Category Archives: People
Bees flying high
Almost every time I teach a beginning beekeeping course, a student or two comes forward to whisper: “If I move my bees to a patch of cannabis, will I get weedy honey?” I tell them that cannabis buds don’t secrete … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, History, Honey, Honey Plants, People, Personal, Podcasts, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged Books, cannabis, Charles Butler, Eva Crane, hallucinogenic honey, honey, Joe Rogan, mad honey, Michael Pollen, Nepal, psychedelics, rhododendrons
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A Langstroth Christmas Story
I’ve been posting this piece nearly every Christmas for a while. If you’ve read it before, read it again. Or not. Christmas Day is L.L. Langstroth’s birthday. He’d be 213 years old, if he hadn’t been struck down in his … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Books, Culture, or lack thereof, History, Hives and Combs, People, Tools and Gadgets
Tagged beekeeping, Langstroth, The Hive and the Honey-Bee
5 Comments
Kim Flottum: a life among the bees
Mid-70s is too young to pass over to the other side. But that was the fate for Kim Flottum, 76, who passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. The bright and adventurous bee master, editor, … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Friends, History, People, Podcasts
Tagged beekeeping, bees, honey bees, honeybees, Kim Flottum
7 Comments
The Metaphysical Beekeeper
Revisiting Richard Taylor on his 104th birthday. He died 20 years ago. But Richard Taylor is interesting enough to remember, at least every November 5th when a small part of the world stands to salute the practical beekeeper and philosopher. … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Books, Comb Honey, Culture, or lack thereof, History, People
Tagged Comb Honey, lifestyle, philosophy, Richard Taylor
16 Comments
World Apitherapy Day
Today is World Apitherapy Day. And it’s my birthday. Coincidence? Maybe not. Apitherapy, which means using bee stuff for health, can include eating pollen, propolis, wax, royal jelly, bee larvae, and honey – or rubbing them on your face. But for … Continue reading
Posted in Apitherapy, History, People, Science, Stings
Tagged Apitherapy Day, bee stings, China, Covid-19, Filip Terč, health
3 Comments
EO Wilson, 92, has left the lab
The entire Earth was Ed Wilson’s lab. When his death was announced on Monday, I knew that I wanted to write a few words words in his honour, but I also knew that this would be a difficult task. One … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Books, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, History, People, Science
Tagged bees, biodiversity, EO Wilson
8 Comments
Langstroth’s Christmas Present
I’ve been posting this piece every Christmas for a while. If you’ve read it before, read it again. Or not. Christmas Day is L.L. Langstroth’s birthday. He’d be 211 years old, if he hadn’t been struck down in his 85th … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Books, History, Hives and Combs, People, Tools and Gadgets
Tagged Langstroth, The Hive and the Honey-Bee
4 Comments
World Bee Day 2021
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 Anton Jansa, Native Bees, Slovenia, World Bee Day
4 Comments
Sylvia: The Red Comet
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 documentary, PBS, poetry, Sylvia Plath
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A rare seed guy
You know how the mention of a name from long ago can bring back memories that you thought had slipped away forever? I had that experience recently. Browsing American Bee Journal, this ad caught my eye. It was from the … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Honey Plants, People, Personal, Pollination
Tagged crownvetch, Ernst Seeds, native plants, Pennsylvania, podcast
5 Comments
Bad Beekeeping Blog 