Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 15:30
The Bee Keepers
Good Day Everyone, I just wanted to post a thread about what is termed in America as Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder. For reasons unknown, there have been substantial colony losses in 35 States. There is an effort now to find out why and correct this problem. I live in Texas, and I live for the wild flowers we get each Spring. This Spring there is a dramatic declilne in the growth of wild flowers. Now they are encouraging people to spread an awareness of the phenomenon. People are being asked to reduce the use of herbicides and pesticides in their gardens. Also, we are encouraged to buy local honey products. There is a website for people to learn more at
helpthehoneybees.com You can spread the buzz by sending customized 'bee-mail,' and help to fund research. We are all Keepers of the Bees, so I hope we can do something to help. Thanks and as always peace to all...
Replies for this Forum Topic
Fairyfirefly,
I think what you said makes the most sense.
*bump you could make a theory out of that, the polllution from natural disasters and I think just pollution itself in general could also be linked to this cause.
Remeber CO2 isn't escaping the earths atmosphere like it used to and with all these SUV's and large diesel trucks driving around, it's just putting more heavy metals into the earth and into our food.
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"I'm Fire and Air, All in a nova-sandwich"
I thought a mite was killing them. But, yeah, it's rough and is part of a much larger problem.
Several beekeepers in Gainesville make their own honey and some of it is very good - especially orange blossom. But my favorite is from about 200 miles away in the Panhandle - genuine tupelo honey. The hives are put on platforms in the river swamps so that the only blossoms they will touch are from the tupelo gum trees.
I often go through an internal local-food debate with the honey. I want to buy local, but I love tupelo. I justify it by rationalizing that 200 miles isn't that far, and by buying some of the local honey now and then.
Lilytoo - sorry about the wildflowers in Texas this year, especially since Texas and Lady Bird started the whole thing. Oddly enough, we got more rain this spring than the past few years and the flowers are gorgeous - much thicker and more color. But we still have a drought and the wildfires are starting.
I have also been saddened by all of this. I have a habit of trying to plant native plants that appeal to the bees. Personally I just enjoy them (the bees and the flowers), but additionally any support I can send their way makes me feel a little better.
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We do have much work to do, indeed! And I wish people would soon realize how important all of this is and start make some changes...
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"Excuse me, but can I be you for a while? My dog won't bite if you sit real still"
its actually quite sad, but I think the problem is likely multi tierd.
Pollution for natural dissasters is realy just starting to make its presence known. Its affecting much more then we know. From Katrina to teh Tusnamis, La & El Nino, global Warming, pollution, and the spreading of killer bess who kill of the less agressive bees to take over their colony. We have much to change that we can chenge, but their is still a force out their who begs to be reconed with, and the mother is very unhappy. .. we have much work to do as humankind.
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if you know me so well tell me which hand I use