07/06/2025
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Does it get any better? Beautiful capped honey in Stillwater OK beeyards.
Another season of honey extraction has started. Food boxes are completely full, just the way we like it with real honey from nature for the bees. No feeding, no treatments, and minimal disturbance. I know this post wont go far and get backlash Im sure but for what its worth from a simple beekeeper
Im often asked about treatment free and for the most part I just stay out of it nowadays. Maximum output for Maximum yeilds is today's beekeeping. Varroa Mites have been in the US for almost 4 decades and still year in and year out beekeepers scream for more treatments, longer treatments, more research. Looking for solutions from the same people profiting from the problems. They will never get a solution, because the day varroa goes away the profits dry up. Its just another version of the rat race so much of life for so many revolves around it seem.
Bees feed the world. At one point they did. At one point bees and pollinators were of high importance. More important than profits. Today its estimated 80% of grocery stores are nothing more than processed food with ingredients no one can pronounce produced in plants (plant based anyone). Honey imports account for more than 70% of honey in the US. Almost 60% of fruit is imported and 40% of our vegetables. The main agricultural crops are grains and they account for more than 30% of agricultural land and almost 70% of harvested cropland and its just getting bigger. This supports pollinators in no way. Instead of more treatments where is all the outcry for better food, more diversity, pollinator friendly agricultural practices. Wheres the outcry for real food? Its around in small pockets but is overshadowed by the outcry for easier easy buttons. US consumers are so conditioned to foods year round they are shocked to hear bees dont make honey all year or real food is seasonal.
The US experienced one of its largest colony losses and the usual suspects still come into play. Varroa mites, treatment resistance, CCD (Cash Cow Disease aka Colony Collapse Disease) Today's beekeeping is all about maximum yeilds and output from the colonies. Its the same for the medical field its just easier to shallow a pill than change the lifestyle. Its the way the world works its what we are conditioned too I suppose, its just not my way.
Treatment free is more than genetics, way more. Genetics play a role but its not only genetics or some magical swarm caught. Its a mindset its a management style its mostly a LIFESTYLE. I dont believe all areas can achieve it. I dont believe large migratory can achieve it or will ever achieve it and for the most part I dont believe the majority of beekeepers will ever be able to achieve it because its starts not with the bees but the beekeeper. Its sad but the powers at be dont care about our health or the BEE its about profits in our world today so things will never change really. Its just smoke and mirrors at play. Its simply not profitable to produce healthy free thinking people much less real food, sustainablity or healthy bees. There will never be eradication of pests or a push for treatment free because there is no profit in doing so. Its all programed around the profits. Its just easier to treat just like its 1,000% easier to swallow a pill than change a lifestyle and since its easier the majority will do the easy route instead of change the lifestyle. They say public speaking is the biggest fear. Its not CHANGE is by far the biggest fear for people.
Yes, there is an entire other way of beekeeping than what is taught and pushed by mainstream and so-called influencers. It starts with the beekeeper though.
