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Top tips for a bee friendly garden  (or school)

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Top tips for a bee friendly garden  (or school)

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Bees need all the help they can get and you can make a big difference. Here are our tips for creating a bee friendly backyard.

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Imagine your city is the safest city for bees...

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Victoria Park Free Natural Bee School Puawai o te Kakano Ngaro Huruhuru Citizen Science Films for the Future Rāhina Hauora Griffiths Gardens Local Berm Heroes Biking Bees Bees In Parks Pollinator Paths South Auckland Bee Project Regenerative Parks Schools as Sanctuaries The Construct Project Interactive Map Inner city self tour

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Inspiring story of how 3 schools girls created an app and website for looking after bees.

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Inspiring story of how 3 schools girls created an app and website for looking after bees.

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A love for bees and a passion for technology have led three Southland schoolgirls to create an app highlighting the pollinators' plight. The app has won them the South Island regional prize in the Tech Girl Superhero competition. The Beefriend Pi project is the result of hours of work by Madi McGearty, Kaycee Winsloe and Sophie Cundall in the McGearty family shed in Makarewa, north of Invercargill.

"They also won the prestigious overall United Nations environmental award, and they have been invited to submit their project to the World Technovation Challenge to be held in San Francisco next year," says Madi's mum Ginia McGearty. "They are very excited at the thought of where this project could lead to helping the bees."

To enter Next Tech Girl Superhero, the children had to create an app about something they were interested in, along with a business plan and a pitch video. The competition is open to children in Australia and New Zealand.
READ MORE:
* Kids' quiz: how much do you know about bees?
* Plight of the bumblebee
* Why do flowers smell?
"We've noticed a big change in the bee population and how it's decreasing," nine-year-old Madi McGearty says. "And if we don't have bees it's not going to be good for us."

Her teammate Kaycee Winsloe, 10, says educating other children their age about the importance of bees was a key aim, and they've learned a lot more themselves, such as the fact bees seem to have their own personalities. "Different bees have different ways of getting to places and collecting pollen," she says.

Beefriend Pi came about when Madi's nana Karen Popham saw a story about the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition in the newspaper. "I thought, 'That would be good for the girls', not knowing how much it would involve," she says.

Popham is a gardener by trade and had talked to her granddaughter about the environment and the declining bee population, but the technology side of the project was another matter. "I have done my own website so I did know a bit," she says. "But I knew nothing about coding. I actually had to teach myself how to code before I taught them. It was huge. I was up to two and three in the morning just learning it."

The girls were full of enthusiasm for both bees and coding, however. Every Sunday from 11am to 3pm they would gather in the McGearty shed with Popham and their mentor, former teacher Gabby Asplin.

The girls did all the illustrations for the colourful app themselves and made the promotional video. It contains facts about bees, information on how to promote healthy bee populations as well as Q and As.

Next Tech Girl Superhero is run by the Tech Girls Movement, founded by Queensland social entrepreneur Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen. It is a non-profit organisation aimed at promoting careers for women in technology and creating a more diverse IT workforce.

Sophie Cundall in particular could see her future career going in either the direction of technology or the environment. "Ever since we did this app it's got me really hooked in and I enjoy it heaps," she says.

But as is the way with 10-year-olds, she also says she likes working outdoors and had "kind of noticed" there weren't as many bees around. "It's just been a great experience. We've made people aware and we've done something out of our comfort zone," Sophie adds.

The three young bee ambassadors are also keen to take part in the Great Kiwi Bee Count, 's annual citizen survey of the bee population.

Popham says the three girls have learned a great deal, in particular how to work as a team. She also believes it is children who hold the key to encouraging the world to be more bee friendly. "It's the kids that keep reminding the parents," she says. "They'll say to mum, 'don't spray during the day, because the bees are out pollinating'."

- NZ Gardener

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Southland schoolgirls' bee-saving app creates winning buzz

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A love for bees and a passion for technology have led three Southland schoolgirls to create an app highlighting the pollinators' plight. The app has won them the South Island regional prize in the Tech Girl Superhero competition.

