Chapter 8

Poisoning pollen and nectar is tantamount to suicide. Humans cannot live on this planet without the services of pollinators.

On Sunday we gathered as a community to build 7 bee hives. The event went smoothly, exceeding my expectations. We had cut the pieces for the roofs, quilts and floors so we could start out running and that worked well. We had all the remaining pieces cut and rabbeted by about ten o'clock and that left plenty of time for assembly. The only mistake we really made was in counting frame pieces and we had to set up the saws again toward the end to cut the missing frames. There are some minor modifications to the plans, and jigs, that I would make for the next build but, on the whole, the plan worked well.

We had an observer drop by toward the end of the day who compared what we were doing to an old fashioned barn raising. I think that is probably right. Every one jumped right in, everyone was willing to do whatever needed to be done. We took about an hour for a great lunch prepared by members and friends of our team. We had a chance to talk about the practical parts of beekeeping and a chance to talk about the importance of bees in our habitat.

We accomplished 7 new homes for bee colonies and made an investment in the capacity of the participants to produce honey. That increases the opportunity for honey bees to adapt to conditions here on the front range. The more neighborhoods that have hives, the more opportunity there is to discuss with neighbors the problem with spreading poisons.

There is, right now, at your garden center and hardware store, pesticide products, including bagged top soil and potting soil, containing neonicotinoids. These chemicals are “systemic”, meaning that they are absorbed by the plant and are present in all parts of the plant, including the pollen and nectar. We don't use any pesticides in our gardens. We do not have pests. Those insects eating our plants are food for the creatures that want to protect our plants. You can't have one without the other. We would never think of poisoning either one. Poisoning pollen and nectar is tantamount to suicide. Humans cannot live on this planet without the services of pollinators.

Perhaps we should occupy the local garden center and explain how these chemicals work to those who think that they are a safe way to have a pretty flower garden. Or . . . get together a few friends and build some bee hives.

Let us know if we can help you set up an event similar to ours. This is necessary and important work.