Here at Prana Chai we wouldn't get very far without the hard yakka of those millions of tiny workers gathering nectar and turning it into the delicious, syrupy goodness we coat all of our sticky chai blends in: honey!
September is Bee Awareness Month, and we wanted to give a shout out to those little pollinators that 65% of our food crops depend upon. Through pollination, bees work tirelessly to secure our food supply. Thanks Bees!
But every year, our honeyed friends are facing more adversity. From colony collapse disorder, lethal pesticide exposure, and this year, massive hive and environment destruction from the bushfires. In fact, last year was one of the worst on record for professional beekeepers, as the lack of water, the scarcity of plants, and over 4 million acres of beekeeping country destroyed by fire has resulted in not only massive loss of bees, but a sharp decline in honey production.
We need to act to help prevent further devastation to our honeybee populations, and in turn, our food supply.
Read on for the Wheen Bee Foundation's (Australia's not-for-profit bee charity) list of ways you can help.
Buy Australian honey
Supporting Australian beekeepers helps the Australian beekeeping industry remain viable and build pollination security for our bee-reliant food industries. One of the best things you can do to help our bees and beekeepers is to buy our beautiful local honey.
Plant a bee-friendly garden
Bees need more habitat and there are a wide variety of plants for all garden sizes that attract and nourish bees, from eucalyptus trees to tasty herbs and vegetables. For some valuable information on planting a bee-friendly garden download “Bee Friendly: a planting guide for European honeybees and Australian native pollinators”.
Avoid pesticides
Support bee-friendly farming and gardening practices. Many pesticides and agricultural chemicals are harmful to bees and other pollinators. Where possible, buy or produce food grown without the use of harmful chemicals. This means buying organic or spray-free produce, and avoiding the use of chemical pesticides in your own gardens.
Make a buzz about bees
Share your passion for bees and the environment by starting a conversation with others as a Bee Advocate. By remembering Wheen Bee's What4 talking points, you can help you get the conversation started by raising the problem with others.
Remember Wheen Bee's What4
- Bees are dying globally at an alarming rate.
- Bees pollinate one in every three mouthfuls of food we eat.
- Bee pollination is responsible for 65% of our food diversity.
- Our food security needs bee security.
