Be Bee Friendly: Budget Gardening Tip
Häagen-Dazs loves honey bees - and we do, too!
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). More than 35 states across the continental United States and in two provinces in Canada, Belgium, and Spain have reported this condition.
Varroa Mites – Inadvertently introduced into the United States in 1987, these tiny brown parasites feed exclusively on honey bees.
Viruses– Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) is linked with CCD.
Chemical Exposure – Tests on pollen in CCD-affected hives show levels of 45 different types of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.
Lack of Nutrition – A limited supply of good pollen and nectar (due to drought) has had an effect on the honey bee population.
So what can you as a gardener or concerned citizen do to help the honey bees? First, create a bee-friendly garden with plants that are attractive to honey bees. These include lavender, jasmine, rosemary, violets, thyme, blue bells, wisteria, cone flowers and sunflowers – common perennials and herbs that are easy to grow and add beauty to your garden.
You can also buy local honey and hive products such as beeswax candles – see the National Honey Board’s Honey Locator to find suppliers near you.
An even tastier solution is to support Haagen-Dazs by purchasing Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream, profits from which go to fund research to save the bees. Find a store here -- and on May 13, you can try a scoop for free at participating Häagen-Dazs shops between 4-8 pm.
If you’ve been following the news, you’re aware that more than 25% of the U.S. honey bee population has disappeared over the last several winters. This affects many nut, fruits and berry crops – important produce for farmers and food manufacturers, and key ingredients in many of the most popular Häagen-Dazs flavors. The ice cream maker reports that researchers believe causes for the decline in the bee population include:
So what can you as a gardener or concerned citizen do to help the honey bees? First, create a bee-friendly garden with plants that are attractive to honey bees. These include lavender, jasmine, rosemary, violets, thyme, blue bells, wisteria, cone flowers and sunflowers – common perennials and herbs that are easy to grow and add beauty to your garden.
You can also buy local honey and hive products such as beeswax candles – see the National Honey Board’s Honey Locator to find suppliers near you.
An even tastier solution is to support Haagen-Dazs by purchasing Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream, profits from which go to fund research to save the bees. Find a store here -- and on May 13, you can try a scoop for free at participating Häagen-Dazs shops between 4-8 pm.
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