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A Home Gardener’s Guide To Safe, Bee-Friendly Pesticides

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Looking for a way to fight pests or weeds in your garden? Many popular insecticides and weed killers are labeled as nontoxic and "biodegradable," but recent science has shown otherwise. Monsanto's popular glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup, for instance, has been proven to suffocate human cells, and has been linked to an array of health problems like cancer, autism, heart disease, and depression.

Not only do these toxic chemicals affect human health, but they have also been proven to be a major cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, the phenomenon that occurs when honeybees die off at record rates. Studies have shown that when a bee lands on a flower treated with many popular and much-advertised pesticides, they attack the bee's central nervous system, disorienting it, and damaging its thinking and memory. Bees poisoned by pesticides will struggle and often fail to find their way back to the hive, and thus the colony collapses.

Given that bees are our main pollinator, it doesn't make sense to use pesticides that have been proven to kill them, especially when there are alternatives that are safe, easy to use, and cost effective. Chances are you've already got some of these tucked away in your pantry.

Neem Oil

Derived from the Azadirachta indicaevergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent, neem has been hailed as the organic gardener's best friend. While highly effective at repelling a variety of pests such as mites and aphids, as well as certain fungal diseases like powdery mildew, this oil, when used at correct doses, will pose no threat to people or pollinators. Unlike chemical pesticides, neem is biodegradable, breaks down quickly, and leaves no lasting residue. Neem oil is powerful, so be sure that your homemade solution is properly diluted- it should include no more than 3% oil.

Vinegar

Due to their acidic nature, both white wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar can be used as effective weed killers. Fill up a watering can or spray bottle and apply it directly to the difficult weeds you'd like to nix. You can also mix up a little cocktail of one gallon vinegar, with one cup Epsom Salt, and a tablespoon of castile soap.

Epsom Salt

An ideal component of any organic garden, Epsom salts are completely safe, non-toxic, and bee-friendly. In addition to being a magnesium-rich fertilizer for tomato and pepper plants, Epsom salts are also an effective way of keeping slimy critters like slugs and snails off your plants. Simply sprinkle salts around the base of affected plants, or apply a half-water, half-salt saline spray to the leaves of plants affected by other pests, like beetles.

Chrysanthemum

Naturally containing a pest-repelling compound called "pyrethrin," Chrysanthemums can be planted in a garden to repel pests, or made into tea that can be sprayed onto the leaves of plants (after it's cooled down, of course.)

Pepper, Garlic, and Onion

Just as pepper spray is harsh for human skin, at milder concentrations, it works similarly on the bodies of insects. A handful of chili or habanero peppers, garlic, or onions can be pulverized in a blender with a few cups or water, boiled over the stove, then cooled and transferred to a gallon container. Add extra water to make sure you don't burn your plants, and be sure to wear gloves and protect your eyes when making this mixture.

Castile Soap

Given its much-lauded gentleness and non-toxicity, it might come as a surprise that castile soap is a potent pesticide. Its effectiveness stems from the fatty acids present in the olive oil-based soap, so be sure to use the real deal; dish soaps and detergents will be both ineffective and harmful here. Mix up a solution with only about 2% soap, and feel free to add a little cooking oil, vinegar, neem oil, or pepper to the mix.

Aluminum Foil

Don't want to throw out the aluminum foil left over from that dinner you made last night? You can re-use it in the garden to repel aphids. Cut the foil into strips and wrap them around the base of plants affected, or tear it up and mix it in with the mulch around your plants. The light reflections will confuse pests and drive them away.

Essential Oils

An important component of many natural insect repellents intended for bodily use, Eucalyptus oil is also an effective method of keeping harmful bugs away from your garden. Strong, pungent smells are what works here. Other essential oils to use include orange, peppermint, and rosemary. Sprinkle a few drops around the area, or add them to a spray bottle full of water, and apply directly to the endangered plants.

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A Home Gardener's Guide To Safe, Bee-Friendly Pesticides - Garden Collage

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Looking for a way to fight pests or weeds in your garden? Many popular insecticides and weed killers are labeled as nontoxic and "biodegradable," but recent science has shown otherwise. Monsanto's popular glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup, for instance, has been proven to suffocate human cells, and has been linked to an array of health problems like cancer, autism, heart disease, and depression.

