Life and Times of the Honey Bee
The main feature of this blog today is a video by Peter Nelson that was made back in 2013 but is still as relevant now as it was eight years ago.
One of the greatest pieces of advice taken from this film about how to help bees and help ourselves, is to try to slow down the pace of life around us. Eight years later, it is clear we have not slowed down the pace of life. Perhaps 2020 unfolded at a slower pace due to the pandemic but otherwise it is business as usual on planet Earth.
This 6:03-minute video by Peter N is a reverent tribute to the honeybee and as you listen to his words, they are just as thought-provoking today, for the times we are in, as they were when it was produced. In truth, it doesn't seem dated, or as if anything has changed much. Sadly, it is reported that honey bee loss figures for 2020 were higher than expected.
Just how much information do hive-sisters receive and interpret from a waggle dance? What do honey bees learn from each other and from evaluating the quality of pollen that is brought home in the pollen baskets? What other information do they transmit to each other about the quality of pollen, nectar, soil, pesticides, water, monocultures, solar light, wind, temperature, and so much more?
Considering the amount of work that goes into creating a pound of honey, we can only wonder why it is so cheap even when we consider it is expensive compared to other foods. Several thousand bees fly tirelessly for a total of 45,000 miles in order to make 1 pound of honey. That is the equivalent of two trips around planet Earth.
Let's remember that honeybees usually forage until they die. If you come across a haggard looking bee with tattered wings, you will know that her appearance was caused by her dedication to her queen, her hive, her sisters, and that the wear and tear is from all her foraging flights, which also resulted in pollination. Thank her, if you would, for she has surely pollinated plants that have fed you, your loved ones or other humans.
Some of the most exquisite video imagery of bees ever seen can be enjoyed in this video. We see their true nature, and how they interact with each other in ways we rarely see. Something special has been captured in this video recording, thank you, Peter N, your love of bees is clear to see.
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Katy - Bee Missionary
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