Honey bee populations across the nation are in severe decline, that much is clear. But what about our local population of pollinators, right here in our own back yards? The hard truth is that our bees are struggling.
I am a local beekeeper, who keeps colonies of honeybees around the Main Line, including Radnor. For almost ten years now, we have been working to restore some balance in our local natural world. raising bees has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life, but also one of the most disheartening.
To say the bees are in trouble in Radnor, is an understatement. Today, a perfect storm of threats continues to plague our colonies, while undermining everything that is so essential to our way of life.
By now, many people know that bees pollinate our food and add to biodiversity. However, what they may not know is how individuals can make a difference, and help our local bee population. As the summer winds down, as does the Apiary season, here are some things we might consider to help the bees in the future.
Treating our lawns and gardens with synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers is a great threat to the bees. The bees visit the flowers of trees, shrubs, and clovers to feed and collect pollen to raise their young. When a plant is treated with synthetics, the bees bring these chemicals home, to their hive. These chemicals build up in the wax, honey and propolis inside the hive. Honeybees can not handle the prescience of these toxic elements, and soon succumb to the deadly substances. Organic alternatives are always appreciated and much less caustic to the honeybees.
Habitat and biodiversity also play a huge party in the health of honeybees. One of the great assets Radnor posses is the diversity of home gardens and public parks. Our local parks and gardens provide a place for bees to collect all the essential nutrients to build a strong colony. By continuing to plant bee friendly trees and flowers, the local population of bees will be supported for generations. Every time we remove trees and wild lands from the community, habitat is destroyed. As a community, we can work together to protect some of these spaces, and re establish a healthy environment.
It is important to make the connection between bees, and the way we enjoy our lives. The very food we eat, which energizes us, is the natural product of honey bee efforts. The next time you bite into an apple or eat an almond, consider how it came to bee. By providing a healthy environment for our bees, we can help to ensure a bright, delicious future for everyone.
We realize change is difficult, and sometimes even demanding of us. But consider how incredible it feels to be part of something bigger,to be part of the solution! We all have a role to play, as do the bees. By working together, listening to what our environment is telling us, we can each change the world, and make a difference!
