March 31, 2013
Spring is coming! And here is the proof...all the cats were lolling about in the sun yesterday...my neighbour's croci and snow drops are up and I am dreaming about bees again.
I have organized the purchase of two nucs (small hive consisting of a few frames with a queen, some brood and some workers) from two different beekeepers. One is in Burgessville. John imports his queens from Australia and he will build me a shallow nuc which will I pick up in the middle of May. The other is here in London. Dave raises his own queens and I will be picking up my nuc from him in the middle of June. This is so exciting. I have missed walking back to the beeyard to check out the bees every morning before going to work. It is so sad to look at the empty beeyard with its cinder blocks just sitting there. Now I have something to look forward to again.
In the meantime, I have been reading many articles about the plight of bees all around the world. The role of pesticides in fatalities of bees is being disputed by the manufacturers and governments are loath to go after these powerful giants, Bayer, Syngenta and Monsanto. It is a complicated and difficult story and it is generally being ignored by the public. Until it becomes clear that it is not only the bees that are being affected (which in itself a frightening scenario) but also humans, this story will not be taken up as an important one. I am adding some links to stories on pesticides for you to take a look at.
http://ww.emcwestcarleton.ca/20130307/lifestyle/Taking+on+the+pesticide+company+likely+to+honeybee+collapse
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/writey/668/contents.hm
http://www.bouldercountybeekeepers.org/dr-henk-a-tennekes-the-catastrophic-effects-of-neonicotinoids-on-insects-and-birds/
And finally, a study from Guelph that was funded by Bayer...fox amongst the chickens syndrome...sadly, here in Canada!
http://www.producer.com/daily/ontario-field-study-finds-no-link-between-seed-treatments-bee-deaths/
Do not be surprised if beekeepers take to the streets!
So I am getting ready to have bees again in the midst of the crisis that is facing bees and other pollinators. I am feeling optimistic since I know so much more and I believe that urban bees have a better chance of surviving due to the "lack" of pesticides in the city. This is the eternal optimism of the beekeeper I think.
