What is The Bee Mindful Project?

The Bee Mindful Project came about at the beginning of 2017 when I begun my Girl Scout Gold Award service project. If you didn't already know, the Gold Award is the highest level achievement in the Girl Scouts. In order to receive the award, you must find a problem in your community and try and solve it with a minimum of 80 service hours. Those who receive this award have many opportunities for scholarships and an advantage when applying to colleges. So, not only does this service project give back and help the community, but it also helps girls further their academic future. When researching about what topic I was going to choose for my project back in February, I remembered in the recent news that a bumblebee species had been put on the endangered species list for the first time in the United States. After further researching, I started to realize how much of an impact these little buzzing creatures really have on our lifestyles. Inspired from what I had learned, I finally decided the problem I was going to combat: The decline of the bee population and its impact. And thus, the Bee Mindful Project was born. 

Endangered List: 

• In September 2016, varieties of yellow-faced bees in Hawaii were listed as endangered
• On February 10th, 2017, the Rusty Patched bumblebee was listed as an Endangered species after its population has declined 90% since the 1990s
• The Rusty Patched is the first bumblebee species and wild bee to receive federal protection in the continental U.S.  

The Issue:

• Bees and other pollinators have suffered a dramatic decline in the last two decades due to habitat loss and degradation, along with disease, pesticides and insecticides- Specifically Neonicotinoids
• One of the main killers also being the Varroa Mite, a lethal parasite that sucks the blood of honeybees, wiping out whole colonies
• U.N. suggested that about 40% of invertebrate pollinator species are facing extinction

The Impact:

• Not only are the pesticides and insecticides used harmful to pollinators, but they are harmful to humans as well - causes all kinds of symptoms ranging from skin irritation, to kidney and liver damage.
• We love our bees for their honey, but over —75% of food crops at least partially rely on pollinators – causing a major threat to our food supply.
• Due to the drop in crops, there will be a decline in the livestock whose lives are dependent on those crops.
• Pollinators also contribute over $200 billion dollars to our global economy.

How Can We Help?

• Create a bee friendly garden and become a backyard beekeeper! (see http://beemindfulproject.blogspot.com/2018/02/how-to-build-mini-nuc-bee-box.html) Look up your local beekeeping association where you can find classes and resources on backyard beekeeping.
• Buy Local + organic- when you buy local and organic, you are not only investing in quality food but you are supporting local farmers and limiting the amount of pesticides and insecticides we put on our earth
• Speak Up!- tell others in your community about these issues and let congress know what you think! You can find petitions to stop the use of bee killing chemicals online at https://act.credoaction.com/sign/eu_ban and https://www.change.org/p/ban-the-chemical-that-s-killing-our-bees
• Remember: Bees are not out to get you!
  Unlike wasps, they are vegetarians who just want to forage pollen and nectar. If a bee lands on you, just stay calm until it flies away. If you stay out of its way it will stay out of yours.