SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 ME AND MY HONEY

"Never Never explain yourself. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe it."

Belgicia Howell

How many of you eat your vegetables? Do not disappoint your mother who always said, "Eat your vegetables." I always liked green vegetables, but was never fond of green peas as a child. Now I really do not mind any vegetable. That is not true-- I do not like okra.

What is the decline in pollinator populations doing to our nutritional status?

I am sure you have never thought of the declining bee, bat and butterfly populations affecting our nutritional status. Well of course, it does. As the domestic and wild bee populations decline, we will get less fruit and vegetable production and thus less nutrition. The produce (vegetables and fruits) with the highest concentration of Vitamin C will be affected by the decline in the bee population. This will affect 90% of the vitamin C we consume. It will affect 50% of the calcium we consume. Most sources of vitamins A and E come from pollinator dependent crops, so with no bees, no source of these vitamins. The almond crops in California which are totally dependent on the February 14th pollination will be greatly affected. Some may say so what we have the wind and the rain to self pollinate these crops. No so. It is estimated while the wind and rain can do some pollination, there will a 40% loss in crops (vegetables/fruits) without bees. Despite current efforts bee populations are still declining.

Recent studies provide more information for the government to step in and help beekeepers raise bees. I do not understand why our government is not lending money to beekeepers to save the domesticated and wild honey bees. If the government lets the produce down because there is no support, there will be increases in heart disease and cancer. You may ask why... If there are no tomatoes, carrots, squash and other vegetables there will be a decrease in the antioxidants and carotenoids in our diets that these vegetable supply.

If you cannot raise bees yourself, then support a friend who does in a number of ways. You can take a beekeeping course (http://www.honeybeelives.org/ or http://www.nycbeekeeping.com/) You can read about planting seeds and buying plants that will attract honeybees. Learn the facts about honeybees before passing judgement or making comments about honeybees. Be proactive in your garden. If you do not like honeybees for whatever reason, then help the hummingbirds and butterflies. Both are also pollinators.

For interesting articles and history of Beekeeping, http://www.americanbeejournal.com/

Until tomorrow...

Good thoughts/prayers for my honey--speedy surgical recovery