Category Archives: Culture, or lack thereof

World Bee Day 2021

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Ron Miksha

World Bee Day, 2021: World Bee Day is on May 20 of each year. It’s not just about honey bees. Although the idea arose in Slovenia, a little country that’s really big on honey-bee keeping, it’s also a celebration of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Native Bees, Outreach, People, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Sylvia: The Red Comet

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Ron Miksha

I discovered Sylvia Plath in the ’80s. PBS asked my oldest brother to pose as Sylvia’s father in their documentary of the great American poet. PBS was looking for a man who resembled Sylvia’s father, a German immigrant named Otto … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, or lack thereof, Movies, People, Personal | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The hills were alive with the sound of buzzing

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Ron Miksha

You know the story of Sister Maria, the governess for Georg von Trapp’s mess of singing angels. Today, January 26, 2021, would have been her 116th birthday. Maria Augusta von Trapp, or Baroness von Trapp, was stepmother seven of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Movies, People | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Visit the UK National Honey Show – Free!

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Ron Miksha

I’ve always wanted to visit the UK National Honey Show, renowned as the ultimate in honey judging. But, it’s in the UK and I’m in Canada. Well, because of COVID-19, the event has moved on-line and we all have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Hive Products, Honey | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Remembering Susan

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Ron Miksha

I never met Susan Rudnicki, but we sparred regularly right here on this blog. She was passionate about her California Africanized bees, about young women’s education (especially in developing countries), and about the need for us to take care of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Friends, People | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Perfect Cup of Tea

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Ron Miksha

The perfect cup of tea starts with honey. At least, that’s how the royals do it. It’s hard to argue that anyone else would know better. They’ve got history, experience, connections and money. And tea is important in their part … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Honey, Humour | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Seeing 20-20

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Ron Miksha

What will the new year (and decade) bring?  Although “20-20” denotes perfect vision, I doubt we’ll be so lucky. I suspect that we’ll continue with our near-sighted attitudes toward . . . everything. We can’t help it. We’re hardwired that … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Outreach, Personal | Tagged | 1 Comment

Goodbye, 2019

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Ron Miksha

As 2019 draws to a close, let’s look back at some of the year’s beekeeping stories. Honey prices were lower again in 2019, forcing some beekeepers out of the business. Still, many countries now have more honey bees than anytime … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History | Tagged | Leave a comment

National “I Love Honey Day”

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Ron Miksha

I’m not sure how serious this is, but someone somewhere has declared December 18 to be national I Love Honey Day.  I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do. But here’s an idea: Go out and buy some honey. Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Honey | Tagged | 4 Comments

Apimondia 2019: Monday

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Ron Miksha

Monday, September 9, was a head-expanding day for me at Apimondia. This biannual event attracts thousands of attendees from across the globe. This year, it’s in Montreal – a mere 3,008 kilometres (as the crow flies) from my home in … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Outreach, Travels | Tagged , | 4 Comments