Creating a bee waterer is a simple and cost-effective way to support your local bee population. Bees, just like all living creatures, need access to clean water, especially during the hot summer months. By providing them with a dedicated water source, you can help these essential pollinators thrive and, as a bonus, attract more bees to your garden. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a bee waterer on a budget.
Gather the Supplies: The great news is that making a bee waterer requires only a few basic and affordable items. You’ll need a shallow container, such as a pie tin or a plastic lid from a large container. Make sure it’s clean and free from any chemicals. You should also have some marbles, pebbles, or small rocks on hand. These will serve as the landing pads for the bees, ensuring they have a safe space to rest while drinking.
Assembly: Place your chosen shallow container in a location that is easily accessible to bees but not in direct sunlight, as this can cause the water to evaporate quickly. Fill the container with the marbles or pebbles, ensuring they are evenly distributed and stable. Now, carefully pour water into the container, making sure the water level is just below the top of the marbles.
Why Marbles or Pebbles? Bees are excellent at finding water sources, but they need a safe place to land and drink without drowning. The marbles or pebbles provide the perfect solution by creating a surface area for the bees to rest. This way, they can drink their fill without any risk.
Maintenance: It’s important to keep the water clean and refreshed regularly. Stagnant water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. Change the water every few days, ensuring the marbles or pebbles are cleaned too. This simple maintenance routine will ensure your bee waterer remains a healthy and welcoming spot for the bees.
Enhancing the Experience: To make your bee waterer even more attractive to bees, consider adding a few colorful, non-toxic silk flowers or floating a slice of orange or lemon in the water. These additions provide visual cues for the bees, encouraging them to investigate the water source.
Impact on Bee Population: Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem, particularly in pollinating plants and crops. By providing them with a dedicated water source, you are contributing to the health and vitality of the bee population in your area. This simple act of kindness can have a significant positive impact on the environment.
Community Effort: Encourage your neighbors and local community to create bee waterers too. This will ensure that bees have multiple water sources throughout the neighborhood, increasing their chances of survival and thriving.
In conclusion, making a very cheap bee waterer is a simple and rewarding task. By following these steps, you can contribute to the well-being of bees and, in turn, support a healthy environment. So, get creative with your DIY skills and give these beneficial insects a helping hand!