For thousands of years, honeybees have transformed flower nectar into that wonderful sweetness called honey. Not only is honey a delicious treat in recipes or to sweeten a cup of tea, it has many medicinal properties as well. Due to its sterile qualities, doctors used it as wound dressings during the civil war.
Honeybees are important in another crucial way – as pollinators of our food supply. The USDA estimates that “about one mouthful in three in our diet directly or indirectly benefits from honeybee pollination”. Some crops, such as almonds, rely completely upon honeybees for propagation.
So what, you might ask? Honeybee populations are dwindling worldwide from a combination of factors that contribute to Colony Collapse Disorder. This happens when worker bees leave behind a colony with only a queen and a few immature bees, resulting in death of the colony. Currently the main factors are thought to be: viruses, parasites, management stressors, migratory stress and pesticides. To view a film on CCD: http://www.vanishingbees.com
Honeybees are one of many indicators of a healthy environment. A disturbance in their life cycle, could be a symptom of larger issues. 
HOW CAN WE HELP?
- Buy organic to help reduce pesticide use. Refrain from use of pesticides in your own yard and garden.
- Plant pollinator-friendly plants such as bee balm and red clover.
- Buy local and single producer honey to support small scale bee keepers in your own community.
- Enjoy the wonderful taste of local honey in your own recipes.
- Give bees a place to stay. You can find “bee hive kits” like the one pictured below in any garden center. Mason bees will use the cavities to lay their eggs and emerging bees will visit your garden.
BEE KIND TO BEES…Our Food Supply Depends on it!
Darlene Beck-Jacobson 
Very informative post, Darlene. Bees are so important. Many chemicals are promoted at the forefront of the bog box home centers as the best thing for the lawn. When in reality, lawn chemicals are the worse thing for everything that lives in the soil (worms, beneficial microbes, etc).) to whoever eats what’s in the soil (birds), to who plays on the grass grown in the soil (wild animals, domestic animals , and children) and of course the bees that pollinate those little clover flowers growing in the grass.
Absolutely Shiela. We do not treat our lawn with any chemicals and have lots of living things – insects included – visiting.
Darlene, Your post is great because it gives us readers simple steps to take action.
Thanks Marilyn. It’s always so good o hear from you!