BY CHRIS BRAUER
Advance staff
Some do it because they claim it will save the planet; some do it to pollinate their crops or enhance their fruit and vegetable production; some do it because they enjoy the complex nature of the hive and are endlessly fascinated by the inter-workings of the world around them; but most do it so they can enjoy the sweet drops of amber nectar on the tongue. Whatever the reason, small-scale beekeeping has boomed in popularity over the past ten years. This increase has it’s roots in fears that the world’s bee population was under threat. Dramatic and unexplained colony losses prompted a publicity campaign for people to do their bit – and the result is hives across gardens and yards and back acreages across the Kootenays.
Sue Low has been keeping bees in Creston for over 25 years. “I studied entomology at the University of Guelph and when I moved to Alberta I started to get involved in beekeeping with my father, but it was only after I attended master beekeeping courses that I began to understand how incredible these insects really are. Beekeepers like myself form relationships with the bees and, whether we keep them for pollination or for their honey, we’re always checking up on them and making sure everything is okay.”
Low admits there is always something to learn in keeping bees. “Bees form a very complicated society and I would suggest to anyone interested in beekeeping to first take a course and get some hands-on experience. This is not something one can learn off of YouTube or even from a book. You really need to be mentored – and I think because of this there is a real community around beekeeping. There are various groups throughout the Kootenays and it really helps to talk to other beekeepers when issues arise,” said Low. “There has been a real issue with the Varroa mite – external parasites that attack the honeybees – and there’s been a lot of talk lately about GMOs and how Neonicotinoid pesticides can harm bee populations.”
Despite all the challenges, Low enjoys spending time with the bees. “It’s a wonderful and intense experience. I’m out there by myself and there is so much going on and I’m focused and I don’t think about anything else,” said Low. “Keeping bees isn’t easy, but it’s immensely rewarding.”
Regional Bee Inspector Axel Krause believes renewed interest is a positive step in the right direction. “A third of our food is pollinated by bees, and without them we would survive but our dinner table would be really bland – some grains and corn and that’s about it. People are becoming more aware of bees and the issues surrounding bees, but we still have lots to learn,” said Krause. “For instance, many people don’t know the difference between bees and wasps – and they’re completely different. When we barbeque steaks or eat our picnic in the park and we hear something buzzing around our head we assume it’s both bees and wasps, but that’s not true. Bees are vegetarians and are off looking for pollen – they won’t bother you – but wasps are carnivorous.”
Beekeeping courses throughout the Kootenays continue to gain in popularity and most amateur beekeepers are happy to keep only a limited number of hives. Currently, there are only two or three commercial beekeepers throughout the Kootenays (Creston’s Swan Valley Honey being one of them). “The numbers fluctuate, but over the last few years there have been between four and five hundred beekeepers in the Kootenays,” said Krause. “And I really appreciate the efforts made by small-scale beekeepers. They have the time to spend with each hive and notice subtle shifts in behaviour. It’s these individuals that may find a solution to the Varroa mite problem or notice larger issues with the pesticides. The future of beekeeping may be with these small-scale beekeepers.”
The Town of Creston does not allow beekeeping within town limits.