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Bees are essential to mankind; without them there would likely be severe food shortages. The honeybees, domesticated and feral, along with hundreds of other native species are necessary for the pollination of many of our food crops. Some of the crops dependent on the bees are apples, strawberries, pumpkins, nuts, squash, and yes, even carrots and broccoli.

While bees are essential for agriculture, native wildlife also depend on the pollinators. Without the bees, wild apples, a staple crop for wildlife would be greatly reduced, as would any number of food sources such as wild berries,wild nut trees such as the beechnut, and a host of native grasses, grains and flowers important to a variety of insects and birds.

Bees and other native pollinators have been in decline for several years and the loss has raised numerous concerns. Researchers estimate that nearly one third of the crops in the US are dependent on the bees or about $15 billion dollars. World wide, it is estimated that the bees and other pollinators account for 35 percent of the world's food supply.

Individual gardeners, property owners and community groups can take an active role in helping to restore the pollinator populations. One idea would be to incorporate a bee garden within the vegetable garden. The extra bees attracted to the bee garden can only mean a better and more bountiful vegetables.

A bee garden can be a wide range of native wild flowers which would bloom throughout the season. Native flowers are an important food source for many pollinators, whereas many of the hybrids, while colorful and long lasting generally do not have the necessary pollen and nectar needed by the bees. Listings of good native flowers to use in a particular region are readily available from a number of sources such as Master Gardener organizations, agricultural extension offices, and at a number of Web sites such as organic or natural gardening sites.

Many herbs can also be used within the bee garden along with the native plants. Borage, often called the bee plant, is just one example, of an herb which will attract bees for miles around. It is a favorite of the honeybee as well as dozens of native feral bees.

Another action to help the bees and other pollinators is to set aside a parcel of property for a "wild" garden. Naturally, this depends on local zoning ordinances. The area to be used would simply be left alone, leaving dead trees, an important habitat for many bee species, as well as a water source, native wild flowers and bushes. Such an area could prove to be a garden sanctuary for many beneficial insects including, if the proper conditions are met, our native populations of bumblebees.

In bee gardens, it is important never to use chemical pesticides which can be deadly to all forms of life. Increasingly, pesticide use is being identified as one of the likely causes for the disappearance of the honeybees and other bee species.

Certainly, bees can sting when disturbed or irritated, and certainly, there are people who can suffer severe reactions to a bee sting. So it is important to get to know your insects and to learn their habits to avoid possible conflicts. People can read, bees can't. The alternative, an environment without the bees or other pollinators just isn't a pretty picture.

Learn more about this author, Greg Spinks.
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