Research Questions

[mmdrake]

Hi there,

I posted a whole ago about my third year undergrad dissertation. I am exploring our relationship with honeybees from an anthropological perspectives looking at green consumerism/responsability/education. I have a couple of questions and any responses and thread discussions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

1) What would be your advice to someone who wants to start keeping bees?

2) What is your opinion on the vegan stance that taking honey from the hive is exploitation of the bees?

3) Do you feel we have a responsability of care towards the honeybee?

4) What do you think is the biggest misconception about bees?

 

[enrico]

1) work with a live hive before you spend any money
2) bees produce excessive honey, vegans could ensure they only use these excesses
3) as a beekeeper, yes
4) they are mistaken for wasps
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

1. Join a local association with a training apiary. Take their course, visit the apiary regularly and get a mentor. Start off with a couple of nucleus colonies and learn as your colonies grow.
2. No opinion. Some vegans eat honey some don’t. Some are abusive about beekeeping, some aren’t.
3. Yes
4. That it is easy and cheap to keep bees and produce honey.

 

[B+.]

1) What would be your advice to someone who wants to start keeping bees?

2) What is your opinion on the vegan stance that taking honey from the hive is exploitation of the bees?

3) Do you feel we have a responsability of care towards the honeybee?

4) What do you think is the biggest misconception about bees?

1. If you're prepared to put in the work. Do it, but, don't think you'll get rich from beekeeping. It is hard work.
2. Taking surplus honey is equivalent to sheering sheep. It can actually benefit the organism because, in the case of honeybees, you are giving them space to expand.
3.Of course. Any livestock owner takes care of his stock. If he didn't, they'd all die
4. That real honey can be bought at supermarket prices

 

[Swarm]

1. Get hands on experience first
2. Usually I lose interest after reading this tripe.
3. We have a duty of care towards all creatures.
4. That they need to be molly-coddled.

 

[MerryBee]

I agree with previous responses on questions 1 to 3, so I am only going to answer question 4.

4. That by becoming a beekeeper you are helping to "save the bees".

Most people do not understand there are about 250 species of bees in Britain, and that the honey bee is just one of those.
Thinking you are helping to "save the bees", is like thinking you will help to save birds by keeping chickens.

 

[Beefriendly]

Thinking you are helping to "save the bees", is like thinking you will help to save birds by keeping chickens.

And by keeping bees in any number they will compete with "wild bees" for limited resources. Keeping bees may be detrimental to our native species....

 

[Anduril]

1) As above join an association, work with a big hive first and register on beebase.
2) I sell to vegans, a number of my hives I don't have to feed after taking a surplus. Most of the vegan gripes are US centric.
3) Yes, to keep them alive and well.
4) From a vegan perspective they believe we all kill are queens every year, clip her wings and add sugar to our honey.

 

[Beefriendly]

2) What is your opinion on the vegan stance that taking honey from the hive is exploitation of the bees?

Eff 'em.
Ask them where they get their vitamin B12 from that allows them to live. They are exploiting microorganisms and ergo are total hypocrites....and wa$$$ers.

 

[madasafish]

Hi there,



1) What would be your advice to someone who wants to start keeping bees?

2) What is your opinion on the vegan stance that taking honey from the hive is exploitation of the bees?

3) Do you feel we have a responsability of care towards the honeybee?

4) What do you think is the biggest misconception about bees?

1.. As many. Join your local club. DIY from books and YouTube is only for the lucky, the gifted, those with lots of time and those with money to pay for mistakes. - Seen too many beginners - clever -often very intelligent - who think they don't need help. And give up having lost colonies over winter.

2. Our ancestors grew their brains larger from a high protein diet.. i.e. meat. Judging from some of the vegan writings on beekeeping and the obvious lies written about it, either some vegans are stupid, some are easily lead , some just lie.. or the lack of protein is regressing their brain functions to the level of our simian ancestors. (Not all vegans are like that)

3. Responsibility of care extends to all living creatures. Do unto others etc.

4. They are wasps and beekeeping is easy.

 

[fatshark]

4. That bees are declining due to CCD in UK
4. That 'product of EU and non-EU countries' and a price-tag of £1.05 for 500g is any indication of a quality product on the supermarket shelves (see B+ above)
4. That honey helps reduce hay fever
4. That Apiguard works in November in the Midlands
4. That aggressive colonies collect more honey because they're aggressive
4. That "natural" beekeeping is better ... for the bees, for the environment or for neighbouring beekeepers.

 

[Walrus]

1) What would be your advice to someone who wants to start keeping bees?

2) What is your opinion on the vegan stance that taking honey from the hive is exploitation of the bees?

3) Do you feel we have a responsability of care towards the honeybee?

4) What do you think is the biggest misconception about bees?

1) Go on a beginners course which includes actually handling bees as well as classroom stuff such as:
http://www.cheshire-bka.co.uk/index.php/component/k2/item/9

2) Horse ****

3) Yes

4) that honeybees are dying out

 

[Birdie Wife]

Hi there,

I posted a whole ago about my third year undergrad dissertation. I am exploring our relationship with honeybees from an anthropological perspectives looking at green consumerism/responsability/education. I have a couple of questions and any responses and thread discussions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

1) What would be your advice to someone who wants to start keeping bees?

2) What is your opinion on the vegan stance that taking honey from the hive is exploitation of the bees?

3) Do you feel we have a responsability of care towards the honeybee?

4) What do you think is the biggest misconception about bees?

1. Join your local association immediately and get some hands-on experience with handling 1000s of buzzing insects before you even think about it.
2. It is. I'm not a vegan but I do consider animal welfare of huge importance.
3. Somewhat. Honeybees existed before we did as a species and were perfectly capable of looking after themselves until we started spreading pests and disease about through our mismanagement practices.
4. That honeybees are the best/only pollinators.Current research says honeybees are responsible for 10-30% of crop pollination (let alone wildflower pollination) with the bulk of pollination coming from wild species - bumblebees, hoverflies etc.

 

[BKF Admin]

1/ Ask the forum admin/moderator if you may post research questions before asking members questions...
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[theeggman]

1/ Ask the forum owner if you may post research questions before asking members questions...
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Go Mark, WE are with you.

 

[Finman]

.

Odd research. Answers are already clear. We need only veryfy them.

I cannot see researching attitude/problem in this issue.
Research does not make question attitudes better. I keep my opinions and others keep their opinions.

..... Do I feel responsibility to bees.... Hives die, what then? Swarms escape, what then....

 

[eltalia]

>>1) What would be your advice to someone who wants
>>to start keeping bees?

Study bee biology, study it again.

>>2) What is your opinion on the vegan stance that taking
>>honey from the hive is exploitation of the bees?

Veganism is a State of Mind... or in many a case, Not.

>>3) Do you feel we have a responsability of care towards
>>the honeybee?

"We" the beekeeper?
Not so much as we are, caring.
"We" Man as users?
Definitely, to not accept is selfdestructive.

>>4) What do you think is the biggest misconception about
>> bees?

Honey Money