Saving the Earth’s Smallest Superheroes

What’s all the Buzz?

Even in the biggest little city, honey bees the earth’s smallest superhero’s are on a mission to help our world around us evolve naturally. Unfortunately, there has been a massive decline in honey bees. Toxic pesticides are being sprayed, poisoning not only the bee habitat, but the Human Habitat as well. We need them, and they need our help.

But why are bees so important you ask?

Bees are a critical importance to our environment and food supply. Without Bees we lose our flowers, plants, and major crops. All our most important food supply would die off and we would be left with nothing and our prices for food would rise. All across the world toxic pesticides known as, Neonicotinoids are being sprayed on plants. These toxic seed treatments are known to be linked to the decline in honey bees and are toxic to our environment.

RVC Destinations president, Yale Spina says, “Bees really matter.”

RVC Destinations is taking on the “Bee-cause” in order to educate the public about the decline of bees and teach children about bees and their benefits.

“ We consider Colony Collapse Disorder to be an indicator of the planet’s condition and how we are creating much of this imbalance,” Spina said.

RVC Destinations are all across the US and even though the closest resort is Yosemite National park, RVC is still expanding making it easier for Nevadans to come enjoy their natural outdoor resorts.

“We felt that our properties were a good place to make a home for the Bees and expose others to the whole Bee picture,” Spina said.

Spina and his wife watched the increase in CCD and then discovered the Flow Hive. The Flow hive makes it easier to extract the honey out of the hive without disturbing the bees.

“Which gave us the idea to use this new invention as a starting point to try to make a difference. If there are more hives in the world and more people planting beneficial flowers and plants in an organic way, we all benefit and not to mention the world would be a lot nicer place,” Spina said.

Spina is engaged in energizing his whole company to jump on board. He uses simple methods such as watching videos on YouTube to achieve a good base of knowledge to help guide his team.

RVC Destinations is not the only organization who is striving to make a difference. The non-profit organization, Bee Habitat is taking action in the Reno and Sparks community promoting and helping rescue our honeybees.

BeeHabitat.com asks readers, “Did you know that every seed, bulb, tree, shrub, flower and/or plant that you buy contains a type of pesticide that lasts 5 years or more?”

Unless buyers buy organic seeds/plants, we are buying plants from local convenient stores that are selling these plants with toxic pesticides. Sandy Rowley the founder of Bee Habitat, pointed out those spraying toxic pesticides are not only spraying bees they are spraying us too.

“What we do to one species we do to ourselves.” Rowley said

Rowley recommends Great Basin Food Co-op, Washoe County Nursery, Full Circle Compost, Loping Coyote Farms, and Comstock Seed to buy organic plants, seeds, and compost soil. She also recommends to ask for plants never treated with neonics, and make sure seed, plants, and compost soil has the USDA certified organic symbol on it.

Rowley recommends these organic foundations, “Because they are local, sell certified organic and have committed to neonic free,” Said Rowley.

Let’s go organic. Why bother?

“We are all connected” Rowley said.

Bee Habitat states, “Washoe County Health Department and other county health departments in the USA are spraying at least 2 times per month with a deadly pesticide. This pesticide is unsafe for pets, children, asthmatics, and those with health concerns.”

These concerns were taken to city hall to educate city council members, mayor, and the public. Bee Habitat and city councilwoman, Jenny Brekhus created the Right To Item. This agreement would make it mandatory for city employees to put signs up in areas that were recently treated with pesticides. Right To Know signs state, “Keep off area. Treated with pesticides.” These signs as well as a text alert message to local residents when an area is treated with a chemical.

“We are still working on it. We have turned some of our parks pesticide free and are studying how that works and possibly expanding the program.” Said Brekhus.

In result of Bee Habitats effort there are now 12 parks in the city of Reno, 3 parks in Carson City Nevada and two large parks with Washoe County.

Bee Habitat has not only a goal but a focus. Growing and buying organically will help improve the cleanliness of our water, provide safer and healthy playgrounds, save pets, wildlife, and protect our future food supply by saving pollinators.

“The organic movement is working,” said Rowley.

So why is saving the Bees important?

The point is as Nevadans we majorly benefit and need our bees. “It affects us all,” said Rowley.