FUD /fəd/, noun fear, uncertainty and doubt, usually evoked intentionally in order to put a competitor at a disadvantage. The Grain Farmers of Ontario have been very vocal opponents of Ontario’s recently approved and soon to be implemented restrictions on the neonicotinoid pesticide seed treatments. If you listen to their argument, it’s going to mean the end of grain farming …
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The Beekeeper Stands Between Humans And Extinction
I’d never heard of an online magazine called The Plaid Zebra before today, but it’s looking like an interesting place to spend some time. On December 1st, they published an article and released a 7-minute documentary about the honeybee and a beekeeper in Colorado who very much does things the same way we do: It’s a very thoughtful piece, even …
The Toronto Star takes down the Bees Matter campaign
I think I’m in love with Toronto Star columnist Catherine Porter. 😆 Her column today is a take-down of this week’s Bees Matter newspaper ads that ran across Ontario and she jumps in with guns blazing: The pesticide lobby funded an “open letter to Ontarians” published a couple times this week as a full-page ad in all the major newspapers, including …
Honey & Pollen Plants of Ontario
In the time B.B. (Before bees), I didn’t really give a lot of thought to wildflowers. I could identify a few dozen, but I didn’t have any particular reason to learn about more. After bees, I’m sure I’ve learned 100 or more. This is a neat site to help you identify what that particular plant is that you’re looking at based upon …
Books for Beekeepers
There was a discussion on a Facebook group yesterday about beekeeping guides. A newbee was looking for a recommendation for “the best” one. I wish I could say that this book or that one is the best one ever and there’s no need for any others. Unfortunately, I can’t. Such a guide doesn’t exist. However, it’s easy to make a recommendation: …
This just in: pesticides are good for honeybees!
I’ll just let that sink in for a moment. That’s right: everything that we think we know about honeybees and pesticides are wrong. Believe it. No, I haven’t lost my mind. A journalist tried to feed me that line this morning. Bear with me, it will take a minute to explain. I was perusing the Beekeepers of Eastern Ontario and Western …
Bee Heroic, Canada!
I just came across this illustration on Twitter. It’s time for everyone to stand up and let your voices be heard. Much to the obvious chagrin of the pesticide companies, not only are neonicotinoid pesticides killing bees by the millions, a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health has strengthened the link between exposure to two widely used neonicotinoids …
Cub Scouts and Beekeeping
Cub Scouts have two “Specialty” badges: Individual and Pack. What that means is the requirements aren’t set out by Scouts Canada. The individual specialty is a badge designed by the Cub. They figure out a topic, set some requirements, have the leaders approve it then go to work. Pack specialty is designed by the leaders for the whole Pack. Greg …
Next workshop/course date has been set
Mark your calendar! If you’ve been dying to hear Greg’s words of wisdom first-hand and learn everything that we can cram into 4 hours or so, pencil us in for Saturday, June 21. Kind of fitting to be talking about bees and sustainability on the solstice, don’t you think? 😎 Details will be posted here as they’re nailed down, but …
Announcing the Canadian Sustainable Beekeeping Network
Learning about bees and beekeeping is a daunting task. Let’s be honest: you’ve taken an interest in working with an insect that you’ve tried to avoid angering for your entire life. Bees are dangerous, aren’t they? The first time that I investigated this was in the early 90’s. There was next no information about how to get started available online …