How to Help Bees Thrive on Long Island
Have you ever wondered how to help bees thrive? Bees are more than just honey-makers—they are foundational pollinators in our ecosystems, responsible for fertilizing around one-third of the crops we consume. On Long Island, where human development often pushes up against natural spaces, bees hold the line between abundance and ecological collapse.
Yet pollinators are in trouble. Habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and climate change have all contributed to steep declines in both managed and wild bee populations. Supporting bees on Long Island is no longer just a good idea—it’s a necessity for maintaining biodiversity and food security in our own communities.
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Understanding the Difference:
Honey Bees vs. Native Bees
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are a non-native species introduced by European settlers. Known for their waxy hives and sweet honey, they are the darlings of agriculture—especially for crops like apples, pumpkins, and blueberries that require intense pollination over a short window of time.
These bees are social creatures, living in large colonies that can exceed 50,000 individuals. They’re vital for commercial-scale farming but depend on human management to survive. If you’re interested in keeping honey bees, make sure you start with high-quality equipment such as this starter hive kit for beginners.
Native bees—of which Long Island boasts hundreds of species—are typically solitary. Species like mason bees, leafcutter bees, bumble bees, and sweat bees nest alone in soil, hollow stems, or decaying wood. These wild bees often outperform honey bees in pollination efficiency and are active in different weather conditions.
They don’t make honey or wax, but they make our wildflowers bloom and our gardens flourish. Supporting them means understanding their habits and providing the natural elements they rely on. You don’t need a hive—just the right environment.
Can Honey Bees & Native Bees Live in Harmony?
Although honey bees and native bees can share the same landscape, it’s not always a peaceful coexistence. In areas with many managed hives, native bees sometimes struggle to find sufficient food. This can lead to declines in local biodiversity—ironically, even while honey bees appear abundant.
The solution isn’t to avoid keeping honey bees altogether, but to be thoughtful in how we support them. Beekeepers can limit the number of hives in suburban areas, avoid placing them near sensitive wild habitats, and plant extra nectar-rich flowers to ensure all pollinators have access to food.
The key is abundance. By increasing the total number and diversity of flowering plants—especially native species—we can reduce competition and give both kinds of bees the nourishment they need. Adding more blooms is one of the most direct ways to make your yard or garden part of the solution. Try sowing a native wildflower mix for the Northeast to get started.
How to Help Bees
How to Help Bees by Building Bee Hotels for Native Species
Native bees don’t live in hives. Instead, they nest in the ground, inside wood cavities, or within hollow stems. A bee hotel provides pre-drilled tunnels or reeds for these solitary species to use for laying their eggs.
These small shelters are particularly important in urban and suburban landscapes where natural nesting sites have been removed. They’re easy to build and rewarding to maintain—and you don’t need to be a carpenter to get started. This ready-to-use bee hotel with removable nesting tubes is ideal for beginners and comes with a protective overhang to keep the interior dry.
To be effective, a bee hotel should be placed in full sun, preferably facing southeast. It should be mounted securely at least three feet off the ground and protected from rain. Annual cleaning or replacing of the tubes is essential to prevent disease or pests.
Forgotten Skillz offers a hands-on Bee Hotel Workshop where participants build their own using local materials like invasive phragmites reeds. It’s an educational experience that ties pollinator support to broader environmental stewardship.
How to Help Bees by Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Landscape
The most reliable way to support bees is by planting what they love—and that means native flora. On Long Island, early-season blooms like wild columbine and Virginia bluebells provide critical food after winter. Mid-season species like milkweed, bee balm, and black-eyed Susan dominate the warmer months. Late-season offerings such as goldenrod and asters fuel pollinators preparing for hibernation or migration.
While it may be tempting to choose showy hybrids from a nursery, these often lack nectar and pollen. Bees evolved with native plants and rely on them for survival. You can easily begin transforming your landscape using a native wildflower seed blend designed for Northeast climates.
Bees also need access to clean water. A shallow dish filled with pebbles and water makes a simple, effective bee-watering station. Or consider purchasing a metal bee waterer for a more permanent solution.
Don’t remove every dead stem or leaf in fall—many native bees overwinter in these materials. Letting part of your garden “go wild” supports more than just bees; it supports entire ecosystems.
Rethinking Lawn Care & Yard Practices
Pesticides and herbicides, especially neonicotinoids, are among the top killers of bees. Even at low doses, they can disorient or poison pollinators. The best way to help bees is to garden organically, using natural pest management strategies and compost-based soil amendments.
You can also advocate for bee-safe practices in your community by supporting organic farms, landscaping companies, and garden centers that commit to pollinator protection.
Traditional turf grass provides almost nothing for bees. Rethinking your lawn by allowing patches of clover, violets, or wild strawberries to grow naturally creates small oases of biodiversity. You can take it a step further with a bee lawn seed mix that includes low-grow flowers and clovers.
If the idea of a wild lawn feels overwhelming, start small—perhaps with a corner or strip—and let the results guide you.
Forgotten Skillz in Action: Learning Through Connection
At Forgotten Skillz, our mission is to reintroduce ancestral wisdom into modern life—and pollinator support is a key part of that. From learning how native bees nest to understanding traditional plant knowledge, our workshops are designed to foster both ecological awareness and personal empowerment.
Programs like our Bee Hotel Workshops and Possum Walks blend outdoor education with hands-on projects that families and individuals can replicate at home. These experiences don’t just teach us how to help bees—they help us remember how to live in deeper harmony with the natural world.
Final Buzz: What It Means to Support Bees on Long Island
To support bees on Long Island is to participate in the restoration of our local ecosystems. It’s a quiet, consistent form of activism—one that values observation, intention, and relationship over speed or perfection.
Whether you plant milkweed, set out a bee waterer, build a hotel, or simply allow wild violets to bloom where they will, you are stepping into a long lineage of caretakers. Bees, after all, are ancient. And when we learn to walk alongside them, we begin to tap into a forgotten skill that is as old as humanity itself: the skill of living with the land, not just on it.
Recommended Products to Support Bees on Long Island
✅ Bee Hotel with Removable Tubes and Roof Overhang
✅ Native Wildflower Seed Mix for Northeast US
✅ Bee Lawn Seed Mix with Clover and Wildflowers
✅ Bee Waterer with Ceramic Tray and Pebbles
Author: Michael A. Evans
Michael A Evans is a passionate advocate for preserving and reviving ancestral knowledge through modern applications. As the founder of Forgotten Skillz, he is dedicated to teaching the skills of self-sufficiency, bushcraft, and sustainable living, drawing inspiration from historical practices to empower individuals in today’s world. Michael’s work extends beyond survival skills; he also leads Vision Martial Arts in Patchogue, NY, where he guides both adults and children in realizing their potential through martial arts. Additionally, Michael contributes to the educational field as a collaborator on the “Little Laurie Science Stories” book series and the Ninja Née Science Education Program. With a background in therapeutic massage from the NY College of Health Professions, Michael continues to provide holistic care as the lead therapist at Massage LI.
Forgotten Skillz is a service of Synchronicity Coaching Inc.
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