Save the bees...

Emily Dickinson once wrote that, "To make a prairie, it takes a clover and one bee," and at first reading, it doesn't really seem likely. However, if you do a bit of research, you'll quickly find that it's totally true. Just one bee has the ability to pollinate up to 5,000 flowers in a single day!

Bees make it possible for trees, plants, and flowers to grow. It's relatively easy for most people to imagine a life without honey, but bees are actually responsible for ensuring that about 1/3 of what we eat actually grows and exists!

However, in a phenomenon called "colony collapse," the bees of the world are dying. According to a study by CNN, 44% of the bee population in the United States mysteriously died between April 2015-April 2016. While some blame urban sprawl and loss of habitat, other scientists are baffled as to why bees are perishing at such an alarming pace.

While scientists are busy at work trying to figure out what the actual root cause of colony collapse is, there are a few things that we, the average non-bee-keeping humans can do to help honeybugs and bumblers from dying out!

: plant wildflowers... like everywhere... in all the climates where it is sustainable

: consider growing herbs on your windowsill (especially in cities)

: if you keep a garden, do not use pesticides

: if you see a bee, don't squish it!

... I'm going to be honest with you on the last one ^. I used to be a bit afraid of bees, but once I learned how important they are to the ecosystem that is the natural world, I taught myself to talk to them when they get too close. Maybe I'm crazy, but more than once, when I've literally said out loud, "Hey, little bee. Please don't buzz too close to me! I don't want to accidentally smash you," only to have said bug buzz away. I truly believe that speaking to critters with compassion makes a huge difference. Go ahead... give it a go!