Save the bees!

Did you know that approximately one in every three mouthfuls in our diet directly or indirectly benefits from honeybee pollination? The production of many crops such as almonds and other tree nuts, berries, fruits and vegetables depend on pollination by honeybees.

However, in the last decade, beekeepers around the world have observed the mysterious and sudden disappearance of bees while scientists have found that bees are dying from a variety of factors such as bee-killing pesticides, habitat destruction, industrial agriculture, air pollution and climate change.

Some of the most prominent causes of the decline in bees include the use of genetically modified organisms and pesticides in conventionally grown produce. Both these factors are having a particularly massive and devastating impact on bees and their ability to pollinate and reproduce, with more than 150 different chemical residues regularly found in bee pollen.

 

In particular, Neonicotionoids are an extremely toxic and widely used class of agricultural pesticide that is now banned in Europe because it is highly toxic to bees. The use of this pesticide is believed to be responsible for the massive colony collapse disorder happening in honeybees around the world. 

 

Choosing to buy organic food and fibres such as organic cotton and hemp is great for bees because they are produced without the use of genetically modified organisms and synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fertilisers which are harmful to bees. Organic farming methods also support, protect and celebrate biodiversity which is fantastic for bees! 

 

Some other ways to help save the bees include buying regional and organic food (especially local honey!), avoiding pesticides in your garden and planting bee-friendly plants in your garden. For example, just by letting clover and dandelion grow in your garden, you will be providing two of the bee’s favourite foods! See the image* in this article for ideas on what other herbs, annuals and perennials you can plant in your garden to help save bees.

 

At Santos, we love to celebrate the work of bees and ensure that all of our produce is organic, GMO-free, as local as possible and grown without the use of harmful pesticides! Come and visit any of our stores to purchase a special edition Santos Organics bee bag. Our bee bags are made from organic fair trade cotton and are great to use for your shopping. We will also be donating $5 from the sale of each bag to the Mullumbimby Community Gardens.

 

*This lovely image has been provided courtesy of Hannah Rosengren - for more beautiful illustrations and information on ways to save bees, monarch butterflies and support local farmers, see http://hannahrosengren.etsy.com

 

To help save the bees we are selling beautiful screen printed organic cotton bags with all funds proceeds raised going  to award winning Mullumbimby Community Gardens, who are creating so much beeutiful bee habitat!