AGRICULTURE
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What’s the buzz with Day of the Honey Bee? GREGGCHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
Bees are responsible for most of the polli- nation of flowering plants and if they died out then global famine could result as farms and orchards suffered massive crop failures. “Prescott and Russell is a region where ag- riculture plays an important role in the lo- cal economy,” said Sylvain Charlebois, UCPR economic development and tourism direc- tor, “and we need to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our bees for crop pollination. Many foods and crops on which we depend absolutely need, or at least benefit from, the pollination of honey bees.” The humble honey bee’s importance is not news to Drouin. The 72-year-old apiarist has been working with bees at his Cassel- man home since 1972 when he acquired his first hive along with two colonies of about 30,000 bees in total. Now his own beekeep- ing practice numbers 24 hives with about 15,000 insects per hive until the spring when the new larvae mature. Then the hive population booms to 60,000 or more. “But I am a small beekeeper,” he said, adding that he was inspired late in life to become a beekeeper by memories of his grandfather’s own apiary practice. “I wanted to try it. Instead of buying hon- ey, why not produce it? Within time, I really learned to like it.” He also sees himself not so much as a “beekeeper” as a “bee manager” in the end. “We never control bees completely. I pre- fer to say I work with the bees.” In Prescott-Russell there are about 100 apiaries of various sizes. Some beekeep- ers have enough hives just to supply their own needs for honey and maybe share a bit around with family and friends. Others may sell any extra honey at roadside stands or at local farmers markets and craft fairs. A few may have a large enough operation to sell their excess to the commercial honey manufacturers. Nutritionists recognize that honey is rich in organic elements and helps improve cal- cium and magnesium absorption into the body, which promotes bone growth. It also helps boost the human immune systemand provides a wide variety of essential vitamins like B1, B2, B3, B5, B8, B9, C, A, H, D, and K. Its natural sugars are easier for the body to assimilate than commercial refined sugars.
L’ORIGINAL | As far as bees are concerned May 29 is just another working day. But for humans everywhere it is an impor- tant occasion for long-overdue recognition of the critical role that all bees everywhere play in keeping the world healthy and well- fed. The United Counties of Prescott-Russell council (UCPR) has declared May 29 as Day of the Honey Bee in the counties and that is sweet news to the Beekeepers Association of Prescott and Russell. “As an amateur beekeeper who appreci- ates bees as well as their honey,”said Achille Drouin, group spokesman, “I am pleased that the United Counties of Prescott and Russell are celebrating this. It could help de- velop activities that would raise awareness among residents of our region on how to
Photo Achille Drouin
Beekeeper Achille Drouin is helping pre- pare the next generation of apiarist by encouraging his grandchildren’s interest (above) in his beekeeping practice. They bring in one hive for inspection of the colony’s overall health and also for care- ful harvesting of the honeycomb that the worker bees have made. maintain conditions for proper bee health.” Science now recognizes that a healthy bee population is key to human survival.
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