What to expect from your Beestra
Let's keep in mind that the entire reason we do this is because bees are dying off. Some places have been hit harder than others. Are you guaranteed to find bees in your Beestra? Frankly, no.
And that's okay.
Here's why: when you install a Beestra, you are performing a science experiment in your own backyard. Suppose at the end of the season you have a Beestra full of happy little bees. You should celebrate! You are already doing everything right. You have a superb ecosystem around you that supports pollinators.
On the other hand, what if you don't find very many bees at all? You have just learned something very important. Your ecosystem needs your help! Try talking to neighbors about the dangers of pesticides. Plant a native rain garden. Start that little berry patch you've been thinking about. And then, try again next year. If your efforts succeed, your Beestra will show it.
If we work together, we can make a difference.
And that's okay.
Here's why: when you install a Beestra, you are performing a science experiment in your own backyard. Suppose at the end of the season you have a Beestra full of happy little bees. You should celebrate! You are already doing everything right. You have a superb ecosystem around you that supports pollinators.
On the other hand, what if you don't find very many bees at all? You have just learned something very important. Your ecosystem needs your help! Try talking to neighbors about the dangers of pesticides. Plant a native rain garden. Start that little berry patch you've been thinking about. And then, try again next year. If your efforts succeed, your Beestra will show it.
If we work together, we can make a difference.
What's wrong with other bee houses?
|
You may have seen mason bee hotels at the home goods store or garden center that look like this. These products are designed by people who do not care about bees. They are at best ineffective, and at worst deadly.
Many of these products are impossible to clean properly, which leads to parasite infestation. When bees lay their eggs inside, they are doomed because the parasites will eat their entire food supply. 
Horrifying, no?
Image credit GeeBee60
The Beestra side-steps this problem by being single use: at the end of the year, it is recycled or composted and replaced with a new one. No parasites, and no mess to clean up.
Not convinced yet? Check out our Beestra page for more information about why our product is better. |
Beware these deadly bee hotels!
|
Our Mission
Native bees need our help. There are over 4,500 species of native bees in the U.S. alone and nearly all of them are facing dire challenges. Habitat destruction, pesticide sprays, those perfectly manicured green lawns... these all contribute to the problem. Luckily, there are solutions out there. BeeFoster is here to help you get started.
BeeFoster was founded in 2018 by father-daughter team Dan and Ames Chiles. We noticed that most "mason bee hotels" on the market are poorly designed and downright dangerous to bees. We aimed to design a bee nursery that could introduce people to the native bees around them, without the harmful pitfalls of those other products.
BeeFoster was founded in 2018 by father-daughter team Dan and Ames Chiles. We noticed that most "mason bee hotels" on the market are poorly designed and downright dangerous to bees. We aimed to design a bee nursery that could introduce people to the native bees around them, without the harmful pitfalls of those other products.
|
|
Ames and Dan are here to answer all your bee-related queries.
|