The Bees need Your Help!

Dear Readers:

Recently there has been a lot of news relating to the decline in honey bee populations due to Colony Collapse Disorder. I have been a bee keeper for almost 8 years and I have had my own struggles with tsome of my own colonies collapsing however for the past 5 years I have been very successful in keeping my hives healthy and expanding my hives. Colony Collapse Disorder is not any single disease that is responsible for failing bee hives. Instead CCD is caused by any myriad of problems ranging from pesticides, parasites, poor nutrition, and limited genetic diversity. I would like to give readers insight how they can help honey bees struggle to survive.

Plant gardens instead of lawns that are rich in flowering plants to help improve honey bees diet. If you are considering buying a beehive be sure to purchase a Queen that is from local survivor stock to promote genetic diversity. Beekind is a local shop in Sebastopol where you can purchase Queens that are adapted to Sonoma County. Finally if you see a swarm of bees call either Bear Food honey in Santa Rosa or Beekind in Sebastopol to rescue the swarm or to remove a hive from your home not an exterminator.

Bee well,

David Dippe'