Since my last post, I left my winter bee work to focus on job applications. I have learned a great deal about bees and their role in the environment generally, and the food system specifically. We need them. And I'd like to keep them in my life as both an interest and well, so that I can continue to eat the foods that we take for granted.
There appears to be a bit of a buzz in the news about the bee crisis. And yes, it is a crisis. Colony collapse disorder and disease and death are the words of the day. But other than that, the public doesn't really know what to do with this information or really what it is all about. I would recommend reading "A Spring without Bees" by Michael Schacker or "Silent Spring" by the brillian Rachel Carson for a better understanding. Regardless of how complex the bee crisis is, the number one issue is the use of sprays and various chemicals (insectides, fungicides, etc) that are killing the poor things. The research is there. There has been some success fighting chemical multinationals in Europe (see research and impressive banding together of beekeepers in France), but in North America, we are still in denial. The companies have too much power, and the people are not well informed.
I just hope we don't try to do something after it is too late. To bee healthy, we need to take action now.
