Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[BBC]

[catchercradle]

[Barbara]

Well I tried an HB flower yesterday and sadly I was disappointed with the flavour. I expected to be able to detect at least some of the sweetness of the nectar but surprisingly it was actually very slightly sour (almost vinegary rather than sour fruit flavour and slightly bitter) I try to keep an open mind about things but it didn't really tempt me to harvest anymore for food. Would rather leave it for my bees to make it into something much better tasting!

So sad to hear that some of you have such poor local forage for your bees. It's too easy for me to toddle around in my own little part of the world where the hedgerows are awash with colour and not realise how shocking things have become elsewhere. I think the difficulty is that farmers have got so used to throwing chemicals at things as the easy option, that they become totally complacent about it. I don't know how you would even start to open their eyes to it and even if you could, they are probably too deeply committed to the system that they would struggle to change and yes, food would become more expensive.
It makes me realise that it is important for me to grow as much of my own food as possible. If the majority of people did that, then that would perhaps alleviate the pressure on the land that is farmed.

[catchercradle]

A bit off topic I know but the problem is a long standing one and stems from big firms wanting to maximise profits. Small organic farms produce more food/acre but much less/man/woman hours work. Even paying minimum wage or close to it labour is the major cost in food production, especially on small farms.

This makes the large areas of monocrop desert the most profitable for those who own large amounts of land.

Large areas of monocrop attract what are seen as pests rather than part of the ecosystem and hence lots of chemicals are used.

Unless a government is prepared to change the system so that it favours the small extensive farmers more this is unlikely to change.

[stevecook172001]

[BBC]

[BBC]

I've just stumbled across:
http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/documents/pucciniaConsultationResponse.pdf
which is a plan by DEFRA to release a non-native rust fungus into the wild which targets HB.
The fungal spores travel on the wind, several miles in one night, and once released, the spread of this fungus will be uncontrollable. There are no contingency plans in place in the event of anything going wrong.

The only 'economic loss' case being made against these proposals is the loss of revenue from the sale of seeds. There is no mention whatsoever of the economic loss to the beekeeping sector which would result from the wholesale destruction of such a valuable nectar-producing plant.

Thought this might be of interest.

Colin
BBC
_________________
Bees build Brace Comb for a reason, not just to be bloody-minded.

[catchercradle]

I still come down on the side of seeing HB as a damaging species. Certainly along hte banks of the Cam. My concern about introducing this rust virus to control it is what else it might effect that they haven't thought ot.

[ingo50]

What about Japanese Knotweed, far more invasive and of no use to bees.

[zaunreiter]

[Lacewing]

And, UK beekeepers: Have you seen items in the news just this week about new Home Office rules making failure to control not only Japanese knotweed but also Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed a criminal offence? With those being prosecuted liable to receive fines and ASBOs?

- See various newspapers and the BBC.

(Perhaps, in yet another week in which the news provokes me to fury or almost beggars belief - eg. the London New Era Estate property story - it's surprising that I noticed it!)

[biobee]

More confirmation that we are living in an asylum run by the inmates.

And yes, I have seen several bee species on Japanese knotweed too - they seemed very excited about it.

[ingo50]

Must be a different species of that in my neighbours garden, never seen any bees on it, my apologies to you all, I have been enlightened.

[catchercradle]

They will prosecute you for allowing your bees to pollinate it.

[ingo50]

No chance, I gave all my bees a lecture about avoiding H balsam including a health and safety update. They have agreed to enforce a voluntary no fly zone.

[vorlic]

Hello all,

I am no beekeeper (shame), nor am I an "Invasive Species Officer" (no shame), but I am very interested in discussing these matters... if only out of principle and a desire to pursue the truth...

My wife and I visited a Nature Reserve today, with our two toddlers in tow. We spotted some Himalayan Balsam, and were interested to see honeybees swarming all over it. Upon returning to the Visitor Centre, I asked some of the expert volunteers what they thought about this, and whether they thought we were right to be removing HB when the poor bees are apparently having such a hard time... needless to say, I didn't get a clear answer.

Maybe someone here will be able to help - here's one question which might get the ball rolling on this discussion again?!

Are plants obliged to carry passports? The last time I tried to ask the plants in my garden, they couldn't speak English; never mind produce documents proving their identity, nationality and indefinite leave to remain...

[greengage]

Its on our invasive palnt list here in Ireland too.
http://invasivespeciesireland.com/toolkit/invasive-plant-management/terrestrial-plants/himalayan-balsam/
Maybe ill start a discussion amongs beekeepers over here and see what the have to say.

[vorlic]

How do the authorities behind the production and publishing of these "lists" suggest we prevent "invasive" seeds being brought here on the wind, in the stomachs of migratory birds, in the rivers and oceans, and by any other force of nature over which we have no control?!

Henry VI - "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers!"