Beginners in beekeeping or honey extraction need to relax and have fun keeping bees. It’s not only enjoyable but one of the most effective ways to come closer to nature. The most important thing that you need to focus is to take good care of your charges. The reality is, sometimes, bees do require your help in dealing with the relentless depredation by the varroa mite or a lack of forage, however, it is rewarding to assist them through difficult times. Here are some misconceptions about beekeeping or honey extraction busted -
1. You need to have the best beehive for your bees – Believe it or not, it doesn’t really matter much to the bees as to what kind of box you will keep them in or what sort of comb you are going to use. Instead, you should focus more on keeping a good stock and proper husbandry, rather than thinking too much about any particular equipment.
2. Bees hate “chemicals” - There is nothing wrong in using organic acids or essential oils as treatments against the varroa mite or other disease organisms for bee protection. What beekeepers don’t know is that bees have the ability to detoxify these chemicals and many other natural toxins in pollen and nectar.
3. The natural way is the best – If you always believed the natural way is the best, think again. Nature does not always play favorites, and bees need to compete in the “all is fair” evolutionary game. In fact, sometimes, even under the best of conditions, nature is brutal to bees.
If you are new to beekeeping, first learn to practice good bee husbandry as you would if you were starting with any other pet or livestock. Learn how to keep your bees alive and healthy for a few years, and then you can raise the bar. Do you allow your dog or cat to suffer from a gruesome mite infestation? No, right? So why would you allow your bees to die a similar awful death? Don’t believe the myths, become a good beekeeper!
1. You need to have the best beehive for your bees – Believe it or not, it doesn’t really matter much to the bees as to what kind of box you will keep them in or what sort of comb you are going to use. Instead, you should focus more on keeping a good stock and proper husbandry, rather than thinking too much about any particular equipment.
2. Bees hate “chemicals” - There is nothing wrong in using organic acids or essential oils as treatments against the varroa mite or other disease organisms for bee protection. What beekeepers don’t know is that bees have the ability to detoxify these chemicals and many other natural toxins in pollen and nectar.
3. The natural way is the best – If you always believed the natural way is the best, think again. Nature does not always play favorites, and bees need to compete in the “all is fair” evolutionary game. In fact, sometimes, even under the best of conditions, nature is brutal to bees.
If you are new to beekeeping, first learn to practice good bee husbandry as you would if you were starting with any other pet or livestock. Learn how to keep your bees alive and healthy for a few years, and then you can raise the bar. Do you allow your dog or cat to suffer from a gruesome mite infestation? No, right? So why would you allow your bees to die a similar awful death? Don’t believe the myths, become a good beekeeper!
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