Bees are much more than just a buzzing insect in the garden. They play a crucial role in pollinating plants, and therefore in the production of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Without them, our diet would be much less varied... and biodiversity seriously threatened.
But today, bees are in danger. Pesticides, disappearance of flowers, diseases, climate change: they face many pressures. Fortunately, everyone can act on their own scale to support them.
Plant honey plants
One of the simplest and most effective ways to help bees is to provide them with food. Honey plants produce nectar and pollen, essential for their diet. You don't need a large garden: a balcony, a terrace, or even a windowsill is enough!
Some examples of bee-friendly plants:
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Lavender
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Borage
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Clover
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Sunflower
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Rosemary
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Phacelia
Try to stagger the blooms from March to October so they can find food throughout the season.
Avoid pesticides
Pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals are major factors in the decline of bees. Even in small amounts, these substances can disorient them, weaken their immune system, or contaminate their food.
Favor natural solutions for your plants: nettle manure, black soap, ladybugs... Or better yet: let nature take its course! fhhh
Make water available to them
Like all living beings, bees need to drink, especially in summer. They are often dehydrated because clean water is scarce.
You can set up a small water point for them:
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A shallow dish
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Filled with fresh water
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With stones or cork stoppers so they can land without drowning
Change the water regularly to prevent mosquitoes.
Build or install an insect hotel
An insect hotel provides shelter for solitary bees, which represent 90% of bee species. Unlike the domestic bee, they do not live in colonies and need cavities to lay their eggs.
You can buy a ready-made one or make it yourself with:
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Hollow stems (bamboo, reed)
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Wood drilled with small holes
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Pine cones, straw, hollow bricks
Place it in a quiet, sunny corner, protected from rain and sheltered from the wind.
Support beekeepers who respect bees
When you buy honey, choose a local beekeeper who respects the bees' rhythm and does not harvest all their honey. Some beekeepers leave enough provisions for the winter, practice responsible beekeeping, and ensure the good health of the colonies.
At Miel Factory, that is exactly our commitment.
We work hand in hand with passionate beekeepers who take care of their hives with respect and high standards. Every honey we offer comes from responsible beekeeping, often local, and always respectful of the environment and the bees.
By buying quality honey, you make a concrete gesture for the preservation of these essential pollinators. It is also a great way to support a sustainable and local economy.
Join or support an association
Associations like Terres d’Abeilles, Pollinis, or even l’UNAF carry out concrete actions for the protection of pollinators: awareness, advocacy, creation of refuges, plantings…
You can:
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Make a donation
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Become a volunteer
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Share their actions around you
At Miel Factory, we support the association Terres d’Abeilles, which actively works for the protection of pollinators and the preservation of their natural environment.
In summary
Protecting bees also means taking care of our environment and our future. Every action counts: planting flowers, banning chemical products, providing water, building a shelter, or simply buying responsible honey. Together, let's make our gardens, balconies, and countryside havens for bees.