What a buzz! I just had the chance to talk about native bees on NPR! Here's what happened and why it matters to all of us.
The Interview
Scott Simon and the NPR team, of Weekend Edition Saturday, were so welcoming! We had a great chat about bees before going on air. Once we started, it felt just like talking to a friend about something I love. Click here to read the full article from Weekend Edition.
The Bee Problem
I shared how all insects face big challenges today:
- Climate change is hurting them
- Chemicals in yards and farms are harmful
- Many can't find good homes or food
- Using only honey bees creates a biological bottleneck where pests, diseases, and viruses can easily target and overwhelm a single species
Mason Bees: The Answer We Need
The best part was telling folks about Mason bees! These little heroes are changing the game:
- Honey bees take 95% of pollen back to their hives
- Mason bees bellyflop into flowers, getting pollen all over their fuzzy bodies
- As they fly to the next flower, pollen falls everywhere
- This makes Mason bees super-efficient pollinators for our food
How Crown Bees Helps
We've been teaching people like you to raise these gentle bees. We connect backyard gardeners with the bees that help increase pollination. It's so simple, and we can all be part of the solution!
The Challenge
The biggest hurdle? Getting the public to think beyond honey bees. Many don't know there are better options! We need folks like you to share knowledge about the ease of raising Mason bees.
You Can Help!
Want to join the mason bee movement? Here's how:
- Learn to raise Mason bees (it's much easier than honey bees!)
- Plant a variety of native flowers that bloom throughout different seasons
- Skip the pesticides and chemicals in your yard
There's hope for bees! The solution isn't hard - we just need to spread the word like Mason bees spread pollen! Click here to learn how to welcome Mason bees into your garden.
Dave