Many people are worried about bees including Morgan Freeman, but why? They live in orchards, parks, and worst of all, your sheds, so why are they so important?

The first things that are affecting the population of bees are pesticides. Pesticides are usually used on crops to keep away insects that eat them, but they are also killing the bees that aren’t harming the plants but only pollinating them.

A common weed killer that you have probably used or at least heard, Roundup, has recently been tested and confirmed for causing cancer. Many companies and parts or whole states are banning the use of it. Foods aren’t usually tested for glyphosate, the hazardous chemical in Roundup, and one food that has tested for higher than normal glyphosate levels is Cheerios.

Another variable affecting the population of the bees is the decreasing habitat area. Bees use orchards, forests, and other things. When we populate and destroy the land the bees lose that area for habitats and for resources.

People think of bees for making honey and pollinating, but what does that really do? First, the bees pollinating can help the plants reproduce and make more food for not only us but animals too. 

Bees also affect the economy – they contribute 15 billion dollars a year for the U.S. Agriculture Department.  All of this money comes from food that the bees pollinate, but there are also many companies that rely on the bees themselves. Some companies, including facial products, candles, and lip balms, depending on the bee’s wax.

You might not think so, but a few families in the area actually care for bees. In fact, one of them is my own family! We have had bees for four years and some of the things my family uses the bees for are of course honey, but also soap and candles. We use the extra wax from extracting the honey to make the candles and hand soaps.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Smoker used to disorient and calm the bees