Fall 2002
This
Issue:
Hive Insulation Basics
Honeybee
Life Span
A Honey of a Story: Honey Heals
Naturopathic
Apiarist |
|
Organic BeekeepingOrganic Beekeeping
methods include treatments using natural materials, honeybee
nutritional supplements and a system of specialized beekeeping
practices which promotes strong honeybee colonies. Everything used
in Organic Beekeeping may be eaten and/or handled safely by both
honeybee and bee keeper.We have no need of poisons or
pesticides. |
Hive Insulation Basicsby R. Fetrat
Protecting
honeybee colonies from the stresses of cold may be one of the most
significant ways to prevent dis-ease. It is well known that the
chance of tracheal mite and nosema/diarrhea are much greater in
honeybees that have been stressed by winter chills. Honeybee
colonies generate their own warmth within the hive body. If
provisions are made to assist them in retaining this heat, they are
much less likely to starve (capable of mobility) or be chilled.
The
choices for hive insulation are numerous. The most economical method
we have found to date are styrofoam panels combined with a tarp or
foil-backed bubble pack wrap. Styrofoam panels is available in
various thicknesses. It is easily cut to size and taped to the
exterior of a hive body. The material used to wrap the outermost
part of the insulation will be taped into place with a strong and
weather-enduring tape.
Hive bottom boards, tops and the
main body should all be insulated to preserve the internal warmth.
Important
Note: DO NOT OBSTRUCT THE HIVE ENTRANCES WITH INSULATION MATERIAL
It is important that entrances are reduced, but DO NOT allow your
insulation to obstruct an entrance. Tape firmly in place around the
front area in particular. Winter winds can cause trouble here if
insulation methods not applied carefully. |
Honeybee Life Spanby R. Fetrat
For
several decades now in North-America, commercial beekeeping and
queen-rearing practices have exposed honeybees to many toxic
substances. When this is combined with the fact that our environment
(air, water, soil and plants) often are the resting place of
additional toxic substances, we can know with certainty that the
immune systems of our honeybees are heavily burdened.
The
bodies of all living creatures (whether animal, plant or insect)
respond to toxins in basically the same way. As the toxins are
recognized by the body, valuable chemical elements (including trace
minerals and proteins) are given up through the enzyme systems of
the body for the process of detoxification. The detoxification
response is so great that the affected body is frequently left
nutritionally deficient of the elements which have been surrendered
in order to protect the body by removing the poison.
An
overburdened immune system may be unable to cleanse the body
completely and still carry some toxic material while, at the same
time, the loss of valuable nutrients/elements has left the body more
vulnerable to dis-ease.
The result will be a shortened life
span. In order to address the issue in the most general terms
requires that trace minerals and proteins are restored. The
improvements do not always manifest in the first generation which
receives special care. This is a building process requiring
dedication, understanding and "tender loving care".
Long-lived
honeybees: Healthy and hardy, they will resist dis-ease and be
resilient if they should encounter harsh conditions.
Short-lived
honeybees: Weakened and frail will be easily overcome by
dis-ease and harsh conditions.
Note:
See Organic Beekeeping Society, Research Group projects -- become
involved in the research to learn more. |
What is a Naturopathic Apiarist?by Stu Hipwell
Let
us first explore some word meanings. There are four words which are
the crux of this philosophy.
Naturopathy- a method
of treating disease which uses natural remedies to assist natural
healing forces.
Remedy - anything which heals, removes
pain or fault, the ability to cure, improve or fix.
Synergy
- the joint action of two or more substances, organs or organisms to
achieve an effect of which each is incapable of alone.
Holism
- a philosophical concept that the whole is greater than the sum of
its parts. That all aspects of life must be considered.
You
may consider this approach to be radical, but as you come to
understand the logic ( sound reasoning ) directing my methodology, I
hope you take at least some of it on board.
There must of course
be limits, so what as a beekeeper is the smallest and largest
aspects of your bees lives can you affect?
Smallest- for
me this is amoeba disease.
Largest- I would consider to
be forage.
Even setting these limits still gives immense
scope for action.
So what is the definition of a naturopathic apiarist?It
is a beekeeper who applies methods of aegis, using natural
resources, be they curative or supportive, in holistic and
synergistic ways.
Nature for Nature
Nature with
Nature
Nature against Nature |
|
I care for my little ladies. Honey production is far from
the top of my list. Remember we don't own the bees, no more than a
pet cat or dog. They allow us to become part of their lives. |
A Honey of a Storyby R. Fetrat
A dear friend
of the Fetrat Family and a fabulous artist, Buddy, had a serious
accident one day when cutting wood on a saw. He cut into his finger
and lost half of his knuckle in the accident. Buddy is a diabetic
and to heal from such an ordeal is a serious matter. Not only a
serious matter in Buddy's case, but healing was considered unlikely.
Buddy
chose his own medicine. He chose honey, soaking his injured finger
in a honey bath at night and wrapping it in honey-soaked bandages
twice a day and again before bed. Buddy's injury healed well and
quickly to the amazement of his doctor. Buddy attributes the healing
of his injury, despite of his diabetes, to the honey.
Thank
you, Buddy for sharing your story with us!! |
Organic Beekeeping Society Newsletter: Is a separate
publication and is only available to members of the Organic Beekeeping
Society. The following is an outline of our next newsletter. If you are
interested in receiving the Organic Beekeeping Society Newsletter, we
invite you to fill out the form below to join. The next issue will be
sent a day or two after the Organic Beekeeping Journal.
Organic Beekeeping Society Newsletter to Include:*
Successful Wintering - Winter Management Outline
*
Research Group Update - Honeybee Nutrition and other Research
Groups
* First Annual Honey Exchange - Enjoy honey
samples from different regions of the country. |
Honeybees currently (10-27) gather
leaf and stem "resin" from Passiflora Incarnata in an
opened greenhouse (at North Carolina) |
Organic
Beekeeping Society
Please
note: Membership is free.
Organic Beekeeping Society application for: Organic
Beekeeping Society membership.
We invite you to become a
member of the Organic Beekeeping Society. There is currently no
fee for membership.
|
Friends of the Organic Beekeepers:
Woodjewelry
by Buddy and Cheri Baldwin Handcrafted wood jewelry in
colorful laminated woods. Hand tooled and carved hairsticks,
barrettes, earrings, beads, necklaces, bracelets and pendants.
. |
Peace and Bee Well
If
you choose to print this page for your own use...please feel free to
do so. In any other case, all copy rights (i.e. common Law rights of
authorship) are reserved
Editor: Regina: ibn Fetrat - the Year:
Two Thousand and Two (anno domini)
"The most perfect society is that whose purpose is the
universal and supreme happiness."
—Gottfried
Wilhelm Leibniz, "On Natural Law," c.1690
------------------
"Happiness
is the point where center all those duties which individuals and
nations owe to themselves; and this is the great end of the law of
nature. The desire of happiness is the powerful spring that puts man
in motion: felicity is the end they all have in view, and it ought
to be the grand object of the public will. ...To succeed in this, it
is necessary to instruct the people to seek felicity where it is to
be found; that is, in their own perfection ... ."
"The
first general law that we discover in the very object of the society
of nations, is that each individual nation is bound to contribute
every thing in her power to the happiness and perfection of all the
others."
—Emmerich de Vattel, "The Law
of Nations," 1758 |
|
