Tom, I admire your enthusiasm. Over the years, I'm sure I've lost some of that
majical energy that folks newly bitten by the beekeeping bug possess. Although I
agree with you and the good doctor Pedro, I think you fail to understand the real
problem.
    Number one, we OLD beekeepers, (49 is old already?) have faced muchos
problemas. It seems every year brings them on in ever changing form. Some are
easily solved, while some take hard physical and mental work. We've learned that
shortcuts usually lead to cul de sac's. So when  someone comes along and says,
"all you gotta do is," bells and whistles and whizzers and zingers go off in our
heads. It's not that we're not open to new ideas. It's just that we've seen too
many new ideas come and go. Too many "all you gotta do's" blowing in the wind.
    Number two, many of us have invested everything we have in this occupation.
We have to go with what we know to work. We can't run the perfect operations so
many new to this dream about. We can't throw fistfulls of money at a problem. We
can't take chances. We can't risk our family's future on an "all you gotta do."
    I applaud all you beginners and back lotters. I applaud the doctor. At this
time you are the ones that may help us through this. I hope-no I pray that this
may be so. Please don't forget that without the wizdom of the "old ones" all youz
ones wouldn't have what you do!  Mike
 
Computer Software Solutions Ltd wrote:
 
> Hi All
>
> This posting is NOT solely about Resistant Varroa Mites, so please read it,
> even if you have had almost too many postings on this subject.
>
> It seems to me, that with the emergence of resistant mites, that DR
> Rodriguez case for using non chemical treatments has been largely vindicated
> and possibly fully proved. It also seems to me, that there are two kinds of
> beekeepers. One is the older variety in terms of years spent with bees. I am
> of the opinion that these beekeepers are not too open to new ideas. The
> other variety, like myself, is the newer beekeeper, who is more open to new
> ideas, since every idea to us is a new idea. Like all activities carried out
> in this technological age, beekeeping is better for a technological approach
> which is environmentally benign. I have plans to put Dr Rodriguez system
> into operation as soon as I can.
>
> It is now largely held, that chemical means of treating problems have had
> some unwanted side effects. My understanding of what the Doctor is
> advocating, is a mechanical treatment for the varroa and other mites,
> whereby you just kill them as it were mechanically, and the killing leaves
> no trace in the hive and hence in the environment. It is rather like the
> difference between swatting flies and treating them with DDT, and we all
> know what the DDT did. Rachel Carson's chilling book, Silent Spring, which
> though thankfully did not happen with the force which she postulated, did
> happen to some extent.
>
> Dr Rodriguez, I am but a recent comer to beekeeping and I would like to
> contribute a small sum to defray some of your expenses. An offer of this
> sort has already been made by other contributors. I would again ask the
> contributors to BEE-L (as did the other contributors), to support Dr
> Rodriguez in the work he is doing both for bees and the environment, and
> hence for us all.
>
> Could the good Doctor indicate to us where funds should be sent, and I am
> sure that we will not be found wanting. After all, think of the amount of
> valuable information (some of which possibly led to better beekeeping and
> hence more profit), which we have received from BEE-L free of charge, much
> of which has been contributed by Dr Rodriguez. I also think of how many
> books I would have to buy to obtain the information that I have received
> from BEE-L. It would come to a tidy sum. And I cannot get from a book, the
> personalised answers to specific questions, which I have received from BEE-L.
>
> Thanks to one and all for the time spent in reading this posting.
>
> Sincerely
> Tom Barrett
> 49 South Park
> Foxrock
> Dublin 18
> Ireland
>
> e mail [log in to unmask]
> Tel + 353 1 289 5269
> Fax + 353 1 289 9940
>
> Latitude  53 Deg 16' 12.8" North
> Longitude 06 Deg  9' 44.9" West