6 Ways You Can Help Pollinators

What's the rush?

• One-third of the food we eat is directly reliant upon pollinating insects.
• Habitat degradation, urbanization, industrial pollution, and agricultural chemicals have greatly reduced bee and pollinating insect populations around the world. We must act fast to counter this decline.
• Environmental activist David Suzuki has one word for this mass extermination:

"Insectageddon"

• The National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, released by the White House in 2015, provides evidence of a concerted political effort to confront this dilemma. But we can’t rely on political action alone.
• Here are 6 effective ways you can help pollinators right now, from the comfort of your home and garden...

• Focus on native nectar and pollen-producing plants.
• Select a rotation of plants that flower from early spring to the end of autumn. 
• Native plants and flowers are ideal because they have evolved to flourish in the local soil and climate conditions and do not require extensive care.

• Bees and pollinating insects, such as monarch butterflies love milkweed and pussy willow. 
• Often the most beautiful plants, like hydrangeas, are not desirable sources of food for pollinators, so consider the needs of the insects over your own aesthetic priorities. 

• Alternately called a bee block or mason bee house, these structures provide a habitat for bees to shelter, nest, and reproduce. 
• They are typically made from wood, making them a sustainable option in their own right. 
• There are countless DIY resources that will guide you through designing a bee hotel on the cheap, but they can also be purchased at local home and garden retailers.

• Lawns are almost entirely decorative from an ecological point of view and could be put to more productive use if transformed into a garden or even a sanctuary for wildflowers and plants. 
• Weeds like dandelions and clover are favorites of pollinating insects, but we rarely encourage their presence and growth and we actively remove them from our lawns. 
• According to National Geographic, all pesticides are a deterrent to pollinating insects and this holds true for many of the chemicals used to keep lawns attractive and weed-free. 
• Rewilding your lawn is a vital step in the regeneration of healthy spaces for pollinating insects. 

• Research local community gardens and gardening communities. Assist in cultivating the garden with native flowers and nectar-bearing species. 
• Join or spearhead a fundraiser to raise money for a bee block for a community garden. This will foster a habitat that will attract bees and pollinating insects. 
• Researchers in Nature Ecology and Evolution cited findings that suggest that diverse, rich urban gardens are a highly effective way of slowing bee decline. 
• Check and see if your city is a participating member of the Bee City initiative and if not, apply to get involved.    

• Pollinating insects need water and they often struggle to find consistent, safe water sources in urban and developed areas. 
• Create a water source by pouring a thin layer of water over a plate or a sturdy tile or saucer. Ensure that it is as shallow as possible.

-Emma Kansiz