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by Janet Luke on December 30, 2013 in Gardening With the Kids, Make Your Own, Public Articles

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Connected Level 2 2012 - all articles to do with bees.

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It's all about the Hive
Singing Zoologist

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Honey Bee Life Cycle Rap Song: "It's All About the Hive" Official Music Video for kids/children

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Koranui School - how they took action for bees in their school.

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Koranui School - how they took action for bees in their school.

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Shows the process the students went through.

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Common Unity Project - based at Epuni School

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Common Unity Project - based at Epuni School

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Be inspired by the community projects happening around this Lower Hutt School which include gardening, cooking, beekeeping, art works,seed collecting, bike recycling.

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Did you get your daily coffee fix during lockdown, or did you miss the warm and wonderful taste of your barista-made coffee?

Join us and donate a portion of your lockdown coffee (or lunch) $ savings to our COFFEE 4 CHANGE ( C4C) fund. We're aiming to raise $50,000 big ones, so round up your family, friends, or work buddies and donate together. Your C4C donation will be used to sprout more local Urban Kai Farms and grow more belly filling goodness. Together we grow.

Here's all you need to know to get involved and donate:

Pop your C4C donation into our Common Unity account: 38-9015-0629515-07, or click here to donate immediately. Please put "CVC" as your reference.

We will email a receipt for every donation over $5.

For any donation over $5 you can claim up to a third from Inland Revenue.

Contact us at admin@cupa.org.nz if you need any help with your C4C donation. Thanks for giving to others in our community.

Level 2 Covid-19 Update

We are open for takeout coffees, meals and pre-orded meals. We welcome our volunteers back, in both our farms and kitchen - but please send us an email here so we can roster you with care to maintain distancing. Our building and operations are now open to the public, with social distancing practices in place.
New Hours: Monday - Friday Takeaway coffees: 9am - 4pm Pre-ordered Meal Pickups: 12.30 - 4.30pm
Please, continue to care for those around you. Deliveries into the community showed us families in cramped motel units, a lack of basic needs right now, the worry of beautiful people trying their best. It was heartbreaking.

Lets grow closer, Aotearoa.

Want to help?Please consider a donation to help us purchase what we cannot grow, and to cover our staffing costs.

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Did you get your daily coffee fix during lockdown, or did you miss the warm and wonderful taste of your barista-made coffee? Join us and donate a portion of your lockdown coffee (or lunch) $ savings to our COFFEE 4 CHANGE ( C4C) fund.

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Science Learning Hub - supported with planning and resources.

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Students investigate the physical and chemical properties of various honeys to design a way to distinguish Mānuka honey from other types of honey.

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Science Learning Hub - supported with planning and resources.

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Flowering plants create seeds, which get spread away from the parents and grow into new plants in new places. Pollination has to happen before seeds can be made, so flowers have a range of ways to make sure it does.

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Story of Te Aro School and their Bee business. School Journal Level 3 2016

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Orange1 - Notes to accompany story here

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Landcare research - loads of information about what to plant in gardens and on farms. Links to some education resources too.

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Home | Trees for Bees NZ. Smart planting for healthy bees.

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Trees for Bees NZ. Smart planting for healthy bees. Bee-friendly land management

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Beeing A Honey Maker - The Room 3 Honeypots

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Beeing A Honey Maker - The Room 3 Honeypots

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Avalon Intermediate - Music video advocating looking after bees. Written, performed and videoed by students.

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Beeing A Honey Maker - The Room 3 Honeypots

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Vote here to support the Room 3 Honeypots! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/outlook-for-someday/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503563&objectid=11360570 Inspired by honey bees to protect honey bees world!

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2.41mins - from NZ Science kids website.

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Learn About Bees

Enjoy this fascinating video that explains more about bees. Learn about the honeybee hive, queen bee, worker bees and drones. Marvel at how they all work together doing their individual roles for the good of the group. As the queen bee lays thousands of eggs a day, foragers that are around 3 weeks old set out to gather nectar and pollen. When a honeybee finds a good source of food it will return to the hive and communicate this information to other bees by performing a special type of dance.

