Seed Bombs - Creative Help for the Declining Honey Bee Population

Seed "Bombs"

It is very clear that there has been a major decline in the honeybee population. As an avid vegetable gardener I am very concerned.

Just a little background that many of you already have some familiarity with. Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is the mysterious abrupt disappearance of worker bees from the bee colony. During the past 20 years, beekeepers around the world have observed this mysterious and sudden disappearance of bees, and unusually high rates of decline in honeybee colonies. These kinds of disappearances are not new and have occurred throughout the history of beekeeping. In the past they were known by various names - disappearing disease, spring dwindle, May disease, autumn collapse. More recently the syndrome was renamed colony collapse disorder in light of this drastic rise in the number of disappearances of western honeybee colonies in North America and Europe.  

Colony collapse disorder is significant economically and effects all of us because so many agricultural crops are pollinated by honey bees. The whys and hows of CCD and the reasons for its increasing prevalence remain unclear and controversial. Many possible causes have been proposed: pesticides, primarily neonicotinoids; infections with varroa mites; malnutrition; various pathogens;  genetic factors; loss of habitat; changing beekeeping practices; or a combination of these.

One simple way we can help is to increase pollinator habitat by planting native wildflower seeds all over the place. Check out this video showing what the company that makes Seedles, has done. Seedles are wild flower seeds encased in clay balls made of seed bombs. that can be hand broadcast and This company -

Aerial Seed Bombing

Here are links to a few resources that show a simple way we can help that is much more than just a symbolic gesture with no substance - you are actually doing something constructive.

http://www.psmag.com/navigation/nature-and-technology/save-the-honeybee-sterilize-the-earth-pollination-industrial-complex-95566/

http://growtherainbow.com/

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/diy-seed-bombs

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/edb1/