The debate over neonicotinoid pesticides and their continuing effect on bees has reached the political level in Ottawa, where questions are now being asked about the propriety of a former Conservative minister working for CropLife Canada, the industry association defending those pesticides. Ordinarily ethics rules would prevent a former cabinet minister from directly going to work for […]
A father’s posthumous gift; magnifiers with which to see his world.
In his last years, wrecked by Parkinson’s Disease, my father was often unable to talk, and when he did so it was in painfully short clips. He could no longer walk, and his hands shook so much he could barely feed himself. Gone were the days of his science, his inquisitiveness, his robustness. He knew […]
How to make a honey bee swarm retrieval pole
With swarm season comes a multitude of challenges of how to successfully retrieve a colony that makes like a hive and splits. Many of us have seen the pictures of swarms in really, really odd places; on the wing tips of aircraft, under bicycle seats and on the tines of harrows and other farm equipment. […]
Two colonies; from swarm heaven to flying hell
It is a spectacular thing to chase a massive swarm as it moves straight down the middle of a major street, all while people go about their business, unaware of what is going on overhead. Recovering that swarm from the top of a four-storey tree, as its branches, bent heavy with bees, bend over the […]
Vancouver starts pollinator and honey bee education program
Vancouver is known for its greenery, affinity for parks and community gardens. But now it plans to do more to increase pollinator forage for both wild and domestic bees. You almost can’t walk anywhere in Canada’s third-largest city without stumbling on a pocket park or lush garden. We’re known for our cherry blossom festival. We are […]
Our package bees arrive, with a promise of a heavy work season
The evidence of this weekend’s frenetic beekeeping activity is all over the place. In our kitchen, the floor is sticky from the droplets of sugar water that dripped as we made up major amounts in preparation for imported New Zealand bees that arrived Sunday. Out back of the garage is a pyramid of stacked cardboard […]
Importation of U.S. Package Bees divisive among Canadian beekeepers
The deadline for public comment on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Risk Assessment on the importation of American package bees has now passed. But that hasn’t stopped the considerable commentary from beekeepers who are weighing in on both sides, who alternately find the CFIA “status quo” decision either specious and based on faulty science, or […]
Winning the honey contest makes up for expensive mistakes
As I’ve said many times, Amanda and I are relatively new at beekeeping. We manage to learn new lessons every day. High on this year’s list of mistakes not to make: Don’t use a weak queen bank. It’s hard on both the queens and the pocket book. Don’t steal too much honey. Bees don’t like […]
-
Canada’s ban on honey bee imports is folly, says B.C.’s biggest beekeeper
-
Canada considering reopening border to U.S. package honey bees
-
Stainless steel hive tower built in Buffalo, New York
- Two Alberta honey producers fined for unregistered pest control
-
Hives for Humanity teaching beekeeping in Vancouver’s poorest district
