What planting density should I use?
Typical wild flower planting densities range from 5/m² to 10/m². If budget is a problem it is preferable to maintain the plant density but only a percentage of the site. Lower planting densities spread thinly across the site are not recommended because they lack both visual impact and, more importantly, result in reduced seed production because of the difficulties that distance creates for effective cross pollination.
Should I plant a mix of plants or keep species together in groupings?
Choose whatever planting arrangement suits but avoid planting in straight lines. Stronger visual effect can be achieved from planting single species drifts. Clumps of plants can also look effective.
Will I be provided with flower seeds for the competition ?
Participants will need to buy their own flowers seeds for the competition.
Is there restriction of type of flowers I should plant for the competition?
No restriction of type of flowers. Be creative and think outside of the box.
How will I earn extra points for this competition ?
Extra points for flower displays that feature pollen friendly flowers and save for the bees.
Why is it important to save the bees?
It’s believed that a third of all our food depends on the pollination of bees. This includes fruit, many vegetables, nuts, seeds and oils and that 85% of plants exist because of bees. More than 100 food crops are pollinated by bees.
Why are the bees disappearing?
- Use of pesticides
- Slash and burn agriculture
- Loss of biodiversity / monoculture
- Loss of habitat due to deforestation
- Parasites and pathogens
- Climate change
What is the Plan BEE so far in Bali?
So far they have already installed 40 hives across Bali, primarily in North Bali as part of the North Bali Plan BEE Project with founding partners Four Seasons, Atlas Pearls and Hatten Wines. The Four Seasons at Sayan is also installing hives as part of the Plan BEE.
The support of people and organizations that have adopted bee hives is greatly appreciated it has enabled the installation of beehives and supported training in North West Bali. When you adopt a bee hive you contribute to installing a new bee hive with a colony and sharing knowledge about the bees and honey with farmers and villagers. Currently at least 10 local staff and farmers who live in villages near Melaya, Grogkak, and Penyabangan areas are engaged as Bee Crews at three sites, with more sites being developed. They act as caretakers of the hives and are being trained in the art of beekeeping as well as learning about local bee species and how to handle bees safely.
The “Queen Bee” team in Bali Amanda and Ratih has been visiting schools talking with students about the bees and educating them on the different species in Indonesia and the risks to the bees that are emerging. They have also been travelling to different parts of Indonesia and meeting honey hunters and farmers that have a history working with the bees and documenting what they can.
Where do they find the bees to inhabit the new hives?
Plan BEE is about working with local communities for the preservation of the honey bees. Amanda and Ratih are currently working with two local bee keepers in Bali, Pak Matal in Jembrana regency and Pak Yan in Jimbaran. They both have over 500 hives of their own and supply the colonies for the new installations. Both bee keepers are invaluable to the team and committed to preservation of the honey bee species and sharing their knowledge. Pak Matal is also helping with education and training new bee keepers in North and West Bali and selects queens for the new hives.
How much honey will an average hive produce a year?
The amount of honey a hive produces a year depends on the plants in the area where the hive is placed, the more flowers in the area, the higher the yield. A hive can generally produce about 600ml of honey in 3 months, depending on weather conditions and the amount of food for the bees available in the environment.
What types of bees live in Bali?
There are four types of honey bees living in Bali.
- Apis Dorsata is the wild bee usually in forested areas
- Apis Cerana
- Apis Meliffera
- Apis Trigona is a smaller stingless bee
What can you do to make Bali a sweeter place to live?
Buy more honey products. Anything that you would normally use sugar for can be substituted with honey. Buy organic products, which are supplying the bees with pollen. Adopt a hive or check out the activities being set up by RLA. Plant flowers in your garden. BEE friendly.
What can you do to help save the bees in Bali?
- Avoid using harmful pesticides in your garden, look for the organic alternatives.
- Grow a meadow – allow part of your garden to grow naturally
- Plant flowers in your garden or in pots
- Buy bee products. Buying honey, bee pollen, and beeswax candles increase the demand for bees and support beekeepers
- Buy organic produce to support organic farming
- Adopt a hive
- Sponsor printed flyers in Bahasa Indonesia for farmer cooperatives and high school students Rp. 300,000
- Sponsor a beekeeping workshop for local farmers Rp. 2,000,000
- Check FaceBook and Instagram for updates on the journey of the Queen Bees in Bali with the development of the Bali BEE Belt, and the North Bali Plan BEE.
Adopt a Hive
- Conduct site tours to check the hive location is bee friendly.
- Populate the hive with a live colony of honey bees
- Plant organic, non- GMO flowers and plants around the hive for your bees to feed on
- Educate the farmers in the area about the dangers of pesticides
- They will maintain the hive for you at a designated Plan BEE Centre and provide beekeeping skill training to a local caretaker
- Send you a certificate of adoption and a photo of your hive
- Send you 250ml of fresh honey from your hive after the first harvest
- Adopting a hive – includes a hive, queen and colony of honeybees, hive maintenance and the above for Rp. 2,500,000 a year
As residents and visitors of Bali you can support the bees of Bali by avoiding the use of pesticides in your gardens and planting flowers to feed the bees. By buying beeswax candles and honey increases the demand for bees and helps support the honey harvesters. You can make a choice to buy organic produce and support the organic farmers. If you’re fortunate to have a big garden with some trees, you can host your very own hive, which is an excellent educational project for the kids. Doing the right thing has never been so sweet.