Hello All,

I have been a bit behind in reading the posts so if this has already
been discussed please forgive my late reply.  It was mentioned that the
state of North Carolina is going to offer free packages of bees to new
beekeepers, with the hopes of having more bees available for
agriculture.  IMHO their heart may be in the right place, but I am not
so sure about their head.  The best outcome I can see from all of this
is the positive press it received and making the plight of the industry
known to the general public.

I have to wonder if the only reason a person starts keeping bees is
because they are free, how dedicated they will be to the craft?  I
assume that a few beekeepers will rise out of this project, but I am
afraid the majority of the bees are going to be sacrificed.  If you
disagree, think back on why you became a beekeeper and how you
accomplished it.  Some folks take a short course, others read a lot and
some get with an experienced beekeeper.  I have participated in teaching
a short course or two and can pretty much say that most of the
individuals taking the course are no longer in the craft (maybe it was
the teacher).

The one underlying factor I noticed is the individuals that are no
longer keeping bees are the same that did not link up with other
beekeepers.  I don't think you can learn everything in a weekend short
course.  I have been doing this a long time and maybe someday I will
know enough actually be a good beekeeper.  First time in the bee yard
most newbees are thinking more about being stung that what is actually
going on.

IMHO, North Carolina should be recruiting experienced beekeepers and
offering them the free packages with the agreement that they will take
on an apprentice or two for the season and teach them how to get started
properly.  In the end you will have  more colonies of bees that have
survived the project and just maybe a few more good beekeepers in the
state.  The old "give a man a fish vs. teach a man to fish" theory would
seem to apply here.

A few weeks back our association in conjunction with the PA State
association sponsored a day long seminar devoted to varroa.  It was a
fairly good turn out for this excellent program, but no where near the
number of beekeepers in the state or in even in the area showed up.
Second theory for today: "You can lead a horse to water.........."  may
apply here.

Just my thoughts.

   Ron

Ron Bogansky
Kutztown, (eastern) PA, USA

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