Without bees, humans would likely not survive — or at least our existence would be vastly different. Bees provide essential pollination for about one-third of the world’s food crops. In order to provide a growing population with nutritious, high-quality food, we need bees. Unfortunately, climate change and the increase of pesticides are wreaking havoc on bee populations and bee colonies are dying off faster than they can reproduce. 

While change will likely need to come from governing bodies at the state, federal, and international levels to solve the worldwide bee crisis, there are things that you can do right now to help local beekeepers in your neighborhood keep their colonies healthy, happy, and buzzing. 

At The Pink Pigs, we love helping animals whether they are tiny bees or giant equines. We know how important bees are for pollinating the crops we use to feed not only ourselves, but also the 400-plus animals we support at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary as well. Keep reading to learn about how you can help support the bee population with cute bee and animal-themed jewelry or clothing and do your part to help the world! 

Plant The Right Stuff

One of the best things you can do for bees and local beekeepers is to provide them with the nourishment they need to thrive. One of the reasons they are dying off is due to urban sprawl significantly reducing their food sources. 

If your lawn is looking a little worse for wear, consider taking out all of your grass (or a good portion of it) and replacing it with flowering plants for bees. It will be less work for you to upkeep and the bees will get a little snack! So, what flowers do bees love? Try planting a variation of hyacinth, lilac, daisies, snapdragons, zinnias, coneflowers, lavender, marigold, and cosmos. Bees don’t particularly dislike any flowering plant, so go as crazy as you want. Bees even like herbs you can use in your kitchen like mint, chives, rosemary, and sage. You’ll help feed the bees and they’ll, in turn, help feed you!

Offer Them Something To Drink

If bees are attracted to your garden, you’re doing an awesome job! Now, go a step further by giving them some water to rehydrate after all of that foraging for nectar and pollen. A small birdbath with pebbles for the bees to crawl on is a great option. If water is too deep the bees can drown, so make sure that there are plenty of small stones or pebbles sticking out of the water so they have something to crawl on. 

Avoid Pesticides And Weed Killers

Common pesticides are wreaking havoc on bee populations and are a main cause of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD is a phenomenon where worker bees, who are wired to stay with the hive no matter what, abandon the queen and leave the colony. It is believed that non-lethal pesticides used on plants affect the memory, behavior, and habits of bees, making them act abnormally and not able to perform typical functions. Spraying Roundup on your weeds might give you a nicer-looking backyard, but it’s not worth it if you’re trying to help the bees. 

Head To The Farmer’s Market

Local farmers depend on local bees to pollinate their crops. Local bees depend on local farmers for a food source. The more local your food is, the more likely it is that you will be indirectly benefiting the bees in your area by helping to keep nearby farmers thriving. Farmer’s markets are an excellent place to buy fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables. 

Buy Bee Products

Some vegans are conflicted about whether or not to consume honey or use other bee products such as beeswax. We will let you make the final decision, but without the purchase of bee products, many beekeepers would be unable to continue caring for their bees. One of the best things you can do is purchase from local beekeepers rather than purchasing cheap honey at the store. Not only does this support bees in your community and give you a purer product than the mass-produced stuff at your grocery store, but small beekeepers need your business to grow their bee collection. Additionally, local beekeepers use ethical practices to collect honey and beeswax that ultimately keeps their colonies thriving. Best of all, it is believed that eating local honey can introduce local pollen into your system, reducing allergy symptoms due to a built-up tolerance to the allergens. 

If you don’t want to consume bee-made products, or you want to just find more ways to support bees, you can also purchase bee-themed clothing and jewelry from our website! Wearing these pieces loud and proud is a great conversation starter! Next time someone says, “Cute bee shirt,” teach them about the importance of bees, or point them toward this blog so they can also learn how to help the bees. 

Never Call An Exterminator To Get Bees Off Of Your Property

We all know how important bees are to the environment. That said, they can still be a little intimidating if you don’t want to get stung or if you have children. It’s completely fine to want bees removed from your property if they have built a hive there, just make sure you are calling the right person to help! 

A pest exterminator will likely do just that to this “pest” — exterminate them. We don’t want that, we just want them off of the property. Go ahead and get in touch with a local beekeeper! Many beekeepers are happy to remove bees from your property and put them in a safe location, keeping the hive alive and together. You can often get in touch with local beekeeper groups through Facebook or Google around to try and find one in your area. 

Learn And Share

Finally, take some time to learn all you can about bees, their importance to the human race, how human actions are impacting their survival, and the dangers of Colony Collapse Disorder. Educating yourself allows you to share your knowledge with others who might not realize how big of a deal it is that bees are dying off. 

One place you can learn about honeybees is by visiting Rooterville Animal Sanctuary! All of the proceeds we make here at The Pink Pigs online boutique store goes directly to Rooterville to support the animals we care for, including our two beehives! At Rooterville, you can interact with the bees and learn how to make your yard more bee-friendly. 

While you’re at it, check out our bee-themed jewelry, “Save The Bees” t-shirts, and other cute bee items. Wearing these items in the world can spark a conversation, and you might just convince someone else to help the bees, too! 

Last month was all about emeralds, the beautiful green gem that has been assigned as the birthstone for May babies! This month, we’ll be focussing on pearls. June actually has three recognized birthstones: pearls, alexandrite, and moonstone. However, our online jewelry store has so many cute pearl jewelry pieces that we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to share them with our readers! Whether you’re looking for pearl earrings, a pearl-plated watch, or another piece of pearl jewelry, we’ve got something you’ll love. Keep reading to learn about pearls and then find out how your purchase of pearl jewelry from The Pink Pigs can help animals at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary!

