May be a person should take an entrance exam. SAT test to show their level
of common sense and their ability to use phenology, to know that all living
things (even bugs) need nutrition, water, health and to be unburden of
parasites. I give all wannabes, well 99%, a chance. If they are repeat
customers after two or three springs because their bees did not live I
suggest they may want to stop. Everyone has bad years so I do give them a
chance.

Last season we had a severe drought. Many beekeepers did not realize how
this would effect the bees and their ability to winter over. It is common
sense, you stress the plants it stresses the insects that depend on them.
It doesn't just come down to did the beekeeper take beekeeping 101, that
helps of course but a bit of common sense about what is going on out the
window and in the hive goes a long way.

I had a 6% loss this past winter, many went on with business as usual and
had significant losses. They did not foresee effects the drought would
have, the queens shutting down early, the need to feed in late summer.
Though not as bad as what other states have had it was dry enough to change
the environment. I have never been able to manage my hives the same each
year, my management is dictated by Mother Nature not me. I don't know how
to teach them see that all living things are connected. In my culture we
have a saying for it and this saying is meant to help you see that all
things are related, Msit No’kmaq.

Karen

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