Beekeeping has been going on in the United States since the 1800s and in Detroit since the 1930s. In the last two decades, the Motor City has seen a resurgence in beekeeping initiatives, hand-in-hand with the growth of urban agriculture within its borders. Detroit Hives is one such endeavor, founded in 2017 and run by two beekeepers, Nicole Lindsey and Timothy Paule.
Who doesn’t love bees? They put the food on our table, pollinate plants, and are an integral part of our global ecosystem. But their contributions don’t stop there. The use of beehive products, or apitherapy, is a centuries old alternative healing modality that can treat many upsets.
Due to the recent Zika spraying, massive use of neonicotinoid pesticides, and other environmental factors, bees are now on the endangered species list, effective October 31, 2016. If bees go extinct, honey won't be the only thing we'll be missing: A third of the food humans eat would disappear with the bees. To put things in perspective, that means no more blueberries, apples, pumpkins, or almonds – all those plants (among others) need bees. Worried yet?
Pollinators are an integral part of many aspects our daily lives: they provide food, beautiful flowers, and agricultural production. Recently, honeybees and other pollinators have been facing an increasingly threatening environmental landscape. There are steps you can take to protect pollinators on a local level, from getting on your area’s ‘NO SPRAY’ list, to making your backyard a sanctuary for these important creatures. Below is a guide on how to attract pollinators and provide them with a habitat in your backyard.