Protecting honey bees is another important reason to eliminate chemicals from your landscape. National Honey Bee Day will help you to understand why.
National Honey Bee Day was started by grassroots minded beekeepers to build community awareness of the bee industry, through education and promotion.
The primary goals of the National Honey Bee Day Program include:
1) Promotion and advancement of beekeeping.
2) Educate the public about honey bees and beekeeping.
3) Make the public aware of environmental concerns as they effect honey bees.
I've often mentioned the importance of pollinators and the dangers they face because of chemicals that some gardeners use in their gardens (among other things). The National Honey Bee Day website states:
We ask that every beekeeper join in this cause. We ask that backyard gardeners, those who love nature, environmental groups, and folks from every corner of society get involved and support saving the honey bee.
It's just not the honey bee in peril. Bats, butterflies, frogs, and other native pollinators are all being killed off through the increased use of chemicals and new lethal pesticides, herbicide, and fungicides on the market. The honey bee industry has suffered several years now with staggering losses due to "Colony Collapse Disorder". Yet to date, not one chemical has been banned or one farming practice changed. But the losses continue to mount year after year.
There will be several National Honey Bee Day events in the area.
National Honey Bee Day at Sky Meadows State Park - 8/20/2011 - 11am - 4pm
Honey Bee Festival - Norfolk Botanic Gardens - 8/20/2100 - 10am - ?
But if you can't attend either one, I encourage you to visit the National Honey Bee Day website to learn more about the dangers facing honey bees - and the many reasons we need them!
For more information about bees, and other pollinators, visit:
Enjoying the Birds & Bees in Your Own Back Yard - Gardening to Attract Pollinators
10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Honey Bees
First Rooftop Garden Built for Bees
