Befriend a Bee with These Garden Tips
Insects, birds and bats are required for the pollination of 35% of the food we eat. Without them, 80% of plants would die out and there would not be enough produce to sustain humanity. The most prolific pollinators are, of course, the bees. They are the foundation of a flourishing garden and a just society. Rather than fearing their stinger, view the bees as your friends. Invite them into your garden with the help of a little shelter and nectar.Why You Should Love Your Local Bees
The honey bee is the most common pollinator on Earth. These bees work all day long to help the reproduction process in plants and are therefore essential for the growth of crops. Without them, we wouldn’t have the food to meet the needs of humanity. Food injustice already affects much of the developing and developed world. By encouraging bees into your garden, you are supporting an ecosystem in which enough food can be grown to eradicate world hunger.

Offer Shelter
Treat your bee friends the same way you would treat a human. Unlike other bees, honey bees make their nests above ground, usually inside a tree. By planting trees you are helping your bee buddies to survive by giving them safety and protection from the wild. This will leave them well rested overnight before a busy day of pollination. You could even set up a beehive at home to show even more willingness to help with their survival and comfort.

Leave Out Their Favorite Food and Drink
All that pollinating is thirsty work. A colony of bees needs to stay hydrated to get the work done. Leaving out a small saucer of water will give bees a chance to have a break and regain some energy. Keep the water topped up and in the same location, so that the bees can direct their friends to it.

Furthermore, be sure to include bee-friendly flowers and plants. That means going for the most colorful and fragrant varieties. The local bees have also evolved to prefer natives plants, so stick to these where possible.

The importance of bees cannot be overstated. They keep the ecosystem in balance and promote the growth of crops required to feed the planet. While there are other areas that we must also focus on to create a just world, befriending a bee is a pretty great place to start.