Folks,

A blanket statement is, indeed, many a dangerous thing, splendid it may
sound.  Defining and qualifying a few terms under discussion will
eliminate most such confusion.  For example, what do you mean a “backyard
beekeeping” or “backlot beekeeping”?  To what extend is “pure” honey?
What is “best honey” according to whose definition?  Obviously the
terms “backyard beekeeping” or “backlot beekeeping” do not mean “anyone
who keeps bees in his/her backyard” as the words denote, but on the
surface they sure sound like that.  These terms seem to connote more the
lackadaisical beekeeping practice, a voodoo beekeeping if you will.  [With
mites and SHB and others, I assume such beehaving will be increasingly
difficult, though]

Another point is that not all commercial beekeepers are as honorable or
honest as many here claim—-just as not all voodoo practitioners produce
bootlegged honey.  (I am aware of a commercial beehaver in Oklahoma who
mixed HFCS with honey and sold his snake oil en masse to local restaurants
as "pure hone," only to take his fake honey away after a lawsuit).  If a
backyard beekeeping refers to a guy that owns only a few hives, I dare say
he/she is the true beekeeper who can really enjoy having bees since the
more colonies you manage, the less fun you will have with bees.

You just won’t be able to look at the bees, as they are, as they fly
around but the dollar signs.  I must confess those were the days when you
had one or two hives in the backyard when you had time to sit around the
hive all day, watching and enjoying the wonders of nature.  If you own two
hundreds or two thousands, good luck, you won’t be able to talk to even
your own children, let alone your spouse.  At this point, you do not own
the bees; you are owned by the money the bees will bring.  Many commercial
beekeepers I know of, in fact, dream of the days when they can retire and
own only a handful of hives in the backlot.

Finally, since it is impossible to control every beekeeper on the face of
this planet,no matter their modus operandi, I don’t think blaming on
others will be productive among beekeepers; it will be like pissing
against the gale-force wind.


No, I am not bitter.

Yoon


from People's Republick of Oklahoma

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