In fact, honey bees are responsible for the pollination of more than 100 crops, providing 80 percent of the country's pollination services. Without the help of honey bees in crop pollination, an estimated $15 billion in U.S. agriculture is in jeopardy affecting both U.S. and international food supplies.
The plight of the honey bee affects us all. Here are some small steps you can take to help save these petite pollinators:
• Create a bee-friendly garden-See the five simple tips to learn more.
• Voice your concerns and go to www.helpthehoneybees.com.
• Support Häagen-Dazs Brand ice cream products-a portion of the proceeds of the sale of all honey bee-affected flavors and new Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream will go toward funding sustainable pollination and CCD research at UC Davis and Penn State.
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An amateur beekeeper, entomologist and conservationist, Buchmann (The Forgotten Pollinators) surveys humankind's relationship with the oft underappreciated bee from prehistoric times to the present, emphasizing the necessity of protecting their habitats from environmental degradation. He discusses bees and honey in myth and legend; observes honey hunters in Malaysia, Nepal and Australia who use ancient methods to collect wild honey; and provides histories of beekeeping and the honey trade and an account of the activities of beekeepers. The meat of the book includes chapters on honey making, the mechanics of pollination, and bee behavior. Buchmann includes a catalogue of honey varieties, recipes, a chapter on mead, a survey of honey's medicinal uses and several appendixes, including a glossary, an inventory of bee species and a list of honey and beekeeping resources and supplies. This is a lot of material for a volume this size, and Buchmann can't cover it all in depth, but he does present a highly entertaining and informative introduction to the world of the bee, as well as an enlightening look at "the enduring bond between bees and mankind." |
Five simple tips to create a bee-friendly garden
1. Choose garden plants and flowers that are pollinator-friendly. This includes most plants in the rose, mint, pea and aster families.
2. Select flowers that have a single layer of flower petals, such as a classic daisy.
3. Add non-native plants to your garden to create diversity. Plus, many non-native varieties are excellent, attractive and vigorous plants that provide food for bees and pollinators.
4. Look for flowers that provide food all season. Plant some early flowering plants, along with mid-and late-season flowers. Late-season flowers like goldenrod and aster are especially important.
5. Provide a good environment. Limit, or better still, eliminate the use of pesticides, particularly on attractive plants with open flowers.
The latest buzz is that we need bees to pollinate more than 100 crops.
Courtesy North American Press Syndicate |
