When natural disasters occur they destroy natural habitat and for bees, a key player in the ecosystem, that can mean death. 

🐝 Why Bees Are the "Bee's Knees": 🐝

Bees are an essential and vital part of our ecosystem. Our agricultural system relies heavily upon bees to do their part -- in fact approximately 75% of fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the United States are pollinated by bees! These tiny but mighty insects don't only pollinate out food, but are estimated to be responsible for pollinating 80% of the world's flowers.

Our friend Steve getting ready to plant flowers.

This impact isn't just agricultural, it's also economical. Farms, apiaries and other businesses rely on honey bees to keep their business alive and thriving. Despite being a vital part of our - and the world's - ecosystems, bees are struggling to survive.

The Situation:

Bees are losing their main source of nutrition: nectar and pollen from flowers.

Seeds from our most recent planting.

The loss of flowers is due to habitat destruction that ranges from deforestation to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, fires and drought. Bees are struggling to find the nutrition they need to survive. Butterflies and birds also rely on flowers as a source of sustenance and are struggling to thrive in regions that have been affected by habitat loss.

One area in need is the Florida panhandle where Hurricane Michael hit hard in 2018. The panhandle is still feeling the after effects of this horrible disaster, where many of the pollen producing flowers have died as a result. The area was home to around 1 billion bees and millions of flowers. Beekeepers in the area are, and have been, doing as much as they can to save the colonies by planting trees and flowers at their own expense to bring back bees and beauty to the area. Despite the valiant effort of beekeepers, the bee population has yet to recover. The flowers that are planted would also support other wildlife such as butterflies, and birds that rely on nectar from flowers for food!

After a recent planting to help bees!

How To Help:

"BEE" the difference for these fluttering friends of ours! Bees depend on flowers for nectar and pollen to take back to their colonies. Let's help them by planting flowers in areas that have been hit by natural disasters or in communities where the bee population is struggling.

Over 100K has been given to help the bee population.

When you decide to help we will work with local experts to get hundreds of pounds of native and non-GMO seeds, both annual and perennial, planted in a area that will help our fluttering friends including bees, birds, and butterflies. These budding beauties will supply nectar that allows wildlife to survive and flourish. Your support could also contribute to the funding of pollinator kit items including bee cups, pollinator houses, log hides, wildlife hammocks, and pollinator drinking plates! All of these items help ensure our wildlife friends have long, happy and  productive lives. Join us in this movement to replant pollen and nectar sources and protect our pollinator pals! 

Plantings You've Helped Support:

• These sweet bees are a buzz with excitement in Maryland. Around five months after the seeds were planted this area was a-buzz with pollinator friends.

• Friends at GreaterGood Charities got together in Chicago to do some planting to help bees and other pollinators.

• The Willamette Valley in Oregon- 16 acres were planted and the Bee Girl has already seen an increase in the bee population in the area!

• We partnered with The Bee Girl Organization (TBGO) to plant wildflowers at a Vineyard in Oregon. Vineyards are self-pollinating and don't require insect pollination. This creates an unfortunate trend of vineyards being synonymous with "pollination deserts." TBGO requested that they decrease spraying, eliminate mowing, and start planting wildflowers. The vineyard followed their instructions, resulting in an inspiring success. The population of bees increased from 2020 to 2021 and wildflowers that have been dormant for 15 years started to emerge!

•  Southern Arizona in the Borderlands region - this planting provided a pollinator refuge for our pollinating friends!