NDB versus Master Beekeeper?

[Poly Hive]

Which glorious title carries more weight? Curious.

PH

 

[Mint Bee]

neither from my experience

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think NDB carries more Kudos in their eyes as it's seen as an exclusive club with only a few allowed in each year
In my (and many other's) opinion neither necessarily is an indicator of superiority over your average beekeeper.
Bit like boy scouts having to carry a blankie as there's no room left on their sleeves for badges.

 

[Poly Hive]

I have known NDB people who seemingly couldn't beekeep a paper bag but the idea behind the NDB (the qualification for County/regional Advisors) was just that. Now this master beekeeper has appeared I am curious as to which is the higher level.

 

[user 819]

Sustificates just mean they can read and write down the correct answer that the examiner want to see, practically and common sense wise often means very little.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Now this master beekeeper has appeared I am curious as to which is the higher level.

that's been around for years - although I believe it has a slightly different name in Scotland

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Apparently the NDB is the higher level but who regulates this 'National' diploma? I think it's just another BBKA invention and means very little in the real world

 

[Mint Bee]

The titles are there to confuse new beekeepers into thinking that the holders actually know what they are talking about as illustrated in the latest Bee Craft

 

[Poly Hive]

Not being a Bee Craft reader might you explain please?

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

Apparently the NDB is the higher level but who regulates this 'National' diploma? I think it's just another BBKA invention and means very little in the real world

I was unaware that the NDB had its origins in the BBKA. I'm not sure that's true. The NDB beekeepers I know are incredibly knowledgeable and are excellent communicators. Master beekeepers, being less thin on the ground, are a more mixed bunch.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

The titles are there to confuse new beekeepers into thinking that the holders actually know what they are talking about as illustrated in the latest Bee Craft

I might have missed these but the latest issue of BeeCraft appears to have just one article from a Master Beekeeper and none from any NDB holders. As I said above, I would welcome more articles from NDB holders - not that I think BeeCraft is short of good articles. I thought the award they received at Apimondia for the best beekeeping magazine was well deserved.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I might have missed these but the latest issue of BeeCraft appears to have just one article from a Master Beekeeper and none from any NDB holders. As I said above, I would welcome more articles from NDB holders - not that I think BeeCraft is short of good articles. I thought the award they received at Apimondia for the best beekeeping magazine was well deserved.

I was unaware that the NDB had its origins in the BBKA. I'm not sure that's true. The NDB beekeepers I know are incredibly knowledgeable and are excellent communicators. Master beekeepers, being less thin on the ground, are a more mixed bunch.

Where does the BFA apprenticeship sit in this debate??.

I have one just about to finish the three years & another ready to start.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Where does the BFA apprenticeship sit in this debate??.

on a throne above the other two

 

[Swarm]

Where does the BFA apprenticeship sit in this debate??.

I have one just about to finish the three years & another ready to start.

Depends on the apprentice, I know one I wouldn't trust with my bees

 

[Mint Bee]

The beekeeper in question is running a series of articles for beginners in Bee craft. In a talk he gave last year, which I attended, he was introduced as a master beekeeper and when describing winter preparations was advocating match stick ventilation as an option. Hence my comment in #8. As has been discussed before by various contributors, qualifications the BBKA offer are a very much fixed syllabus offering to be learnt and regurgitated. Doesn't encourage any questioning on why carried out, and therefore prevents improvement IMO.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

As has been discussed before by various contributors, qualifications the BBKA offer are a very much fixed syllabus offering to be learnt and regurgitated. Doesn't encourage any questioning on why carried out, and therefore prevents improvement IMO.

Agreed, but I don't think any of this applies to the NDB or those who hold it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Agreed, but I don't think any of this applies to the NDB or those who hold it.

Regardless of its objectives when it was formed in 1955, it's very much a closed shop controlled by the same people who hold the BBKA 'Master' beekeeper badge and they just see it as a progression of 'Master' beekeeper, in fact you cannot take it until you have the BBKA 'master' beekeeper badge and I have never found much difference betwixt one and the other

 

[madasafish]

As British beekeeping has no major worthwhile innovations to its name # which have been adopted worldwide ,the term "Master Beekeeper" does not mean anything as far as innovation is concerned as far as I can see. That may of course be because that British Beekeeping as taught is perfect and impossible to improve.

# the WBC is not an innovation.

 

[Poly Hive]

Actually a NDB holder not so long ago was widely derided for advocating matchstick ventilation.

 

[madasafish]

Actually a NDB holder not so long ago was widely derided for advocating matchstick ventilation.

Very relevant to WW1 beekeeping.