Category Archives: Save the Bees

Dozens of Bees

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Ron Miksha

You know that a hive of bees may contain 50,000 insects. You probably also know that you can often open a hive and work its frames with just short-sleeves, sandals, and a bit of smoke. We tend to forget that … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Outreach, Save the Bees, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Investigating the Crime Scene

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Ron Miksha

A few days ago, I read an interesting American Bee Journal article by Tammy Horn (et al.) and it made me think differently about something. Although I know that poisoned bees represent a real crime, I never really thought of … Continue reading →

Posted in Pesticides, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Flow(TM) Hive Wins Design Award

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Our favourite Surfer Dude and his Retired Dad are the folks who invented the 21st-Century honey-on-tap bee hive. They have now won artistic recognition. You know their hive – it’s the revolutionary, earth-shaking innovation that has inspired thousands of lazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Hives and Combs, Humour, Save the Bees, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sweet Sweet Clover (part 2)

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Yesterday, I couldn’t say enough good things about sweet clover. The magic honey plant is just starting to bloom here in southern Alberta. In a few weeks, it will yield so much nectar that bees will plug supers with fine … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Honey Plants, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

May 20: World Bee Day

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Ron Miksha

There’s a small country in Central Europe, a very beautiful alpine country, called Slovenia.  Slovenia has only about two million people, but this tiny country is very big in beekeeping.  Tucked between Italy and Austria, it has both mountains and … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Meanwhile in Montréal

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Here’s an interesting idea. Beekeepers rent massive numbers of colonies to almond, blueberry, cranberry, durian, eggplant, and so on farmers. Money is the attraction – neither the meager honey crop nor the diseases picked up on most of these pollination … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Yards, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Herbicides, Bacteria Killers, and Honey Bees

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Recently, I learned that herbicides such as Roundup and 2-4-D kill bacteria. Not only do they do a fine job of killing broadleaf pollen producers, they also kill some microbes. This information didn’t come from the tin-hat doom-sayer who lives … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Pesticides, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Bumblebee Honey For Sale?

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Ron Miksha

My brother was at a farmer’s market in North Carolina this weekend. A vendor was selling a thimble-full of honey for $10. Maybe slightly more than a thimble. The seller told my brother that you wouldn’t smother a pancake with … Continue reading →

Posted in Apitherapy, Bee Biology, Ecology, Friends, Honey, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Ecology 1,2,3

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Ron Miksha

On Friday, I led an ecology program at the local elementary school. My 32 students ranged in age from 6 to 12. They were part of an experimental class where kids in their school could select their interest and indulge … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Outreach, Pollination, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Buzz the Bee is on Vacation

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Ron Miksha

General Mills is sending Buzz the Bee, their cheerful Honey Nut Cheerios spokesbug, on vacation. Or into hiding. In a campaign bound to raise awareness for the world’s suffering bees, and maybe to inadvertently sell more Cheerios, packages of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Save the Bees, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments