a Mr Hosticka snip..
What got me to respond (generally I lurk) is the comment "if I choose to try treatment free beekeeping". I believe that it is incumbent on all of us experienced beekeepers to energetically tell all inexperienced beekeepers or prospective beekeepers that that is not a viable option. Especially when what they are often saying is that they choose to be unobservant or occasional beekeepers (beehavers fits here). A person with many years of experience and a keen scientific mind may wish to pursue that option and if they are successful and can pass on that knowledge we will all be grateful and benefit. I would nominate such a person if successful for a Nobel prize.

my comments...
I interact with a lot of new beekeepers and first of all I tell them yes it can be done and then describe as exactly as possible how they could do this and enjoy some success.  to their question I emphasize that NO it is not easy but yes it can be done.  I also try to inform them that 'planning pays' and the certain path to failure is to 'fail to plan'.   Such a path for the new beekeeper does not allow for them to not monitor for mites and from the get go they need to find a feeding mechanism that works for them + a varroa control method (we now enjoy quite a nice tool kit of these) that they can employ when a hive encounters problems with varroa.  Finally I tell them directly that there is really no free ride here in that you do pay a price (both explicit and not explicit) for going treatment free.

so your suggestion has actually been done numerous time and this family has enjoyed rubbing elbows with a lot of folks who did win the Nobel.... and I guess one more would not be too burdensome on the family.  However the larger question is.... is the check already in the mail? 

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