Breeding a Better Bee

Michael Olson’s Food Chain Radio Show #1322

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Can we breed a bee to survive the depredations of humans?

No

Yes

Total voters: 6

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50%

50%

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GUEST: Caroline Yelle Owner & Queen Bee Pope Valley Queens

I happened to be watching a honey bee working over a lemon tree blossom when I realized that, though it was late July, this was my first honey bee sighting of the year!

Michael Olson Food Chain Radio – Queen Bees – Can we breed a bee to survive the depredations of humans?

The reason it was my first sighting of the year may have been that I simply was not paying attention, and had been taking honey bees for granted.  After all, honey bees are everywhere, right?

But maybe not!  We have built the home-scape to facilitate pollinators and birds.  Out front we have fruit trees and some of them always seem to be in blossom.  Out back we have lots of flowering ornamentals.  And after our day’s labors we enjoy spending time with our plants, and especially enjoy watching the critters fly back and forth from blossom to blossom.  In other words, I do pay attention.

When I ask others about their honey bee sightings, many pause, consider for a moment, then say, “You know, I can’t say if I have seen a honey bee this year!”

Given that the honey bee is responsible for roughly one-third of the food we eat, the lack of honey bee sightings is somewhat worrisome.  What if our little friends simply disappear?

Of course, we humans are one of the big reasons honey bees are threatened.  And since we are responsible, should we not do something to save our little friends?  And so we ask:

Leave a comment below: Can we breed a bee to survive the depredations of humans?

Tune in here, for the syndicated Michael Olson Food Chain Radio Show #1322 July 30, 2022 Saturday 9AM Pacific

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“Together, we can eat our way to economic security and personal freedom, and it won’t cost a dime and it will be so easy it will make you blush!”

Michael Olson’s Three Laws of the Food Chain

#1 Agriculture is the foundation upon which we build all our sand castles.

#2 The farther we go from the source of our food, the less control we have over what’s in that food.

#3 Cheap food isn’t!       READ MORE