Randy Oliver <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Please keep up the organic work, but lay off the finger wagging. You only
>alienate the majority. Instead, act as a model,,,
Hello Randy!
First, my model has a name, and that is ‘Ecological Beekeeping’
Or if you wish ‘Biodynamic Beekeeping”. And if talking healthy beekeeping
practices alienates people, then so be it.
Secondly, If you actually took the time to read what I wrote, I was ONLY
advising that sugar powder treatments are NOT permitted under the
guidelines of ecological beekeeping, and that it would be better placed
one of the ‘’MANY’’ interpretations of organic beekeeping (pick one that
fits the style). I said nothing bad about your sugar dusting, only that
it should NOT be classified under Ecological Beekeeping.
Ecological Beekeeping, also known as Biodynamic Beekeeping is at the
pinnacle of organic beekeeping, it is EXTREEM ORGANIC! Treatments are
NOT permitted to be used at any level. Michael Weiler the author of ‘Bees
and Honey, From Flower to Jar’ helped to develop guidelines for
approaches to ecological beekeeping and these approaches include specific
rules such as queen rearing by swarm impulse only, no clipping wings, NO
treatments, and the keeping of bees in dwellings that shall predominantly
consist of natural materials etc,,,.
Gunther Hauk, Biodynamic Beekeeper and author of ‘Toward Saving the
Honeybee’ describes the honeybee “as a sick patient who has been trying
for years to signal to us the deep crises of its diminishing life forces
and its increasing inability to resonate with the environment.“. Gunther
explains "During the twentieth century, beekeeping methods were perfected
that aimed for optimal honey harvest with minimal investment and work.
Measures that merely consider our own comfort and calculate our economic
situation, while neglecting the honeybees' own instinctual wisdom, have
ruined the health of the honeybee. The way we raise queens, prevent
swarming, manipulate the brood nest, feed sugar and pollen substitutes,
manipulate the drone population, give plastic foundations or denatured
wax, all these practices have added up to weaken the bee to the point that
it does not have the integral health or the immune system to ward off
predators.” And further describes Ecological Beekeeping methods to help
correct the problem.
So I am not against you sugar dusting, and make no mistake about it, I wag
no fingers at anyone. All I am saying, is that these things should not be
classified under Ecological Beekeeping or Biodynamic Beekeeping..
I have seen in the past few years a redefining, a bastardization of many
organic type terms so that they mean treatments are allowed. Its getting
so bad, that I am seeing many organic beekeepers have voluntarily
abandoned the use of some of these terms because the words no longer
describe their style of clean beekeeping.
Instead of redefining, lowering the bar and watering down terms to meet
our goals. Why not for a change, keep the bars where they are and put
forth a little (as Gunther Hauk said) “investment and work” and strive for
the right to use the terms, and actually earn a badge for a change!
Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
EcologicalBeekeeping.com
‘Bees Gone Wild Apiaries'
Feral Bee Project:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FeralBeeProject/
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---
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