Bee Environmentally Friendly

Did you know there are over 20,000 species of bees world wide? Of course we love the honeybee the most.  Manuka honey keeps us healthy and sweetens our lives, however bees’ most important contribution to our planet is their ability to pollinate. Without them our apple trees, courgette plants, kiwifruit, fejoas and 90% of food crops would suffer greatly.

The bad news is bees are in trouble,  their numbers are continually declining due to a few different factors, but the main culprits are loss of habitat, climate change and pesticides. As upsetting as this is, it is easy to feel too small to make a difference, but you can!

Your average garden variety pesticides can have long lasting effects on more than just your garden; they are hurting our New Zealand bees.

Here are 6 easy home remedies that are tough on parasites and safe for our environment.

Send us a message on facebook @mossopshoney to let us know if you have any recipes of your own!

 

1. Salt Spray

For treating plants infested with spider mites, mix two tablespoons of salt into 4 litres of warm water and spray on infected areas.

2. Soap, Orange Citrus Oil, & Water Spray

To make this natural pesticide, mix three tablespoons of liquid Castile soap with 30ml of orange oil to 4 litres of water. Shake well. This is an especially effective treatment against slugs and can be sprayed directly on ants and roaches.

3. All-in-one Spray

To make it, puree 1 bulb of garlic and 1 small onion, add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder, let steep in 2 litres of water for an hour. Strain the mixture and add 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and mix well. To apply this homemade insecticide, spray it full-strength onto both the upper surface of the leaves, as well as the undersides, and store the remainder in the refrigerator for up to a week if desired.

4. Onion & Garlic Spray

Mince one clove of garlic and one medium-sized onion. Add 1 litre of water. Wait one hour and then add one teaspoon of cayenne pepper and one tablespoon of liquid soap to the mix. This spray will hold its potency for one week if stored in the refrigerator.

5. Citrus Oil & Cayenne Pepper Spray

This pesticide works well on ants. Mix ten drops of citrus essential oil with one teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 cup of warm water. Shake well and spray on the affected areas.

6. Neem Oil Spray

To make neem oil spray, add 15ml of high-quality neem oil and half a teaspoon of a mild liquid soap to two litres of warm water. Stir slowly. Add to a spray bottle and use immediately.