Help the Honeybees!

Are you a mead lover? You know, that fermented beverage made with honey growing in popularity? If yes or if you have a vineyard, you will want to pay attention.

Central Texas Bee Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the honeybees and they are currently seeking out vineyards for their bee hives across central Texas.

The honeybee is dying off at an alarming rate and this is no small problem since they pollinate more than 100 types of crops in the United States, from the almonds in your granola to the berries atop your favorite dessert. Why? That’s a hard question to answer. What can be done about it?

Here’s what Central Texas Bee Rescue (CTBR) aka American Honeybee Protection Agency (AHBPA) is doing:

• working with landowners, renters, and other people who have an unwanted bee population on their property
• placing bees on properties that are interested in helping revitalize their flora and fauna
• teaching classes and private lessons in beekeeping.
• actively promoting legislation that will help keep the honeybees alive

In Austin, Central Texas Bee Rescue (CTBR) helped the Austin City Council pass an ordinance reflecting the importance of feral honeybees and instructing pest control businesses to prioritize the removal and relocation of wild or abandoned bees over destruction. They are working with the Houston City Council’s “Quality Of Life” committee to do that in Houston.

CTBR has removed hundreds of beehives from Austin, San Antonio, and surrounding areas. Recently they have formed a new crew in Houston and opened an apiary there. When a citizen is bothered by unwanted bees, they are removed alive and placed at an apiary. There they are rehabilitated and can go back to doing what they do best – make honey!

CTBR has led classes in beekeeping and other agricultural sciences in two Austin Charter schools (grades 1-9) and the Austin Montessori School. They have also led workshops with Master Gardener Associations, libraries, and other institutions dedicated to education about the environment. They have noticed that beekeeping and caring for other animals has a positive effect on kids who grew up in the city and previously had no experience nurturing and caring.

Through teaching classes, presentations in schools, libraries and private lessons, CTBR has furthered their mission of educating people about the importance of the honeybee and helped alleviate the fear that keeps bees and people at odds. Their adopt-a-hive program has placed bees on properties such as the W Hotel in Austin and The Circuit of the Americas F-1 Racetrack. They have land targeted for apiaries in Dallas, San Antonio, and Kerrville.

Working on a donation basis, they are able to offer their removal service with only a suggested donation. Families who can’t afford to pay anything are taken care of with no regard to their financial situation. This is a particular benefit to situations involving low income families, the elderly, families with children, and individuals who are allergic to bee stings.

How can you help?

Central Texas Bee Rescue has 1,000 bee hives that they need to get established across Texas. Don’t let your vineyards miss out on the benefits of bees or the potential additional revenue that could come from establishing a partnership with Central Texas Bee Rescue.

They are willing to split the proceeds from honey sales with the vineyard owners or set up a land lease agreement where the bees can be used to help boost the health of their property.

If you are interested, please contact Central Texas Bee Rescue with the contact information on their website.