Without bees and other pollinators, our diets would be less varied, and we would be left with fewer choices.
Let’s not forget the harsh truth. Pollinators are experiencing several challenges, such as habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and disease. We can still support their conservation, though!
Here are a few ways to help the pollinators:
🌺 Create a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
The first step to helping our pollinators is to create a welcoming environment for them. Planting native flowers, installing a bee hotel, and providing a water source (e.g. a shallow dish with rocks or marbles for bees to access the water) are some great ways to make your garden pollinator-friendly.
If you want to learn more about what flowers to plant, check out the Xerces Society’s resource on attractant plants for specific pollinators!
🦋 Reduce Pesticide Use
Pesticides can be toxic to pollinators. So, instead of reaching for that can of pesticide, try using natural methods to control pests. Beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and praying mantis, are great allies in the fight against garden pests.
You can also try companion planting, using physical barriers, or making your own pest deterrents like garlic spray. And if you must use pesticides, be sure to follow the instructions properly and apply them at times when pollinators are less active, such as early morning or late evening.
Check out this post with more information about companion planting.
🌺 Spread some sweetness
Support local beekeepers and their honey businesses. This helps sustain honeybee populations and adds a unique flavor to any dish.
Buy organic honey whenever possible – it means fewer pesticides in your body and a healthier planet for us all. Use honey as much as you can instead of sugar or other artificial sweeteners. Plus, its antibacterial and healing properties make it an excellent choice for treating wounds or helping with allergies.
🌼 Educate Others
Spread this sweet message to your friends, family and anyone who will listen about the importance of pollinators and how they can help. Many people are not aware of how important pollinators are and the threats they face.
If you have children in your life, share books and resources that teach them about pollinators and the importance of protecting them.
🌼 Support Local Pollinator Conservation Efforts
There are many organizations dedicated to protecting pollinators. Find out if there are any local groups in your area and support their work through donations or volunteering. You can also contribute to citizen science projects like Bumblebee Watch or Monarch Watch to help researchers understand pollinator populations and their movement patterns.
📖 Keep Learning
The more we learn about pollinators, the better equipped we are to protect them. So, keep reading, attend workshops and lectures, and follow organizations that focus on pollinator conservation. The more we know, the more we can do.
Let’s not limit the pollination party to just this week and keep this buzz going year-round. Together, we can ensure our planet and its pollinators thrive! So, let’s all make a promise to bee 🐝 the change that we want to see!
Have any questions or want to share what you’re doing to help the pollinators? Leave a comment below!
