Bees for Development Journal 122 March 2017
Dear friends
French apiculturalist Georges de Layens wrote those wise words for beekeepers 120 years ago, and they remain wise advice. In this edition of BfD Journal we bring you important articles surrounding this theme. Tom Seeley’s’ explanation of Darwinian beekeeping helps us to understand how industrial beekeeping practices are moving bees away from how they need to live, ‘the bees’ natural tendencies’. Wolfgang Ritter’s discussion of our spreading of bees’ pathogens and predators around
Issue 122 March 2017 In this issue
page
Darwinian beekeeping ................ 3 Bee diseases worldwide............... 8 Crowdfunding..............................11 Review of the Flow Hive...............12 Bookshelf.....................................14
the world, is a plea for an end to international movement of bees - it is now too difficult or even impossible to prevent the introduction of exotic pathogens, and our honey bees should not have to, and perhaps cannot, cope with any more. On page 11, a young and entrepreneurial Dutchman explains how he encouraged his friends and relatives to help finance his beekeeping business: it was crowd funding at the level of nearest and dearest. At the other end of the scale, one of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns in history was run by inventors of the Flow Hive. Just two years ago in February 2015, they launched their campaign with the aim of raising US$70,000. That goal was achieved within the first few minutes, and their total now stands at US$ 4.2 million. This success story caught everyone’s imagination, and beekeepers world-wide found themselves being asked about the Flow Hive. It is one
Bees for Development Trust gratefully acknowledge: Charles Hayward Foundation, Didymus Trust, E H Thorne Ltd., Eva Crane Trust, Hub Cymru Africa, Stroud Buzz Club, The Daylesford Foundation, The Waterloo Foundation, Welsh Government.
Nicola Bradbear Director, Bees for Development
Copyright You are welcome to translate and/or reproduce items appearing in Bees for Development Journal (BfDJ) as part of our Information Service. Permission is given on the understanding that BfDJ and author(s) are acknowledged, BfD contact details are provided in full, and you send us a copy of the item or the website address where it is used.
Bees for Development Journal Produced quarterly and sent to readers in over 130 countries Editor: Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator: Helen Jackson BSc Subscriptions cost £26 per year - see page 18 for ways to pay Readers in developing countries may apply for a sponsored subscription. Apply online or use the form on page 20. Bees for Development Works to assist beekeepers in developing countries.
of the world’s most expensive hives, and many beekeepers are intrigued to know if it really works. We are delighted to bring you John Gates discussion - as a highly-experienced beekeeper, he was chosen to begin testing The Flow Hive from its early days, long before the crowd funding sensation: you can read his careful considerations on pages 12-13. Its cost makes The Flow Hive beyond the reach of most beekeepers and readers of this Journal, however it is of interest to us as Cedar and Stuart Anderson, inventors of the Flow Hive, have sought to find a way to harvest honey that is less stressful for the bees and the beekeeper. Would the Flow Hive satisfy Georges de Layens requirements? His marvellous book is now available in English - learn more about his ideas on page 14.
Photo © Milan Wiercx van Rhijn
We cannot improve beekeeping by going further and further away from the bees’ natural tendencies. Instead, select the hive model that is best matched to your locale, populate it with local bees, and the results will speak for themselves.
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Cover picture Sunflowers being pollinated by honey bees, who gather nectar and pollen from the flowers of this useful crop, planted throughout tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Sunflower pollen is yellow to dark orange in colour, and the honey has a characteristic, mild flavour, with reported antibacterial properties.