All About Pearls

Pearls are the only gemstones that are made by living things. Natural pearls occur when a parasite or small irritant enters a mollusk, most often an oyster or a freshwater mussel. If the intruder settles into the shell, the creature will secrete calcium carbonate which will surround the irritant. This process occurs over and over and the pearl grows larger and larger.

Most pearls used in jewelry are either faux pearls (which you will see we offer a few labeled faux pearl pieces) or freshwater pearls, which can be cultivated in large quantities, significantly reducing the price. The finest pearls are mined from the ocean and can come in a range of colors, including rose, champagne, and black.

How To Take Care Of Pearls

Pearls are extremely soft, even though they might feel like a hard pebble. In fact, pearls can even dissolve in vinegar if left submerged for a few days! This is partially due to their porosity.

When wearing pearls, make sure to put on your makeup, perfume, hairspray, and lotion before placing your pearl jewelry. This will help to keep potentially harmful substances away from the pearls and increase their longevity. If you will be wearing lotion or perfume, consider not applying these products where your pearls will be if possible.

At the end of the day, remove your pearl jewelry and wipe it down with a super soft cloth to help remove any dirt, oil, or grime that has built up on it throughout the day. If you wear your pearls regularly, it is a good idea to use some warm, soapy water and a washcloth to give them a thorough cleaning every few wears. You can also wash them after wearing if you know it will be several months before you wear them again. This ensures that there is no residue lingering on the pearls for weeks between wears.

If you will be cleaning with or exposed to harsh chemicals, make sure to remove any pearl rings or bracelets to protect them. Additionally, always remove your pearls before entering a pool or hot tub as chlorine can make pearls look dull.

While it might seem like a good idea to use jewelry cleaner on pearls, this is best avoided unless the cleaner specifically says it is safe for pearls. Many jewelry cleaners are too harsh for these beautiful little gems.

Buy Pearl Jewelry Online At The Pink Pigs…

And help animals in need! Here at The Pink Pigs, we use all of the proceeds from our sales to help feed and care for the hundreds of rescue animals we currently have at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary.

Our online unique jewelry store started with the need to feed about 400 pigs, chickens, horses, dogs, and other rescue animals at Rooterville. We truly appreciate every purchase you make and we know that you’ll love our pearl jewelry — especially when it comes to the amazing prices we offer!

Shop our pearl jewelry today and celebrate the month of June in style!

Here at The Pink Pigs, you’ll be happy to know that all proceeds from our sales go to helping the rescued animals at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary! We currently have about 400 animals in our sanctuary who need plenty of care, love, and of course, food. While all of our merchandise makes great gifts for animal lovers because the proceeds directly impact animals, we also have some vegan-themed gifts for those who go above and beyond to help animals by eliminating animal products from their diets.

At Rooterville, we promote a plant-based lifestyle. For those who are already vegan, or know someone who is, we offer a huge collection of vegan t-shirts, jewelry, vegan bumper stickers, and more so you can promote a meat-free lifestyle and know that your purchase goes directly to helping the animals in our sanctuary and helping us teach others about plant-based living.

The Benefits Of A Vegan Lifestyle

Living a vegan lifestyle has many benefits other than just a clean conscious and being able to wear all of our cute vegan t-shirts and jewelry.

When you eliminate meat from your diet, you rely more on other foods for nutrients. Most vegans eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and other foods that are packed with nutrients, fiber, and vitamins. Of course, this is a choice you need to make because vegans can also just eat tater tots all day and still be vegan. If you are vegan or vegetarian, make sure you are still getting all of the nutrients your body needs to thrive.

The elimination of certain meats from the diet and the increased intake of whole foods can also reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, kidney issues, and other diet-related health problems.

Living a vegan lifestyle has more than just personal health benefits. The meat industry is a major contributor to global warming. While one person adopting a vegan lifestyle won’t fix our environmental crisis, you can certainly feel good knowing that you are making a personal decision to reduce your impact on climate change.

Take Things One Step At Time

We know that meat is a huge part of many peoples’ diets and quitting meat (excuse the pun) cold turkey is almost destined for failure. When embarking on a meat-free lifestyle, try to take things one step at a time. Eat a meatless lunch one day a week at work. Eliminate one animal from your diet every month. Join in on “Meatless Mondays” and cook a healthy plant-based dinner for yourself and your family. Instead of going to a steakhouse or burger joint for dinner, find a local place that caters to vegans and vegetarians. When you become comfortable with this, take the next step. Perhaps you want to pledge to eliminate animal products from your lunch every single day or cook two or three meals a week without animal products.

When you take these baby steps, you realize that there are other ways to get the protein you need in your diet and that you can eliminate animal products without starving or depriving yourself of tasty food.

Support A Vegan Or Spread A Message

Perhaps you found our vegan t-shirts because you are looking for gifts for a vegan friend or family member. Getting a vegan person a vegan message t-shirt that says “Love animals? Don’t eat them” or “Eat fruit, not friends” is a great way to show your support for them while also going above and beyond by supporting our animal sanctuary.

If you are vegan or vegetarian yourself, then you can feel good knowing that your dollars do double duty at our store. Not only will you be publically spreading awareness about a plant-based lifestyle, but you are also helping us rescue animals and spread awareness to those who visit our sanctuary.

Buy Vegan-Themed T-Shirts, Jewelry, And More Today!

Make sure to check out our entire collection of vegan gifts, t-shirts, and other items today. We have so many cute vegan message shirts, vinyl bumper stickers, sweatshirts, jewelry, and even glow-in-the-dark vegan socks! You or the vegan in your life will love adding these items to your wardrobe and you can feel good knowing you’re helping the little piggies, chickens, dogs, cows, and other animals at our sanctuary.