Category Archives: Save the Bees

Noxious Milkweed?

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Ron Miksha

The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette had a story yesterday about a fellow in Monticello who ran afoul of the law for something he’s growing in his back yard. His crime? Cultivating (Milk)weed. Bee and butterfly enthusiasts know milkweed. So do … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Honey Plants, Humour, Save the Bees | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Climb Every Mountain; Raise Every Dollar

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Ron Miksha

It seems that Saving the Bees has turned into quite a nice little cottage industry. Although honey bees are more numerous today than any time in history, some people seem intent on telling other people that the honey bees are … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Should a “Bee City” Ban Honey Bees?

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Ron Miksha

In February, Toronto became Canada’s first certified Bee City. This week, a bedroom community just outside Calgary became Canada’s second. I heard the news last night on a CBC radio interview of Dr. Preston Pouteaux, a hobby beekeeper who apparently … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

It Doesn’t Take an Einstein

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Ron Miksha

You’ve seen the memes. Albert Einstein is pictured with a caption that says “if honey bees disappear from earth, humans would be dead within 4 years!”  I got tired of seeing this repeated and decided to dig deeper than  the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, People, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Rooftop Bees

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Ron Miksha

There’s a jolly fat man up on the roof. With a smoker and hive tool. Rooftop beekeeping seems modern, trendy, and new, but it’s been happening for generations. Ever since homes had rooftops. I’m surprised there isn’t a Rooftop Beekeepers … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Yards, Culture, or lack thereof, Humour, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Dropping into Sunshine Valley

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Ron Miksha

My hometown – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – is having a much needed wet spell. In fact, there has been some ghastly local flooding which I’ll cover in a future blog. Lucky for me, I am a few hundred kilometres farther … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Ecology, Friends, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Bad Beekeeping Competition

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Ron Miksha

I came across a blog posting titled “Bad beekeeping” over at ScienceBlogs.com. I was concerned that someone had picked up on my nomen – not that I have universal rights on the bad beekeeping phrase. But I wrote the book … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Hives and Combs, Humour, Save the Bees | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Don’t Step on a Bee Day

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Today is Don’t Step on a Bee Day.  See if you can keep it up all week!

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Humour, Save the Bees | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Malathion and Pesky Bugs

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Ron Miksha

There’s a pesticide causing grief among some hobby beekeepers. No, not the neonicotinoids again (though they’re not without blame). This is an “older” poison. If you are a new beekeeper, you might not have heard of malathion. Malathion is deadly … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Pesticides, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

African Beekeeping May “Save the Trees”

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Rather than “Save the Bees”, it’s “Save the Trees” in central Africa. A story from Zimbabwe reminds us that beekeeping can be very, very good for ecology. Bees (and beekeepers) are saving Zimbabwe’s forests. The country of Zimbabwe, lest we … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments