Sender: |
|
Date: |
Sun, 16 Apr 2017 07:53:23 -0700 |
Reply-To: |
|
Subject: |
|
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Message-ID: |
|
In-Reply-To: |
|
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset=UTF-8 |
From: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
>
>
> Peter, your question resonates with me. I taught one of my long-time
all-day Beginners classes yesterday, and began the class with a discussion
of how our local association, as well as the motivations of those signing
up for my beginners classes has changed over the past 40 years.
I pointed out that we used to try to encourage more people to get involved
in beekeeping. Now I try to talk them out of it.
But this is largely due to two factors: varroa, and the density of bee
hives in many areas. So I don't know how this applies to your varroa-free
landscape.
Varroa has made beginning beekeeping more costly and requiring more
investment in learning and management. No longer can one purchase a hive
from Sears, install a package from the same source, and then neglect the
hive in perpetuity, while it happily issues a swarm or two each season and
survives year after year.
Nowadays, improperly managed hives generally die within the first year, and
often become varroa- or AFB bombs. In addition, and many urban and
suburban areas, the density of colonies has reached or exceeded the
carrying capacity of the local flora.
What I now recommend is for those interested to look at their motivation,
and their willingness to commit to good husbandry and become a responsible
member of the beekeeping community. A desire "to save the bees" is a
misguided motivation--better to plant flowers and support small farmers. A
desire to make some honey, pollinate one's orchard, or to take up a hobby
that puts one more in touch with nature are better motivations.
I agree with Przemek that bringing up the total costs involved, as well as
the likelihood of colony failure in the first attempts is a good
disincentive. Also the amount of time required for responsible care of a
colony these days.
--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
|
|