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Bees Video - Honeybee Hive, Queen Bee, Worker Bee, Drones

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Learn About Bees Enjoy this fascinating video that explains more about bees. Learn about the honeybee hive, queen bee, worker bees and drones. Marvel at how they all work together doing their individual roles for the good of the group.

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Get involved ... taking action ...... citizen science opportunities  .. Kaitiakitanga

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Get involved ... taking action ...... citizen science opportunities  .. Kaitiakitanga

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Class unit resources, inquiry or activities

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How to help young children do science. Awesome new resource from Te Papa.

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ

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Skip to main content

Teaching scientific skills, knowledge, and practices in ECE settings and primary schools is made easy with this hands-on resource.

Learning areas and strands The New Zealand Curriculum: Nature of Science (Level 1 & 2)

Education type Education resource

Suitable for ECE - Junior Primary

Te Whāriki Exploration, Belonging, Contribution, Communication

This resource helps educators to engage in science with children aged 2-8 years in their own outdoor environments.

We unpack the five science capabilities framework, and introduce the scientific process showing how useful these are for teaching and learning science at this level.

There are lots of helpful recommendations, activity ideas, case studies, and details about other resources, to inform, guide, and inspire your scientific journeys.

The resource is the result of our year-long It's a Bug's Life education research project - created by Te Papa in partnership with three Wellington-region ECE centres: Raumati South Kindergarten, Kiwi Kids Childcare (Karori), and Imagine Childcare.

Although our project focused on bugs, the content of this resource can help support teaching other living-world topics.
It's a Bug's Life project blog posts

Learning innovation e-newsletter

Hear about our new education programmes, resources, and exhibitions, plus opportunities for teacher previews and professional development.

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What is that noise cicadas make, and why is it so loud?

The colossal squid activity book

The colossal squid activity book

An activity book to help kids explore the bizarre anatomy of the colossal squid, where it lives, how it came to Te Papa, and what it eats.

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It's a Bug's Life science resource for ECE and Primary

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Teaching scientific skills, knowledge, and practices in ECE settings and primary schools is made easy with this hands-on resource.

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How bugs are cool and all have a role to play.

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Explaining the role of bugs in pollinating our food !

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Landcare Research individual insect fact sheets.

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Landcare Research individual insect fact sheets.

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Details about life cycle and pictures

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New Zealand Arthropod Collection Factsheet Series (ISSN 1179-643X)

This series of factsheets focuses on insects and other invertebrates that live in New Zealand. Each factsheet covers a single invertebrate species, providing information on its biostatus, distribution, biology, recognition and, if appropriate, control options. Sources of additional information may also be given.

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This series of factsheets focuses on insects and other invertebrates that live in New Zealand. Each factsheet covers a single invertebrate species, providing information on its biostatus, distribution, biology, recognition and, if appropriate, control options. Sources of additional information may also be given.

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Story: Te aitanga pepeke – the insect world - Te Ara - Encyclopedia of NZ

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Story: Te aitanga pepeke – the insect world - Te Ara - Encyclopedia of NZ

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Pūrākau and whakapapa of insects.

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Te aitanga pepeke - the insect world - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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Why do sandflies bite us so fiercely? They are taking revenge on Tū, the god of humankind, for killing Namuiria, the first sandfly. Midges, moths, cicadas, mosquitoes and other insects feature in many traditional Māori stories, especially the battles fought by Tāne, guardian of the forest and its tiny creatures.

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Species, activities, origins

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Insects - overview - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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New Zealand teems with thousands of different insects. The country's isolation and temperate climate have given rise to a distinctive insect fauna. More than 90% of species can be found nowhere else, and many have evolved remarkably differently from their relatives overseas.

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Key information from NZ sources including local iwi.

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Explaining Biodiversity including bugs !
Department of Conservation

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The Big Picture: A Department of Conservation education programme

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Looking at your local green space - your school grounds.
Department of Conservation

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Use this resource to learn about and develop connections to a local green space.