Organic Beekeeping - Only Emty Definitions?

Everything dulcet and not a word of truth in it? Franz Jung, author from the Bioland-beekeeper-group speaks about „Beekeeper’s cultivation" but in truth he is meaning „making artificial swarms". He talks very nice about the „Bien" and the „poetry of agriculture" but according his wishful thinking he is meaning artificial insemination, grafting or unnatural swarm prevention. He differenciates between organic and conventional beekeeping, where no differences can be found, and makes generalizations where distinctions needs to be made.

A true word from the ancients which is practised very little nowadays: Much pains are taken and time bestowed to teach us what to think; but little or none of either to instruct us how to think.

Let’s have a look if „organic beekeepers" or members of the Bioland-beekeeping-group see the point regarding beekeeping considering the character of bees. At least they are good in creating new words: „Professional beekeeping competence" , „Beekeeper’s cultivation", „Beekeeping according specific species, but easy to handle", „Broodnest as a oneness ".

Mr. Franz Jung, member of the Bioland-beekeeping-group says about himself that he wants to „discuss organic beekeeping fruitful" (Dbj 7/05, p. XX).

Let’s listen to him: „organic beekeeping is resting on three pillars, who stand together in an inner connection". One pillar is: „it is good practice in beekeeping to consider the Broodnest as a oneness".

You may ask, how many follies need to be quartered in a head until this one may find a place?

Neither non-organic nor organic beekeepers consider the broodnest to be a oneness. It’s a pity but it’s a fact. Actually it is the merit of Mr. Gerhard Liebig/PhD that he established this fact. (Dbj 5/05, p. 204-207). „In numerous points the standards of organic associations differ only little from conventional beekeeping" The usage of wired frames and foundation wax is generally allowed - also by Demeter. What does it mean? Wired pieces of wood together with moulded wax foundations is given to the colony. Only Demeter tries to work with large frames which are completely nonpractical and not solely according beekeeping considering the charcter of bees. Demeter lays down in their standards that „Combs and brood need to grow according the developement of the colony by combs drawn out naturally, without being disturbed by frames", nevertheless the combs do not end naturally, they are enclosed in wire and frames.

More according beekeeping considering the character of bees can be called the building of natural combs for instance in a straw hive or in a Top-bar-hive (movable combs), as it can be found at the Centre for Ecological Apiculture.

Mr. Jung wants organic beekeeping to appear in an especially rosy light, in order to differentiate himself from conventinal beekeeping „clearly and dare to go the step towards the organic beekeepers". He defines the organic apiary as „Beekeeping according specific species, but easy to handle". In case of need you only have to visit him and see everthing in it’s greatness. Everybody is invited to visit his apiary so as to „make oneself a capaciously picture about an organic apiary". However, it is not all roses.

A Commander of the British Empire and Nobel prize winner once warned of those authors who show very clearly their altruism, helpfulness and greatness. Usually you should find characters where nothing but stereotyped ideas and emty definitions can be found.

Only emty definitions? Everything dulcet and not a word of truth in it? Franz Jung, author from the Bioland-beekeeper-group speaks about „Beekeeper’s cultivation" but in truth he is meaning „making artificial swarms". He talks very nice about the „Bien" and the „poetry of agriculture" but according his wishful thinking he is meaning artificial insemination, grafting or unnatural swarm prevention. He differenciates between organic and conventional beekeeping, where no differences can be found, and makes generalizations where distinctions needs to be made.