Michael Lance High Sr. wrote:
>
> Recently, a thread was posted about do-nothing bee-keepers who allow
> their hives to become pools of mite infestation.I also read several
> replies and, after being roasted here last year by expressing a similar
> opinion,I gave much thought to this post.
>         First, let me state that I am a do-nothing bee-keeper, in as far
> as it pertains to chemical additions to my hives.Before you pull out the
> flame-throwers,let me give MY reasons.
>         First, I keep between 4 & 10 hives,with this small
> operation,chemicals are both expensive and time consuming to apply.
> I realize others may think this a lame excuse, but remember, these bees
> are a HOBBY, not a living.When (if?) I remove honey from my hives, it is
> for use by my family & friends.I never charge for my honey.My neighbors
> are thrilled to get free jars and, just this year, have been thankful for
> my hives after seeing how our little "oasis" had bountiful fruit &
> vegetable crops compared to their friends living where bees were
> absent.(Feral swarms have vanished here)
>        Second,to my knowledge, there are no other bee-keepers in at least
> 15 miles of me, and so I doubt anyone is in danger of infection.This is
> assuming my bees HAVE mites,as they were certified mite-free this spring
> when they arrived and with no other swarms near-by,I hope they stay that way.
>         Lastly,when I was taught the art of bee-keeping by the old man who
> raised me, I carried on his tradition of "who governs best,governs least"
> when dealing with bees. I open my hives periodically to check on progress
> and if necessary to remove queen cells to prevent swarming(although this
> is rare).I never saw him add ANY chemical to our hives and they thrived
> until several years after his death,the last dying out last fall.
> I would not hesitate to add terrimyican or another anti-biotic if foul
> brood appeared (which I have never had, thankfully) but this is a DISEASE
> not a parisite, like mites.I suppose what I mean to say is, if we
> continue to pump chemicals into our hives to stop the mites,how can the
> bees EVER build up immunity from them? Nature has a wonderful way of
> balancing things out given time.I feel its better to let the bees do this
> themselves,even at the cost of some colonies.otherwise, all we will have
> are weak,chemically depandant bees ripe for the next crisis that arrives.
>            I am donning my asbestos suit now, since this will most likely
> stir up quite a ruckus, but remember, its only MY opinion......
>                                 ML High
>
> "I take my chances,I don't mind working without a net,                           I take my chances,I take my chances every chance I get"
 
Michael,
 
I would be interested in knowing how many years you have been beekeeping "organically?" I
would like to know what your track record has been with your approach. How many hives
do you lose each year and how many have you kept from year to year. You make some
good points that hopefully will prompt some discussion.
 
-Barry
 
--
 
 Barry Birkey
 West Chicago, Illinios  USA
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 http://www.birkey.com