Friday 5: The Buzz on Saving Bees
Gearing up for Ea
rth Day, we started thinking about a story that’s been buzzing for awhile: The disappearance of the honey bee population. It’s scary stuff — in just a few years, a fourth of the Western honey bee population has disappeared. This threat can have a critical impact on our food supply.
But kids and teens are fighting for them! For example, high school student Henry Miller started raising bees and making honey when he was just 11, founding a company called Henry’s Sweet Miracle Honey. Since then, he has been hard at work donating money to help preserve hives other related causes. Last year, he was named Young Entrepreneur of The Year by New Hope Media. Want to join Henry and other kids in helping bees? Here’s how:
ONE: Bee Friendly. Create a habitat that bees will enjoy. The Daily Green has a list of plants that will attract the pretty pollinators. Think about diverse plants that bloom throughout different seasons — and don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of space: bees like it when the plants are close together. You could start a garden at home — or talk to your principal about starting a school plot.
TWO: Bee Creative. At the Haagen-Dazs’s Help the Honeybees website you can find all kinds of ways to help bees. For example: You can create and make your own animated bee to send to your friends and family and help raise awareness about the threat.
THREE: Bee a Smart Shopper. When it comes to shopping for food, buy local honey to support your local bee community (and producers!). Buy products without pesticides, when possible. Also, consider supporting companies that are committed to keeping bees buzzing!
FOUR: Bee Proactive: Consider writing to your local representatives about funding more bee research. You could also get involved with city planning, making sure that public space are developed with bee habitat in mind. Raise awareness by writing articles about bees and what can be done in your area. Check our Social Activist Toolbox for templates for writing press releases, editorials and more!
FIVE: Bee Generous. There are many people trying to help the honey bee and fight against Colony Collapse Disorder. They could use your help with fundraising! Think about universities studying CCD, like University of California, Davis and Pennsylvania State University. Or donate to The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees. Here’s some idea for raising money.
This Earth Day, what can you do to help protect bees?
