Well, with June 24th through the 30^th being National Pollinator Week I decided to chime in on the Honey Bee Hot Topic. Apropos to the theme of the week, Senator Barbara Boxer unveiled her bill, The Pollinator Protection Act that, if passed, will dole out $89 million for research and grants related to the Great Bee Die-Off. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., was the author of a similar bill to pass in the House earlier this year.

A few months ago I read an article at Salon.com that alerted me to “the bee issue.” In it Kevin Berger discusses “Who killed the honey bees” with a round-table of experts on the topic. What they discus is enlightening and narrowly informative despite the varied voices. But, it’s a start. They point to parasitic mites, pesticides, pollution, GMO’s, petroleum-based fertilizers, cell phones (not really), global warming and the weather for the desertion of 2.4 million honeybee colonies in the fall of last year alone.

All of this got me to thinkin’- Why not ask the bees why they are flying the coop, so to speak? So I asked them! They told me that, yes, actually all of these items have factored in to their decision to leave, but what it boils down to, ultimately, is gratitude. They are tired of slaving their lives away, often being carted in uncomfortable trucks with poor suspension, many miles only to be forced to gorge their whole existence on just one type of flower!

All of this, they say, would be tolerable if, just once, their bosses would say. “Thank You.” But instead, since our actions show we obviously don’t care, they are packing up and moving to Canada, where people still walk with love in their hearts. Plus, I’m told, the weather up that way is getting to be much more hospitable.

Since we’ve upset the delicate constitutions of our immigrant bee population (which does one-third of the pollination work that is beneath the natives ;)) I figured we might look to the native populations and see what makes them happy. Alison Rood has written an excellent article on UC Berkley Professor Gordon Frankie. He is a professor of insect biology and gives his solution for how the urban gardener can save the world.

The grounds at Old City Cemetery right here in Sacramento is home to as many as 1600 different species of native bees. And you, too, can help our plight, without the cumbersome job of keeping a hive. All that is necessary is to plant some flowers.*

-The Urban Cultivator

Links:

Bee scare article from Salon.com

SF Gate Urban Gardeners can save the world!

Barbara Boxer- Pollinator Protection Act

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