You’ve probably heard that pollinators, and specifically bees are in trouble. It’s sad, but it’s true.

Here are a few important facts:

• Approximately 80% of the all the world’s plants are pollinated by insects.
• Approximately 75% of the world’s food crops require insects to pollinate.
• Livestock crops such as alfalfa and clover need insects to pollinate.
• Pollinators do $9 billion worth of work for the agriculture industry, annually

Did you know that most plants that attract pollinators attract more than one kind of pollinator?

Below are a bunch of websites that I’m not affiliated with in any way; I just believe in them and the work they are doing to save our bees!

Here are some great resources for local seeds.

https://www.wildflower.org/collections/

https://www.wildseedfarms.com/

https://www.seedsource.com

http://www.texasheirloomseeds.com/

If you or your neighborhood would like to join a local pollinator challenge, here are some great ones!

http://www.austintexas.gov/pollinatorchallenge

https://www.wildflower.org/project/project-milkweed

https://www.wildflower.org/projects/milkweed-seed-distribution-program

https://www.wildflower.org/magazine/native-plants/join-million-pollinator-garden-challenge

And my personal favorite, become a habitat steward yourself!

http://www.saveourmonarchs.org/  

http://www.monarchwatch.org/

http://pollinator.org/

https://austintexas.gov/wildlifeatx

We need pollinators way more than they need us, but there are a lot of things we can do to help them along. Pick one idea, pick a few ideas, or even better, get with a local organization in your area and get involved!