> James said:
>
> I'm not saying that the assumptions made are not accurate
> or reasonable "in general", but to flatly exclude anyone
> with a "golf course" near their hives from certifying as
> organic is silly.

I would have to agree.  Even if sprayed heavily, when was the last time you
saw bees foraging on tightly cropped grass (clover would never be allowed on
a maintained course that sprays -- it won't grow well if they even fertilize
heavily).  If the assumption is that the runoff ends up in the ponds and
bees might get water there, then alternate, closer water sources would
eliminate that worry.  Most chemicals that would affect organic status in
food would also negatively effect bees themselves.  And I've seen much more
irresponsible use by individuals on their lawns than at courses that must be
kept according to professional standards.  I know people that still have
both Chlordane and DDT in their garages, "just in case" they want to use
them (as well as many now banned lawn treatments).  I would be more
concerned with being close to one of these guys than a golf course (and not
just for my honey, but for the bees).

> (Yeah right, and every single
> bottle of "Pure Sourwood Honey" sold really contains
> 100% Sourwood honey, uh huh, sure.)

Mountain folk wouldn't lie, Jim. Please ignore all those sumac you see
flowering close to the (much fewer in number) sourwood trees, we get our
bees to put that honey in a different super, you see.


> But bees are not "selective" at all!  There are constant
> reports of bees mistaking grain dust for pollen, sawdust
> for pollen, roof tar for propolis, etc.
>
>    The bees had stumbled upon the "empty" soft-drink
>    cans in the garbage, each can having a small amount
>    of very high-sugar "nectar" in it.

Yet another non-organic source of "nectar" -- even if you are in the middle
of nowhere.  And we always have bees try to gather sawdust after cutting any
trees.

> Again, I dunno.  I was not even aware that there was a "drastic"
> degradation in fruit and veggies.

I believe that refers to recent studies which "prove" that organically
raised fruits and vegetables are higher in certain nutrients, compared to
"standard" crops.  I have also seems studies that looked at micronutrients
on standard farm crops -- they have gone down over the years, as they are
removed from the soil and never replaced.  However, my bees forage on mature
trees in a forest, unlogged for approx 100 years -- I doubt there is any
difference in the nutrition of the honey from when my grandfather started
here 50 years ago.

>
>                 jim (Who claims that all honey is "organic"
>                  by definition, unless it tests as
>                  contaminated, in which case it would
>                  no longer be fit to be sold at all.)

Absolutely.

-Karen

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