We are at a turning point. It is time for us to raise bees for the sake of the bees.
But, in order to do this, we need to take a different approach. We need to raise our bees as close to the methods used by the ferral bees – using top bar designs, less intrusion in the hive, less use of pesticides and herbicides in the fields where we place our bees, and no use of GMO crops.
We need to grow bee-friendly trees, flowers and plants – not for our benefit, but for theirs. In the end, it will pay off – we can get our honey, pollinate our crops and save the bees.
I think that the quote below (from the article listed in the link) says it all:
“We have been losing bees and beekeepers in this country for 60 years and now we are at the point where almost half the colonies in the country are needed to pollinate almonds in California,” van Engelsdorp said. “We are close to the margin” of a viable ratio of pollinators to crops, he said. “It’s amazing to see how close we are to that line.”