Pollinator Water Trough;
WA Dept of Ecology has declared we will experience drought this year due to low snow pack and rainfall. We can help our pollinators by doing several low costs to no cost activities:
- Do not use Herbicides, Pesticides, Insecticides. The toxic effects go far beyond just killing pests but do indeed negatively impact your own health.
- Begin a mulching space in your backyard, purchase mulching system or create your own mulching system in a food safe barrel
- Create a ground cover to lessen loss of moisture in your garden and yard by leaving the grass cuttings in your yard. Grass cuttings will lose their moisture and biodegrade into the soil. Plant more for ground cover.
Create a pollinator water trough by using household or gardening items not in use. Mix a solution of Bee Tea concoction that will provide Pollinators and Honey Bee’s much needed energy, vitamins, and minerals with the following ingredients mixing in a quart jar
Bee Tea
- Warm Two parts water x 1 Part Sugar
- Steep Mint leaves, Lemon Grass stalks, rosehips, dandelion, marigold, calendula flowers,
- For protein and minerals mix in 1t Pollen, Chlorella or Spirulina
When the sugar is dissolved fill in to your water trough
Watering Trough:
- Select the medium to use that is food grade safe for holding pooled water. The edge should not be so high but high enough to hold minimal water and avoid drownings.
- Fill the water trough with non-toxic items such as pebbles, water slice, sticks. These items will be used as a landing spot and avoid drowning. You could also add fruit peel slices as a bee landing place.
- Fill the contents of your Bee Tea in the watering trough.
- Visit often to refill, refresh and enjoy the beauty of all resting and rehydrating Pollinators visiting the pollinator water trough.
