[Pollinator] How To "Bee" Active Helping Hives Survive

[Ladadams at aol.com]

UNDERSTANDING OUR ENVIRONMENT 
 
____________________________________
How To "Bee" Active Helping Hives Survive  

(NAPSI)-The food producer responsible for one of every three bites the  
average American eats is in crisis, and more than half of Americans are  not even 
aware there is a problem. Over the past several winters, more  than 25 percent 
of the honey bee population in the United States has  vanished. Everything 
from poor nutrition to invasive mites to Colony  Collapse Disorder (CCD)--a 
phenomenon where bees from a colony abruptly  disappear, leaving no trace--is 
affecting the bee population. This  disappearance has scientists stumped and has 
the potential to affect many  of our favorite fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts 
and seeds.  
A world without the hardworking honey bee is a world without tasty  pears, 
luscious raspberries and crunchy nuts. 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.  
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.  
Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey, Department of Entomology, University of  
California, Davis  
The latest buzz is that we need bees to pollinate more than 100  crops.
 
Laurie Davies Adams
Executive Director
Pollinator  Partnership 
423 Washington Street, 5th floor
San Francisco, CA  94111
415-362-1137

_www.pollinator.org_ (http://www.pollinator.org/) 

_www.nappc.org_ (http://www.nappc.org/) 

National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2008. 
Beecome  involved at _www.pollinator.org_ (http://www.pollinator.org/) 



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