"If you're after getting the honey... Then you don't go killing all the bees"
from the song "Johnny Appleseed", by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

There's good news for bees today! The Bayer pesticide, spirotetramat, has been banned by a U.S. District Judge, citing allegations the pesticide is toxic and is killing the nation's honeybees. (The EPA admitted it approved the pesticide illegally but has argued that its actions should have no consequences!)

Pesticides are believed to be a contributing factor to Colony Collapse Disorder, along with a toxic soup of parasitic mites, a new virus that attacks bees' immune systems, the stress of "industrialized pollination" (trucking thousands and thousands of colonies across the country for agriculture), and an inadequate food supply.

Bees are believed to be in long-term decline. To help relieve some of the pressure, I don't use any bee products in my skin and bodycare. I also make sure to include plants that offer healthy food for the bees in my garden.

Lemon balm, bee balm, all the mints, basils (especially Holy Basil!), oregano, chives, anise hyssop, motherwort, catnip, red clover, and echinacea (purple coneflower) seem to be the favorites in my garden. But the list of herbs loved by bees is a long one and also includes lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, hyssop, marjoram, borage, and the rose family.

Add some of these herbs to your garden this year and give some sweet love back to the bees.