2016 has been a killerbee year not only for the BKN team, but for our bee friends too. So as we welcome in the new year, we wanted to take a moment to share with you how we helped out our bee-ffs this past year. Bees play a fundamental role in the world’s food supply by pollinating 70 of the world’s 100 most important food crops. As a population, we would be in serious trouble if bees were wiped out. And as it stands, it’s not easy being a bee in the 21st century. Their livelihoods are under constant stress and face numerous threats, many caused by human interference, like the use of pesticides. So, our pollinating friends need advocates, which is why we’re passionate about raising awareness around bees and the massive role they play in our planet’s ecosystem.
2016 Hoorahs Included:
On an even bigger scale, advancements were made in the bee community when Health Canada announced that they are beginning to phase out the use imidacloprid, a type of neonicotinoid pesticide! We hope that more provinces, states and countries follow suit in 2017! We can’t wait to hit the ground running and make an even bigger impact in 2017. We’re so fired up to inspire our community and spread awareness, so everyone can pitch in to create a sustainable futures for bees.
- Donating 10% of all apparel sales to the Canadian Bee Research Fund.
- Meeting with elementary school students in Squamish, B.C. and sharing the importance of bees and the role they play in our food supply.
- Getting awarded $5,000 as part of the Telus 2016 Small Business Challenge and donating the funds to the Canadian Bee Research Fund.
- Speaking about the bees at Camp Yoga.
- Cooking a meal with bee pollinated ingredients at The Green Living Show to educate the audience about the role bees play in what they eat everyday.
- Getting up on stage at the National Women’s Show to explain the benefits of the hive’s superfoods.
How you can help save the bees in 2017
When your friends ask what your New Year’s resolution is, why not tell them 2017 is the year you’re going to help save the bees? There are so many ways you can contribute to bee-friendly environments that they may want to jump in and join you.We’d like to thank the beekeeping community and everyone who helped support our cause this past year. Now let’s dive right into 2017 and make it rain honey, pollen, and all that beehive good stuff. Carly & Daniel
- Know your honey source. Buying from local beekeepers not only gets you high enzymatic raw honey filled with natural probiotics, it supports your local honey producers so they can continue to perform sustainable beekeeping, keeping those bees buzzin.
- Awaken your inner green thumb and plant bee friendly flowers in your garden this spring.
- Get crafty and make a bee hotel.
- Spread the word! “You look like you know how pollination works” makes for a pretty compelling pickup line. So next time you’re at the bar (ahem, or Tindering), you might want to give it a go. We’re kidding, but seriously. Getting the message out that bees are crucial to sustaining our ecosystem is an easy way to start spreading awareness.
