World Bee Day

   

source: https://www.worldbeeday.org/

Happy World Bee Day!!! :o)

Bees and other pollinators are very important for ensuring food quality, as well as preserving the entire ecosystem and natural biodiversity. Bees provide a wide range of benefits to humans from pollination of food crops and apicultural products.

Bees Species (general classification):

• Honey Bees (find more about Honey bees types here)
• Bumblebees
• Solitary Bees

Source: http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/about-honey-bees.html

Solitary Bee

Photo credit: GKV

Bumblebee

Interesting facts...

• "Bees pollinate as many as 170,000 species of plants.
• Without bees, there would not be so many different kinds of fruits and vegetables, or such beautiful colors on the lawn.
• A bee colony is as big as a small town. There are from 30,000 to 60,000 bees in each colony.
• The queen bee is the only one that lays eggs. She lays up to 2,000 eggs per day.
• Out of 20,000 species of bees, only one is widely used for commercial honey production.
• The Carniolan honey bee, Apis mellifera carnica, is an indigenous Slovenian race of bee and the second most widespread bee race in the world.
• Honey bees’ wings strike 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.
• Honey bees are the only bees that die after they sting. 
• To make one kilogram of honey, the bees have to visit 4 million flowers and fly four times the distance around the world."

Source: http://www.mkgp.gov.si/fileadmin/mkgp.gov.si/pageuploads/podrocja/svetovni_dan_cebel/zgibanka-svet-dan-cebele-ANG.pdf

source: https://www.worldbeeday.org/

Honey bees provide a wide range of benefits to humans from apicultural products, pollination of food crops and ecological services. Beekeeping is practiced all around the world. Honey and wax are the best known primary products of beekeeping, but there are more products of beekeeping that are very valuable. The main bee products that are used for human consumption are: honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and venom.
Source: http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/beekeeping

I use most products mentioned above regularly: honey, pollen, propolis and royal jelly. I find these all great for my health and for boosting my immune system. :o)

Only thing I don't and can't use from bees is venom. I'm very allergic to bee's venom (and other stinging insects) and have very bad allergic response to those.

source: https://www.worldbeeday.org/

What can we do to protect bees and other pollinators...

• "Care for the environment and avoid harming it.
• Plant a variety of nectar-bearing plants and native species that bloom form spring to autumn to provide food for pollinators.
• Provide a welcoming environment for solitary bees and other pollinators with a feeder hut/shelter.
• Mow lawn less often and when bees are not present (i.e. early morning or late afternoon).
• Seek out local beekeepers and support them by buying bee products.
• Educate our community about the importance of bees and encourage pollinator-friendly campaigns and events."

Source: http://www.mkgp.gov.si/en/world_bee_day_initiative/

source: https://www.worldbeeday.org/

Find out more about World Bee Day, key milestones in the proclamation of World Bee Day, interesting facts about bees, pollinators, apiculture, what each individual can do for bees etc. in a World Bee Day Organization's Interactive brochure about World Bee Day and Brochure Why bees matters - Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Previous four years, I organized here on my blog To Bee Or Not To Bee Blog Hop, a special annual blog hop supporting bees. Some of my crafty friends joined to hop along with me and there were some amazing sponsors who gave away generous prizes. :o)

Aim of the hop was to celebrate World Bee Day, to support bees and bees protection, to raise public awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping and benefits of using apicultural products for our health.

This year I organized the hop, but due to the family situation, I had to postpone it. At this point, I need to focus on myself, my health, my baby boy Fran, my family and partner Goran. The hop will be as soon things get back to normal and when I'll be able to focus on the hop.

If you like, you can visit previous years' hops for some inspiration and information about bees.

Here are direct permalinks:

• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020

Illustrator: Hannah Rosengren Moran

© Hannah Rosengren Moran

Source: https://www.hannahrosengren.com/#/help-save-bees/

Shop: PLANT THESE TO HELP SAVE BEES

And that would bee all from me today. Thank you for visiting. Bee happy!!! :o)


Milka