Quick Facts: · Approximately $200 million in agricultural production is dependent on honey bee pollination every year in this province. Across North America that number rises to $16 billion per year. o An estimated 30,000 honey bee colonies are contracted to pollinate food crops on B.C. farms every growing season. o Pollination activities are worth approximately $2.4 million annually to B.C. beekeepers. · Many restaurants now have their own bee hives, including the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria that maintain hives on their grounds, using the fresh honey in their restaurants and selling the surplus by the jar. · Many plant species including bee balm, catmint, foxglove, and lavender are good choices for attracting bees to your garden. Honey bees also like flowering herbs such as chives, thyme, rosemary and mint. Things you can do to encourage bees: · Plant a bee-friendly garden with native and nectar-producing flowers. · Educate yourself on the dangers and risks of using homeowner garden pesticides and chemicals. · Support local beekeepers by buying honey and other bee products at farm gates and at farmers markets. · Learn more about this fascinating insect and why it is important. · Encourage local authorities to use bee-friendly plants in public spaces. · Support municipal zoning that will allow people to keep beehives on their property. · Find space for a beehive in your garden.
Learn More: · To find a list of bee-friendly plants, visit: · Visit the BC Honey Producers Association online: http://www.bcbeekeepers.com/ · For more information about B.C.'s apiculture industry, visit:http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/apiculture/index.htm |