Co-Op

[Into the lions den]

Perhaps or perhaps not a few voices from the sidelines have derailed the coop’s bee plans.

Or perhaps its just big business deciding to save costs in this economic times and they are cutting their losses.

Under review does not mean derailed, at least not yet.

The last bit though just about puts it in a nutshell. Their motives, at least at any time I have had meetings with them, have been very much in the spirit of the original Co-op ethos from way back to their founding years in Rochdale. They are a relatively altruistic business, though they are forced to operate in an environment where Walmart etc would cut them to ribbons if they did not run as a professional operation. So far as I can see they do their best within the constraints the free market places upon them.

When someone offers you a cup of coffee for nothing you do not respond by sharply criticising them for not offering the free cup using only organic high grown arabica beans from Colombia hand picked by fairtrade non commercial growers. The flak they have taken from some is akin to that. I too would be a bit cheesed at such a response.

I expect the programme will go on, but in just what form I do not know.

 

[Bob Bee]

Under review does not mean derailed, at least not yet.

The last bit though just about puts it in a nutshell. Their motives, at least at any time I have had meetings with them, have been very much in the spirit of the original Co-op ethos from way back to their founding years in Rochdale. They are a relatively altruistic business, though they are forced to operate in an environment where Walmart etc would cut them to ribbons if they did not run as a professional operation. So far as I can see they do their best within the constraints the free market places upon them.

When someone offers you a cup of coffee for nothing you do not respond by sharply criticising them for not offering the free cup using only organic high grown arabica beans from Colombia hand picked by fairtrade non commercial growers. The flak they have taken from some is akin to that. I too would be a bit cheesed at such a response.

I expect the programme will go on, but in just what form I do not know.

I hope they continue with the programme in some way, even if only increased awareness of environmental issues and free seeds.

 

[theengraver]

.

When someone offers you a cup of coffee for nothing you do not respond by sharply criticising them for not offering the free cup using only organic high grown arabica beans from Colombia hand picked by fairtrade non commercial growers. QUOTE]

If you have Ethics you decline with a smile!

 

[herefordshirehoney]

Just been to one of Murrays co-op apiary with our local bka - was very interesting he's extremely knowledge about the subject, nice to see him using swienty langstroth poly hive's too!

Pictures available on my blog herefordshirehoney dot com

 

[BeeJayBee]

Just been to one of Murrays co-op apiary with our local bka - was very interesting he's extremely knowledge about the subject, nice to see him using swienty langstroth poly hive's too!

They're good hives, it's a pity so few sell them

 

[REDWOOD]

I had six packets of bee seeds from the co-op and distributed them to a few local gardeners who have planted then so good on you co-op

 

[Into the lions den]

Just been to one of Murrays co-op apiary with our local bka - was very interesting he's extremely knowledge about the subject, nice to see him using swienty langstroth poly hive's too!

Pictures available on my blog herefordshirehoney dot com

Nice pics and thanks for giving it all a mention.

The little swarm you photographed dispersed back to it hive a short while after everyone left, although my two guy were still there doing supering, and as it landed back at the colony they saw the queen go in with 'mating sign' still attached, so seems to have been a mating flight that got disorientated by all the people and the vehicle sitting there and landed short.

Nice polite and friendly group of beekeepers. Some known to me, some not, but a group who will always be welcome.

Murray

ps....the floor is sourced for me by Swienty under the title 'Kombi' type. It is actually provbably the oldest version of these floors in use and people like Poly Hive will have had them for many years. There are a couple of makers due to some complex financial issues in Germany, but the ones we use are made by Warnholz. We also have some made by the other maker around too. The floors and our travel screens are designed to work together, so we keep to the one style, but there is not a lot wrong with any of them.

 

[Queens59]

I hunted for something on Plan B, but never found anything on the Co-Ops site...except the free seeds. I still don't know what the aims where/are or how they intend to achieve whatever they are. Perhaps clear publicity would have helped.

 

[herefordshirehoney]

Nice pics and thanks for giving it all a mention.

The little swarm you photographed dispersed back to it hive a short while after everyone left, although my two guy were still there doing supering, and as it landed back at the colony they saw the queen go in with 'mating sign' still attached, so seems to have been a mating flight that got disorientated by all the people and the vehicle sitting there and landed short.

Nice polite and friendly group of beekeepers. Some known to me, some not, but a group who will always be welcome.

Murray

ps....the floor is sourced for me by Swienty under the title 'Kombi' type. It is actually provbably the oldest version of these floors in use and people like Poly Hive will have had them for many years. There are a couple of makers due to some complex financial issues in Germany, but the ones we use are made by Warnholz. We also have some made by the other maker around too. The floors and our travel screens are designed to work together, so we keep to the one style, but there is not a lot wrong with any of them.

Thank you Murray really good to see, makes sense really about the swarm as there was lots of queen cells hatching or recently hatching. Its certainly a pleasure to handle bees that quiet.

Just had look on Swienty's site and couldnt see them anywhere. Am I right you had standard brood body's not jumbo's as they did seem to be the same size as my kit? I remember Poly Hive posting the contact details of Denrosa - is that you? At the time he said you sell Swienty kit, interesting if you do as possible may be interesting in some brood bodies, floors and roofs as time goes by (be it a few at time though).

 

[Poly Hive]

If Murray is talking about the floor I think he is it is the one with the securing lugs at the corners? If so I would dearly like to buy a few myself as they are superb floors for migratory beekeeping.

PH

 

[Hivemaker.]

makes sense really about the swarm as there was lots of queen cells hatching or recently hatching.

Can you explain how that makes sense.

 

[herefordshirehoney]

If Murray is talking about the floor I think he is it is the one with the securing lugs at the corners? If so I would dearly like to buy a few myself as they are superb floors for migratory beekeeping.

PH

I believe so, the standard swienty Swi-Bo has a lot smaller open mesh floor thats what impressed me too. You can see the securing lugs your refering two on the picture below:

 

[herefordshirehoney]

Can you explain how that makes sense.

My logic was if there was an unmated queen - they could be on a mating flight bear in mind im still new to all this so might have it completly wrong =)