Other Ways To Help

If you can't adopt or host a hive now, here are a few ways you can help the bees in your area.

Can't have bees? 

Stop using chemicals in your garden and on your yard!  Pesticides, insecticides, and weed killers are powerful and persistent that kill bees and other beneficial insects. Consider biological and organic controls like ladybugs!

Also, keep in mind that although dandelions are usually considered weeds, they're one of the first flowers that bees collect pollen from in the spring. Try pulling them up by hand instead of using chemicals. 

Grow native plants

Grow native! Plants native to your region are much better for pollinators.  Select plants that produce a lot of nectar and pollen.  Ask you local garden supply or shop for details or check out Missouri Botanical Garden's recommendations. 

buy organic seeds

Buy organic!  Some seeds contain clothianidin, neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides that kill bees and other insects.  Read the labels and if in doubt don’t buy them.  Organic seed costs only pennies more than conventional.   Some commercial compost contains imidacloprid, a very deadly insecticide.  This chemical gets into the soil and water thereby absorbed by plants, ingested by pets, people, bees, and butterflies.  Go organic as much as you can.