Category Archives: Culture, or lack thereof
Does the Truth Matter?
I’m back in Canada after a week in Europe. It’s cooler here (21C today) than Hungary’s 39C. It’s been much too dry on the western Canadian prairies – that’s probably going to hurt the honey crop and maybe even the … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Honey, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged Canada, Einstein, honey, Hungary, King Tut
14 Comments
When Bees Become Culture
I’m in the central European country of Hungary for a few days. It’s a family visit with no work or particular sightseeing goals. But honey bee culture is everywhere. Perhaps only Utah (“The Beehive State”) and the little alpine nation … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Honey
Tagged beekeeping, Benny the Bee, Franz Liszt, Hungary, Maja the Bee, selling honey, Szeged
4 Comments
Better Bees
Hungary, where I am today, has a long beekeeping history. Honey bees have been part of the ecology for thousands of years. Here, they are indigenous species whereas in the Americas (and Australia, New Zealand, and much of Asia), the … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Genetics, Science
Tagged bee races, black bees, Carniolan honey bees, Galtee Queen Breeding, Hungary, Ireland
2 Comments
A Quick Note from Abroad
Want to be a better beekeeper and have a lot of fun in the process? Try exploring new scenery. When I was rather young, I worked for about a dozen beekeeepers – in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Saskatchewan, Florida, Montana, Wisconsin. Even … Continue reading
The Beekeeper Everyone Knows
There aren’t many beekeepers that the whole world knows. No one gets famous for keeping bees. Sometimes a beekeeper becomes locally infamous, but I can’t think of any beekeeper as well-known as, say, Sir Edmund Hillary. He and his climbing … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, History, People
Tagged beekeepers, Mount Everest, New Zealand, Sir Edmund Hillary
18 Comments
Canada: More Buzzing than Ever at 150
Today is Canada’s 150 birthday, so “it’s Canada Day, up Canada way”, as Stompin’ Tom Connors used to say. If you don’t know Stompin’ Tom, here’s your chance to rectify a serious deficiency. Connors was a great Canadian country/folk singer … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Honey Plants
Tagged Canada, Saskatchewan, Stompin Tom
1 Comment
National Pollinator Week: Shrews and Mongooses, too.
National Pollinator Week is June 19 – June 25, but summer is an odd time of year to celebrate pollinators. The big honey bee migration to California’s almonds ended in March. Bees, birds, bats, and butterflies have finished their work … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Honey Plants, Humour, Pollination, Save the Bees, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged China, elephants, Pollination, pollinators
3 Comments
Return to PolliNation
Last month, I mentioned a great new podcast, PolliNation. It’s produced by Andony Melathopoulos, a university professor at Oregon State. The PolliNation podcast series is very nicely produced and Andony has a voice made for podcasting. As a bonus, he … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Friends, Outreach, Pollination, Queens
Tagged Andony Melathopoulos, Meghan Milbrath, podcast, Pollination, queen breeding
4 Comments
The Annual ALS Fundraiser
Almost every year, I diverge from my usual beekeeping nonsense on this blog and write a bit about our annual ALS fundraiser, Betty’s Run for ALS. You probably know someone who had ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease. Right now you … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Friends
Tagged ALS, Betty's Run, Calgary, Pure Sweet Honey Farm
3 Comments
Bee Man Freeman
Born in 1938, Morgan Freeman is 79 years old today, June 1, 2017. (Happy Birthday!) You know him as the actor (Driving Miss Daisy; Shawshank Redemption; Million Dollar Baby) with the resonating voice. But did you know that Freeman resonates … Continue reading
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