Chris Wave a écrit:

> Can anyone on the list point me to organic methods of beekeeping. No
> antibiotics, no drugs?

Have a look at http://www.apiculture.com/plateau-anti-varroas/ (text in
French, English and German). I have been personally using this anti-varroa
bottom board for a few years and it looks it works. Until last February, I
found between 50 and 200 varroa drops per week under each hive, without any
treatment. This remaining infestation was too low to be harmful and from all
points of view, all my hives looked quite healthy.
Since a few months, I have found only a few varroa drops from time to time.
Presently, it is even difficult to find a varroa mite to show to
non-beekeepers friends. This unexpected event is too recent to draw any
conclusion but it is very encouraging.
Besides, waste as well as condensed water are automatically eliminated, which
avoids production on the board of bacteria and fungus, potentially a source of
diseases.
Jean-Pierre LE PABIC
RUEIL-MALMAISON (10 km from Paris)
FRANCE