Clearly there is a range of what might reasonably be considered organic 
beekeeping.  The fact that in the E.U., no clipping of wings has been 
included in what is acceptable for organic labeling, I would think is the 
result of wide ranging views trying to reach some kind of consensus.   You 
can bet that some people feel very strongly about what they might consider 
cruel and unnecessary mutilation at worst and disruptive interference in a 
natural process at best.  For some, and apparently for the E.U. organic 
beekeepers, it is about the process as much as the product.  
   One might reasonably argue that a lot of what is text book beekeeping 
practice or maybe industry standard practice, while not resulting in honey 
that is bad or un-organic, is nevertheless shortsighted when it comes to 
the overall health of bees and beekeeping. For example, I can see how 
someone might feel that swarming is an important function in the interest 
of honeybees as colonies and as a species, and therefore should not be 
aggressively suppressed, if at all.  I can see a lot of eyes rolling about 
now, but I think it really is high time beekeepers as a whole start to look 
past the immediate concern for this year’s crop and start really trying to 
comprehend the gestalt of bees and man’s relation to bees with the goal of 
understanding what is not right with beekeeping these days.  Reading Ari’s 
posts, I got the feeling that in Europe at least, there is movement in that 
direction.  It feels like the intention at least is to establish, not only 
a level playing field, but a common understanding of good stewardship of 
and reverence for the activity as well as the products of beekeeping.  The 
fact that all those countries, much less all those beekeepers could come 
together in agreement of what will be considered organically produced honey 
is amazing to me as an American rugged individualist.  A lot of 
comprimising must have been done.  

Steve Noble            

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