From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 08:30:35 -0800
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Chemicals again...

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

John Sewell wrote below:

> Here in UK I've been advised that vinegar painted on stale foundation will
> entice the bees into drawing it out.

Reply:

We use vinegar here to kill mold on frames. To entice bees we use lemon or
citrus extract or virgin olive oil where a problem. But really haven't
needed it in the field.

> http://nanaimo.ark.com/~cberube/toc.htm
>
> (Nice site, thank you Don) has a recipe for a 'wetting liquid' (release
> agent) for use in moulding or pressing foundation. The recipe is: 4litres
> pure water, 60ml detergent, 150ml honey and 60ml alcohol. Now the detergent
> and honey I can understand, but am a little surprised at the alcohol. (I'm
> not using

Reply:

So am I. And also, make sure the soap is as MILD as possible and
BIODEGRADEABLE and lemon scent if possible

> Don's pointer to 'elemental compounds' ties in with the 'organic' copper
> salts question nicely.
> The building blocks are supposedly these basic elements, so just when does a
> substance lose its organic label?

Reply:

When it is used in unnaturally occurring proportions like in real Nature and
environment.

>Are pollen patties a tool of biological?

Reply:

No pollen patties and neither are anything artificially added a tool of
biological beekeeping. You are mixing something with the pollen and that is
wrong. Best to feet whole unadulterated pollen in a pollen pack and the bees
will help themselves, just like either granulated or liquid honey in honey
packets fed internally to bees.

Sincerely,

Dee A. Lusby,
Tucson, Arizona
USA