Category Archives: Culture, or lack thereof
95th Birthday for “The Man Who Made Killer Bees”
This week, we should celebrate Warwick Estevam Kerr, the man who made the killer bees. September 9th is his 95th birthday. Just like his bees, Kerr comes from hot, tropical Brazil. And just like his bees, Dr Kerr has been … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Genetics, People, Science, Uncategorized
Tagged Africanized honey bees, AHB, Brazil, Melipona, Native Bees, Warwick Kerr
10 Comments
World’s Weirdest Beekeeping Family
You’ve probably known some weird beekeeping families – maybe you’re lucky enough to live in one. But someone out there is a member of the world’s creepiest beekeeping family. If you want to know more about the worst of the … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Killer Bees, Movies, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged bee movies, Canada, Precambrian shield
7 Comments
The Kiwi Beekeeping Podcast is Back!
Returning to the pod-waves after a two-month hiatus, Kiwimana is back. Since May 24, I’ve been suffering mana-withdrawal, but the popular beekeeping podcast released a new episode a few days ago. So, I’ve kicked back and begun to enjoy the … Continue reading
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
Bad Beekeeping Blog 