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Across the Fence:  disapearing bees!  |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 14 2007 : 04:50:49 AM
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I wasn't sure wether to post this here or in garden gate but I know everyone visits "Across the Fence" so I put it here. Has anyone read about or have seen on TV the "mystery" surrounding the bees that are just up & disapearing from their hives? It's pretty upsetting & scary because pollination from bees like honeybees, are the only way some crops pollinate. Alot of America's food supply depends on bees & they are just vanishing. The beekeepers go to the hive & the bees are not dead or sick, just GONE.
I still feel it has to do w/ the enviroment, we pollute our grasses, yards, flowers etc. w/ all these damn chemicals how can it not effect bees pollinating from flowee to flower. The "higher ups" are conducting studies to find out why they are disapearing at alarming rates, I just hope it isn't too late! I don't want to be doom & gloom but it took "them" all these years to FINALLY say we are suffering from global warming. It just seems so simple to me, stop the chemicals, just stop the damn chemicals. Who needs all that stuff anyway? Thanks for letting me vent!
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Feb 14 2007 : 06:55:20 AM
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Yes, Michele. There was an article in my local paper(from a national press release) about this two days ago. It's horrible. Years ago, when we bought our farm, there was a virus affecting wild honeybees. But the ones at my farm were healthy. I tried and tried to get help with saving them and putting them into hives(they were in the walls of my old farmhouse), but everywhere I went, I was told to just 'kill them and buy 'new' ones'! I didn't kill them, but I still find less and less of them every year.
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Feb 14 2007 : 07:50:57 AM
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Our beekeeper friends all have had similar experiences this year: the top of their hives are empty. No reason , no explaination, the bees are just not there. They have had pretty decent yields this year inspite of it, but the foul brud (sp?) and the fungal problems nearly wiped them out a few years ago. I know that anyone with bees is being paid a premium to place them in blueberry and fruit production areas just south of me for the Spring. Chemicals, weather and untreatable illnesses have all contributed to the decline. Education of the beneficial bees is helpful too, most people think all bees are "bad" and attempt to kill them.
with a happy heart |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Sweet Harvest Homestead
True Blue Farmgirl
279 Posts
Lindy
Stanfield
NC
USA
279 Posts |
Posted - Feb 14 2007 : 3:10:37 PM
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My father sent the story to me a couple of days ago. It is very strange. We have had bees for several years now. I love keeping them and the wonderful honey that they give. I think you are exactly right about all of the chemicals. Poor things. Hope mine want to stay on here with us.
Lindy
www.sweetharvesthomestead.typepad.com |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 09:29:33 AM
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| I think you guys are right; and am I losing my mind, or did I read somewhere that we are also being plagued with the more aggressive African bees, which are killing the more placid local bees? Nance |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 10:52:34 AM
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Your not losing your mind ( or maybe you are... ) but I think it is an agressive form of European bee. Our friend refers to them as "the facist bees" and had a terrible time with them. They are gone for the time being but who knows where they will show up next!
with a happy heart |
Edited by - bramble on Feb 15 2007 10:53:26 AM |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 4:55:38 PM
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The best part of reading this thread= keepers on board.
::::::waving to lindy and bluewren:::::
excuse me while I go preaching to the choir
the buzz word: global economy ...
so many eat imported honey, imported fruit, even our seeds are being imported
how do you feel about importing pollination?
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2007 : 05:46:03 AM
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MaryJane had a great article about honeybees in one of her older magazines, I have them all so I will look for it, It really explains the wonderful job the honeybees do. We cannot let them fall by the wayside also.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2007 : 7:36:10 PM
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The latest copy of Countryside magazine has a beekeeper in full
beekeeping array on the cover. Haven't read the article yet - I think
its about how to keep bees. I also believe that I heard that the
State of North Carolina gives away packages of honeybees to anyone
who is willing to take a beekeeping course. I think it involves a
little more than that also, but I think that's interesting - free honeybees.
And yes indeed the little critters are very important. |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2007 : 9:47:51 PM
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I have two neighbors who keep bees, one for honey/hobby and another who is a truck farmer. On some summer mornings I get a visit from thousands of bees! My english flower garden is ALIVE with activity! They seem especially partial to the large hedge of lavender. They come, then they go. At first it was pretty startling to go out to the garden, but after I figured out where they came from I just go back inside until they go home. :)
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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Across the Fence: disapearing bees! |
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disapearing bees!
