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Give Bee A Home!
By Charlotte Bennardo
Everybody needs a home—especially bees since they pollinate our flowers, fruits, nuts, seeds and other plants. Because many species are in trouble from CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder), we’re going to build homes for them! Here’s what you'll need:
Scrap
wood that's at least 4 inches thick. (The wood must NOT be treated, and be a
good do-bee—use recycled lumber. Ask a parent, friend, or neighbor for
wood they're not using. Construction sites are also great places to get scrap
wood. Have an adult ask one of the workers for wood scraps).
Drill
with various bits: 5/16, 1/3, 1/2, 3/16; it’s not essential to have a
specific size, although not too big or too small--the drill will make holes
in the wood that will serve as doorways for bees!
A
place to hang your bee box. The location must be dry, but near a mud source.
The box needs to be protected from rain, predators like birds, and away from
insecticides. A southern or eastern exposure is best.
Two
screws, or a metal hook to hang your box. A simple eye hook (it's shaped like
a lollipop with a a hole in the center) is a good choice.
Sturdy
string or cord.
Bee-cause you’re smart :), we know you’ll have an adult help you. Place the wood on a steady surface, like a garage floor or work bench (it can also be placed in a vice).
Drill holes into the wood at least an inch or more apart. Don't drill right through the wood--leave the back solid. You can make simple columns and rows or do a pretty pattern. Just remember that more bees will have a home with more holes available. Give it a light sand to brush off splinters. If you can find it, use an eco-friendly (non-toxic) sealant to protect the wood from water so it won’t split. Otherwise, the box will need to be replaced every few years. If you’re going to paint it, please use non-toxic paints! Some builders like to add a little roof to the box to keep rain out of the holes. Others claim that the roof allows mites. You will have to decide which design works best.
Drill a hole on the top of the box for your hanging hook (see the bee box on the right in the picture below). If you're using screws, insert one on each side towards the top of the box (see the bee box on the left in the photo).
Thread the cord through the hook, or tie around each screw, adjusting the length as needed, and you're ready to go! You can also connect several pieces of wood together to make a more elaborate bee box--visit Honor Your Mother to see a luxury bee high-rise!
These boxes should be spread out. If you put them in your community, you can collect the boxes and bring them to your yard if you are intent on bee-keeping (no easy task--do your research first), but don’t move any boxes until November! And remember, bees need a variety of plants to pollinate and there will be competition from hummingbirds and butterflies. If you can’t supply a lot of food sources, leave the boxes in a location where the bees will have access to everything that they need.
There are many websites offering information on building bee boxes and bee keeping. The instructions for making this bee box were based on information gathered from the websites of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Education, National Wildlife Federation, Grit.com, Etsy (Andrews’ Reclaimed), and Kate’s Bee Boxes. They all agree that bees are vital to humanity and its food. If nine-year-old Kate (with some help from her Dad) can build boxes to save the bees--so can you!
*Many people are allergic to bee stings--use caution around bees!