We are proud to announce the second year of our Save the Bees campaign! The environment is near and dear to our hearts here at Yon-Ka and plays such a big part in our products. This year we continue to do our part to protect it.
What’s Happening With the Bee Population
By now, there’s a good chance you’ve heard a thing or two about the declining bee population and how it is negatively impacting our planet overall. Because bees are essential for pollinating many of the crops our farmers grow, we need to do our part to not just sustain the population, but grow it. Sadly, there are a number of elements killing off our precious bees.
The declining bee population has been linked to a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder. This occurs when most of the worker bees within a colony disappear, which leaves behind the queen and young bees that are then not able to be cared for. Another issue for the bee population is the use of pesticides. So many of us use pesticides to get rid of things like insects and weeds, but it can actually kill bees and impede their reproduction.
The last problem that’s come up in recent years, has been with mites invading bee colonies and ultimately devastating them. Mites can cause deformed wing syndrome, paralysis, and many other life-threatening diseases for these already fragile honeybee colonies.
Why We Need to Do Something
Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the problems we could be left dealing with should the bee population continue to decline. These little insects are some of the hardest working creatures on our planet and they play a huge role in agriculture. Pollination is necessary for plants to reproduce, which is something that bees assist in greatly.
Here’s a couple fun facts for you…
- More than 80% of food crops in the United States are pollinated by honeybees.
- One in every three bites of food you eat is the result of pollination.
- Bees collect 66 lbs of pollen per year, per hive.
Without the bees doing their jobs, our food supply would drastically decline — to the point of no return. This is why it’s important we all do our part to help save them.
About Rocky & His Farm
This year we traveled to the Birds and Bees Farm in order to learn firsthand about the plight of the bees. This local New Jersey farm is run by Rocky and his wife, who have always had a love for animals and the environment.
After Rocky retired from his job at UPS back in 2006, he discovered a brand new passion: beekeeping. Over the years, Rocky has donated his own time and money to try and alleviate the declining bee population that the world is facing. Because of his hard work and dedication, he now has over 200 colonies of honeybees, which he donates to local farms to help pollinate crops.
But that’s not all Rocky has done! He’s even invested money into purchasing special queen bees that carry on to their offspring a trait that he describes as “hygienic behavior.” This hygienic trait that Rocky is referring to will help significantly reduce the mite count in colonies, leading to more healthy bees. Healthier bees means there are more (and stronger) bees to pollinate all of our crops.
Rocky has also made it his mission to produce non-aggressive bees by doing his best to ensure that queens only mate with this “more gentle” population. Considering he handles the bees without using a traditional beekeeper suit, he’s been pretty successful!
Besides committing himself to saving the bee population, Rocky is dedicated to our environment and reducing his own carbon footprint. This is all thanks to the use of renewable energy in sustainable agricultural practices. At Rocky’s farm, they have solar panels on the roof of their barn, plus they offer a BYOB program with their honey. This allows customers to bring their own container and fill it up with fresh honey for a discounted price. A simple act like this goes a long way in reducing the amount of recyclable containers that are used in honey making.
How Yon-Ka is Giving Back & How You Can Help
Here at Yon-Ka, we owe the success and incredible results of our progress to nature. Since 2014, we have made it our mission to give back to the environment and also protect the bee population through our support of the association, “Un toit pour les abeilles” (A roof for our bees). Through this association, beehives were set up in Provence, giving homes to over 750,000 bees!
Now, we’re taking it one step further and asking you to help save the bees. We’ve released a limited edition version of our favorite Lotion Yon-Ka. This special version features gorgeous artwork from renowned artist, Roxy Lapassade. Roxy is an illustrator who has loved drawing ever since she could first hold a pencil. She has a degrees in Applied Arts and now creates amazing art from her studio in Paris. Her love for drawing beautiful feminine characters that are full of life and love is what makes this collaboration a perfect match.
When you purchase our limited edition bottle, $1 will be donated to the Birds and Bees Farm. Internationally, proceeds will be donated to “A roof for our bees” Association. This unique product is more than just a toner. It rebalances the skin and preps the skin for your everyday beauty products. It’ll leave you feeling refreshed without ever drying the skin because it’s 100% alcohol free.
