The dwindling bee population is bad news for the health of the planet. The good news is there are measures to combat this problem, right here in Sonoma County.
Offer a buffet of blooms year round: Make sure bees always have flowers to pollinate. Plant according to the season so that something is always in bloom. Visit a local nursery to find the good growers of the moment. Friedman’s Home Improvement, 360 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-939-8811, friedmanshome.com
Don and donate: The proceeds from the sale of this beautiful honeybee bracelet go to the UC Urban Bee Lab programs. Designers at Santa Rosa-based Oberon Design love their gardens and have dedicated their honeybee designs to raising money toward efforts to restore the insect's population. $46, Oberon Design, 1817 Empire Industrial Ct., Santa Rosa, 866-462-3766, oberondesign.com
Get knowledge: This book provides an in-depth look at native bees and their importance. Concerned that the honey bee, which is native to Europe, is getting all the press, author Paige Embry talks about the thousands of oft-dismissed "other pollinators" that are also important to our ecology. $25.95, Copperfield’s Books, 138 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, 707-823-2618, 140 Kentucky Street, Petaluma, 707-762-0563, 106 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, 707-433-9270, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-578-8938, copperfieldsbooks.com
Hang a hive: This half jar is filled with tubes and is an invitation to super-pollinator Mason bees to set up shop inside. Mason bees are smaller than honey bees and don't sting, making them a good guest in the garden. $34, Hello Penngrove, 10101 Main St., Penngrove, 707-665-5759, hellopenngrove.com
Bee a keeper: This hive is designed for simplicity, ease of use and minimal impact on honeycomb-making. Made in Portland, Oregon, it is built from red cedar. $450, Shed Healdsburg, 25 North St, Healdsburg, 707-431-7433, healdsburgshed.com
Buy local honey: A great way to help local beekeeping efforts is to support beekeepers by buying their products. Local honey is so tasty and can help with seasonal allergies. $6.99 (per pound), Oliver's Market, 546 East Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-795-9501, oliversmarket.com
Support local beekeepers: Monte-Bellaria's lavender, olive and bee farm sells this glorious culmination of all their efforts: a moisturizing balm made with lavender oil, olive oil and beeswax. The freshness of a field is somehow captured in this sweet-smelling balm. $15, Monte-Bellaria di California, 3518 Bloomfield Road
Sebastopol, 707-829-2645, monte-belaria.com
The dwindling bee population is bad news for the health of the planet. The good news is there are measures to combat this problem, and more people are engaging in these efforts. If you’d like to help save the bees, here are a few items to buy in Sonoma County. Click through the above gallery for more information.
