Something to bee thoughtful about

[dianeduane]

We take them for granted. We shouldn't.

During my visit to Tapp’s apiary just outside Chapel Hill, I asked him, "I'm wondering, does fifteen billion dollars worth of food a year depend on a bunch of retired hobbyists?"

I fully expected him to tell me I was exaggerating. Tapp turned his head, looked me in the eye and with a straight face said, "Well, yeah."

 

Comments

[megabitch.livejournal.com]

*nod* If it weren't for the beekeepers in the UK, the honeybee would have been wiped out in the 80s. We have one hive now - we had three but lost one last year and merged the remaining into a stronger hive. Last year was a fairly bad year for the local apiaries as well, I don't know one local keeper who didn't lose at least one hive. We'll probably get more hives this year. More honey (which two local shops sell for us), more wax (one local shop sells our beeswax furniture polish as well). Reminds me, I really need to do some candles.

[korenwolf.livejournal.com]

It was a weird year, the hives were swarming at the drop of a hat but not re-queening the original hive particularly easily. If the weather is warm enough tomorrow I'll go up to Penn hill and check to see how they're doing and maybe lob some extra feed on them. Shouldn't be doing the first inspection until late March / early April but it's been an insanely warm winter.

The quince is starting to bud and blossom already and the apple/pear and plum are getting ready to bud.

On the plus side being one of those nuts who keeps bees means having really really well pollinated veg and fruit in the back garden :)