From: RSBrenchley@aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 15:06:41 EDT
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Just what is Biological Beekeeping?

> Just what is biological beekeeping and is there a difference from organic
> beekeeping? Figure we need input, so how do the various members of this
> discussion group view the two. Now I also ask you---------BE SPECIFIC.

I'd suggest that organic beekeeping would be beekeeping without the use
of chemicals which would upset the organic food industry. I'm not sure which
chemicals would come under the ban - fluvalinate obviously would, but what
about formic or thymol? It probably depends on who you're selling to.

Biological beekeeping would be organic, but would include factors of
little or no interest to the consumer of 'organic' honey, who would be
unlikely to care, for instance, what comb size was in use. Essentially, I see
it as a return to a type of beekeeping which avoids unnecessary and
'unnatural' interference with the broodnest involving the use of
technological methods beyond simple stuff like moveable frames, whether by
chemicals, artificially enlarged foundation, or other comparable methods.
That's a clumsy definition, but I hope the meaning is reasonably clear.

Regards,

Robert Brenchley

RSBrenchley@aol.com