Submitted by Wendy Drumm from the Sustainability Committee
If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth man would have only four years left to live.
Attributed, possibly, to Albert Einstein, FORBES
The danger that the decline of bees and other pollinators represents to the world’s food supply was highlighted when the European Commission decided to ban a class of pesticides suspected of playing a role in so-called “colony collapse disorder.”
One of every three bites of food you eat depends on pollinators, especially bees, for a successful harvest…from pumpkins to grapefruit to almonds to coffee. Now it is time for you to help support endangered bees and other pollinators.
For much of the past 10 years, beekeepers, primarily in the United States and Europe, have been reporting annual hive losses of 30 percent or higher, substantially more than is considered normal or sustainable. But this winter, many U.S. beekeepers experienced losses of 40 to 50 percent or more.
A bee pollinates a flower. Without bees and other pollinators,, our food supply would disappear.
Bee species around the world are facing devastating declines, and researchers are warning that we are running out of time to save them.
Meanwhile wild bees found in our yards parks have had similar reductions…the American Bumble Bee is virtually extinct in most of Massachusetts.
Chemical treatments we might use for mosquitos and ticks will poison bees as they remove nectar…and then they bring back the poisoned nectar to the hive — which eventually can wipe out the whole hive. I won’t get into the effect of these chemicals on humans and pets…we’ll stick to bees.
There are safe alternatives to natural mosquito/tick applications offered by some commercial providers. The cost can be the same for natural sprays from some vendors!
Please help save the populations of bees and other pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds whilst using a few simple ways to manage mosquitoes and ticks:
1) Spray only at dawn or evening when bees are not buzzing around — this is VERY important!
2) Don’t spray open flowers that attract bees
3) Create a bee garden — such as a strip of wildflowers — daisies, berries
4) Do not leave any standing containers of water to attract mosquitoes
5) Do not give ticks a home — get rid of dense brush and mow grass — (let it dry between mowing). Keep out critters that carry ticks (rabbits! I know, good luck with that)
Have a safe summer while helping to save one of the most important generators for you and your family’s food supply.
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