#59 – BEES & HONEY

Me and Dr. Bee!!!

The Adventure – Bee Keeping with Dr. Bee from Honeyland Farms

I love bees.

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzz.

Apiaries.

Honey.

I went to Honeyland Farms to meet Dr. Bee and I spent time with him and his bees.

I even met the Queen Bee and played with all her drones.

It was scary and exciting all at the same time….especially because I mostly played with several thousand bees without a bee suit on.

Good thing I’m not allergic!

Dr. Bee and Me!

The Bees Are Dying

Over the last decade, bees have been dying off at such an alarming rate that there is a real concern for the future of our planet.

The issue is this – if our bees die – some project we will as well.

Why?

Because without them, agriculture would collapse.

At present, at least one third of our crops is pollinated by the bees, meaning, they are responsible for most of the food we eat.

After all, bees keep plants alive through pollination.

Some of those plants pollinated by bees include:

• almonds, cashews, walnuts
• apples, apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, cranberries, grapes, kiwi, mango, peaches, pears, strawberries, tangerines, watermelons
• avocados, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers
• coffee
• alfalfa hay (for dairy cows)

But why are they dying?

Scientists have discovered that a lot of evidence pointing to insecticides used in commercial agriculture. Others also suggest that climate change is also affecting them.

Afterthoughts

I am sad about the bees.

I am sad that we live in a world where humans have exceeded their ecological footprint.

I am sad that we are poisoning the planet.

What can be done though? Is it too late for us?

I have to have hope for our future. It’s the only thing left.

© Monthly Adventure, Patricia Taylor, November 2012

Queen Bee

Suited up and ready for battle!

The Beekeeper!