The bee population is diminishing. According to the National Resource Defense Council, bees pollinate roughly 70 of the 100 major food crops that feed over 90% of the world. They are responsible for $30 billion worth of crops every year. They are the tiny warriors that keep our planet alive and well, and they are dying.

However, there is one place in the world where this isn’t the case. Cuba has proven to be a bit of a safe haven for our little striped friends. Due to the collapse of Soviet Russia in 1991, this small, dependent country suddenly had nothing and no one to help them. Their once booming agricultural industry was left defenseless, and the Cubans were faced with the challenge of building sustainable farms without the use of fossil fuels, fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides.

While this proved to be quite challenging at the time, it has recently found itself to be quite rewarding. A recent study shows that Cuba’s bee population has been rising steadily, in stark contrast with the rest of the world (especially in the United States and England).

After the country’s initial collapse, they were forced to develop a farming system now called “Acro-Ecology.” Acro-Ecology is the process of using the natural complex systems of plants in ways that promote large scale agricultural growth. For example, instead of inorganic fertilizer, farmers began using nitrogen-fixing beans. Instead of pesticides, they planted flowers that promote insects that eat garden pests.

These tactics are a key solution to a problem the entire world is now facing. With spring right around the corner, people around the world are pulling out their weed killers and bug-be-gone-ers, and with it they are preparing for the mass murders of these small but mighty creatures. According to the Washington Department of Agriculture, roughly 50 percent of bees that come into contact with highly toxic pesticides will die from exposure within the following three days.

This is especially problematic in suburban areas, including the ones we like to call “home.” Towns well liked for their manicured lawn aesthetic will often use these chemicals to maintain their image at a very large cost.

So if you want to join the effort to save the world one bee at a time, here are some easy first steps. If you do use herbicides and pesticides, read the labels and make sure they are an organic, chemical free alternative. There are also countless DIY organic pesticides available on the internet. A good rule of thumb is: if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your plants! Not only will these help keep the bee population in your neighborhood strong, but they’re much safer for you and your loved ones (especially pets) to be around. So make the right choice, and go natural this spring.