Bees are not the only pollinators.

I often hear, "save the honey bees", it is emblazened across t-shirts, posterboards and stickers. While this is true, and the use of pesticides, chemicals and GMO plants affect the populations of honey bees, they are not the only ones affected. In Illinois alone, there are between 400-500 species of bees that help pollinate our flowers and food plants. But it's not just bee's, there are many species of insects that are also pollinators. Less we forget the moths, beetles, etc., that provide the same services as the dear honey bees, albeit without the manufacturing of honey. It is our responsibility to protect all of these tiny workers.

So how do we protect the honey bees and other pollinators? We give them somewhere to live and eat. A place without chemicals and pesticides that will not only harm them, or alter the ecosystem. It is a long held belief that humans are the top of the food chain, we take what we want. But if we don't nurture the environment, there will be nothing to take. We must provide pollinators with sustainable food sources, not just annual flowers, but perennial gardens that provide lasting food and shelter.

We do have a registered apiary on our farmstead. The bees are raised in Layens hives designed to mimic nature, this allows us to check the hives just twice a season, giving the bee's a low stress life. We do not use chemicals in our hives or on our property, we let natural predators help us in controlling pests. We do this to not only benefit the bees, but all pollinators.

When you are closing up your gardens this fall, leave some leaves on the ground, don't pick up all the sticks, these things provide winter housing for many of our pollinators and predators. And when planning you spring planting, makes sure to include plants that flower at different times and some bee and butterfly friendly varieties. So the next time you hear "Save the Bee's", keep in mind that it's far more than just honey bees that provide the food we eat.