Activist converting former strip mines into bee colonies

by: desmoinesdem

Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 18:22:18 PM PST

By federal law, coal companies have to restore the land they used back to an as-good-or-better condition than it was in when they started mining. However, that is in terms of commercial value, not ecological value. Coal mining can wreak havoc on a landscape, and then turn that ravaged landscape into something like big box stores or residential housing. But thanks to the efforts of one bee enthusiast by the name of Tammy Horn, there are wide swaths of former coal strip mines that are returning to ecologically diverse forest land, bolstering hope for not only a once-again thriving local ecosystem but also a stronger local economy. [...]

Currently there are 53 hives on five sites, but Horn hopes some 25,000 hives could be supported on former strip mines. "Coal companies have created over 33,000 acres of reclaimed land. Within these isolated areas, we can produce bees that are better acclimated to the region and, in effect, create 'genetic islands' of bee colonies that will aid in preserving biodiversity of bees and plants in North America."

The article by Jaymi Heimbuch at Planet Green goes on to explain how Horn got the right people interested in restoring the forest undercanopy at former strip mine sites, as opposed to just growing hardwood trees for future logging.  

Several of the sites are next to communities with high poverty rates. The sites, while also the object of some vandalism, have helped to educate people on how bees benefit them, and how they can be used in cottage industries like soap making and honey. Horn hosts field trips for community members and school children, and these sites serve as training sites rather than production.

The more remote sites are used for research on bee populations, including how to breed bees that are stronger, and more adapted to the area. Horn is working on research for raising queen bees at these locations, hoping that their distance from industrial agriculture will help with research.

More power to her.  

Colony Collapse Clue Found?

by: JayinPortland

Wed Aug 26, 2009 at 17:09:00 PM PDT

The new study of sick bees disclosed fragments of ribosomal RNA in their gut, an indication of damage to the ribosomes, which make proteins necessary for life, according to a study in Tuesday's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[...]

"If your ribosome is compromised, then you can't respond to pesticides, you can't respond to fungal infections or bacteria or inadequate nutrition because the ribosome is central to the survival of any organism. You need proteins to survive," May R. Berenbaum, head of the department of entomology at Illinois, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, experts are reminding us how valuable native pollinators such as bumblebees, beetles and other insects can be, and here's a piece from Seattle detailing how the City is helping create habitat for them by turning formerly-grassy parking strips into plant-filled "Pollinator Pathways".

Scientists isolate one cause of "colony collapse disorder"

by: desmoinesdem

Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 17:47:24 PM PDT

It's too early to say "case closed" on the honeybee die-offs. In all likelihood more than one factor has contributed to colony collapse disorder. Devilstower laid out seven possibilities in this diary.

Several European countries have banned the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in order to protect honeybees. Beyond Pesticides and Pesticide Action Network North America sent an open letter to President Barack Obama earlier this year calling for more regulation of pesticides, putting a high priority on protecting bees and other pollinators.

To my knowledge, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has not taken any steps in this direction--that is, I have been unable to find any reports on new USDA plans to fund research regarding pesticides and pollinators. The Bush USDA refused to halt or even thoroughly study the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

I did find out that the "USDA will be providing two types of parasite-resistant honey bees developed by USDA scientists" to pollinate plants in the organic White House garden.  

Every Third Bite

by: asimbagirl

Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 15:11:46 PM PST

At any rate, during our email conversations, I learned that Wendy had recently produced her first documentary short, about honeybees. She sent me a link to her film, and I have to tell you, watching this short 9 minute documentary did change my life.

More, including a link to her documentary, below.

Sweet

by: by foot

Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 22:14:01 PM PDT

I'm certainly not what you'd call an experienced beekeeper -- although I'd been around them a bit 20 years ago, we just acquired our first hive this Spring.  I'd been looking forward to it for months.

After separating the honey from the big chunks of wax with a collander, we ran the honey through a screen sieve before decanting to jars. Linden honey is considered to be a very fine type of honey.  It's light in color, and has a wonderful, almost minty flavor that I'd never tasted before.

Penny gave me a top bar hive last Christmas, and through the same local beekeeper who sold her the hive, boxed up a swarm of bees in May.  The beekeeper had been contacted by another beekeeper in nearby Arvada, who had a vigorous hive that had swarmed, resulting in a big ball of bees on a nearby shrub.