The Buzz About Bees ... Bee Better Certification Coming Soon

Bees are important for the environment. I read an article once that said that bees are responsible for about every third bite of food we take! Unfortunately, the bee population is in decline. People need to be aware of the importance of bees in our food chain. WE NEED BEES!

Bees Provide People With MORE Than Honey
Bees are hard workers. For many of our favorite crops to develop, they need bees to help in the germination process. If we did not have bees, we would not have apples, melons, squash, almonds, or broccoli.

Protect The Bees, Plant Pollinator Friendly Plants
Over the past several years, large numbers of hives have diminished. Honey bees provide a key service to our agricultural production. You can help the honey bees through careful planting in your garden.

• Spring flowers that bees are drawn to include: crocus, hyacinth, borage, calendula, and wild lilac. 
• Summer flowers that bees feast on include: cosmos, echinacea, snapdragons foxglove, and hosta. 
• Late summer and early fall flowers that bees like include: zinnias, sedum, asters, witch hazel, and goldenrod.

Purchase Products Labeled Bee Better Certified
Be an informed consumer and look for the new labeling "BEE BETTER CERTIFIED" that will be available soon. The new label will help guide you in choosing ethical, environmentally-sound products: a certification for foods produced on bee-friendly farms. "The pillars of the program are: dedicating a minimum 5 percent of land to providing habitat—meaning abundant sources of pollen and nectar, such as hedgerows or flowering cover crops; providing nesting sites for pollinators in the form of (depending on the pollinator species) plants with pity-stems, undisturbed ground and plants butterflies can lay eggs in; and eliminating or minimizing the use of chemical pesticides" (Cernansky, Delicious Living).

Yes, You Can Make A Difference
Plant flowers that attract bees, purchase products labeled BEE BETTER CERTIFIED, and avoid using neonicotinoids in your gardening.

For more information, read the Delicious Living's Article "Be Better Certified" Could Help With Pollinator-Friendly Choices and the BBC Article Would We Starve Without Bees.

April is Earth Month ... Care for the Earth and Your Body by Reducing Chemical Cleaning Products in the Home

When we consider taking care of the planet we usually think of recycling. We also need to consider REDUCING our consumption of chemicals in our homes. Not only is it a poor choice environmentally, but also medically.

Environmentally, one should avoid chemical cleaners as the chemicals eventually can get back into the water supply and cause havoc. Some communities have annual drives to collect household chemicals (ammonia, bleach, fertilizers, and paint stains to name a few) to properly dispose of them (US Fed News Service). These are opportunities for you to drop off the old ... to make room for the new. When I do a Google search for household chemical waste disposal and (name your city) insert San Diego (where I live) I find details for drop-off locations for household cleaners, paint, medications, and pesticides. What does your city offer?



In 2012 a study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives stating "endocrine disruptors and asthma-related chemicals [have been found] in a wide range of cosmetics, personal care products, cleaners, sunscreens, and vinyl products".  As a result of this study, researchers began to delve deeper into isolating which chemicals caused the medical problems from asthma, thyroid disruptions, hormone imbalances, and cancer. They are pushing for better labeling of consumer products.

I rely on cleansers to wash the items that do not go into the dishwasher. Most of the cleaning compounds I use are homemade recipes with limited ingredients. 

Healthier choices, that do not compromise cleaning effectiveness, include plant based products and "family recipes" to make your own cleansers.  Be kind to the environment and your body and transition to plant based cleaners today (while properly recycling your old containers). The next time you need a new product, look for a plant based product. If you need any suggestions on where to start or what products are best, just ask!