Bee Friendly Cozumel

Bee Friendly Cozumel: Guardians of Bees

In 2016, Martha began cultivating herbs and edible plants at their home in Cozumel, Mexico, with great care —so much so that she enclosed her garden to keep out every insect, hoping to prevent pests from damaging her crops. But as time passed, she noticed something troubling: her plants weren’t flowering or bearing fruit. Curious and determined, she began researching and discovered a vital truth—plants need pollinators, especially bees, to thrive.

She removed the barriers, allowing bees to enter freely. Within a week, her garden transformed—flowers bloomed, fruits appeared, and life returned. That moment sparked a profound realization: bees are not just helpful, they’re essential. Without them, ecosystems collapse—and humanity itself is at risk.

Inspired by this awakening, Martha and her husband launched a grassroots project to protect bees because they found that people viewed bees as a nuisance and would kill them. This was especially a problem because Cozumel is an island and too far from the mainland for bees to fly to.

Whenever they’re called to rescue honeycombs, they go—asking only for a donation, which rarely covers the cost of their time, expertise, and travel. But for them, it’s not about profit. It’s about safeguarding the bees and relocating them to safe, nurturing environments.

They put their hives live on a piece of land generously loaned to them. Their vision grew and they began offering educational tours and workshops for tourists and schoolchildren to learn about honey production and the critical role bees play in nature. They also craft and sell a diverse range of products made from honey and blended with coconut, cocoa, coffee, and other natural ingredients—spanning cosmetics, foods, and medicinal items.

On another plot of land, Martha preserves honeycombs found inside tree trunks. These trunks are carefully relocated so the bees can continue their natural rhythms in a protected space, undisturbed and wild.

One of Martha’s deepest hopes is that her project will endure—passed down to future generations who will carry on the mission to protect bees and honor their place in the web of life.