AndrewLD wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 20:18
It is a cruel irony that this thread has suddenly mirrored Roger Patterson's latest article in the BBKA News and even crueller that is is under the heading "How Not to Keep Bees". I am reminded of H Storch's caution that those who keep bees in ignorance condemn their bees to a life of suffering and misery.
A 2017 French Senate Committee looked into the multifactorial decline of honeybee colonies in France (then averaging almost 40% a year but now much better). About fifth on the list on the list of factors after Pathogens, pesticides, lack of of forage and hive pests was poor beekeeping...
I feel forced to say that we have indulged this enough - those entering beekeeping need to register and do a god*am course
I find "those entering beekeeping need to register and do a god*dam course" far too much of a sweeping statement. Its the sort of thing childless couples say about other peoples kids lol. Not only is it unhelpful and a generalization, it makes people such as myself MUCH less inclined to join my local Beekeeping club , than i otherwise may have been for fear of encountering more dogmatic preachy people demanding the their way is the only way.
I spent a year looking into Beekeeping before i even thought about getting bees. I studied books and online , as well as research papers.
Your statement assumes far too much in respect to the lack of "expert" tutelage anyone entering this hobby might have.
Just because someone has done something the same way for 40 years does not in my opinion make them an "expert".
Far too many people assume that 40 years of doing something one way makes it the ONLY way and the RIGHT way.
Feel free to grab a spear made from flint a loin cloth and club and go hunting! Because obviously men did this for much longer than 40 years so it must be the ONLY way and the RIGHT way to do things.
Sorry if i sound a little peeved and i am not belittling anyone's skills or knowledge, but i dont appreciate mine being belittled either.
My thirst for knowledge led me to look into and study beekeeping , as it did for many others im sure. Please dont make my hobby which is ment to be something pleasurable and relaxing an exercise in "father knows best".
As i said next year, circumstances allowing , i will be looking at doing a course. For now however i am relying on the good people here and elsewhere online to "support" people like myself ,rather than belittle and chastise us. Until things improve and the wealth of knowledge available from courses and mentors becomes available to us all again.