From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:07:18 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Line by line # 65 (Sugar?)

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

#65
The feeding of colonies can be undertaken to overcome temporary feed
shortages due to climatic or other exceptional circumstances. In such cases,
organically produced honey or sugars should be used if available. However
the certification body or autority may permit the use of non-organically
produced honey or sugars. time-limits should be set for such derogations.
Feeding should be carried out only between the last honey harvest and the
start of the next nectar or honeydew flow period.

The above should have reference to sugar or sugars deleted and mention
should also be made that no artificial foods should be fed at all.Natural
organic honey only should be mandatorily fed, also only natural organic
pollen.

Beekeepers should not take honey so great as to demand feeding back,
especially if on a natural biolgoical system of beekeeping. One does not rob
from flow to flow and expect to maintain healthy colonies. after a while
stress sets in, and along with it associated diseases. You do not feed
children a constant diet of junk food i.e. sugar products. Bees are no
different! Neither are artificial pollens designed to be fed constantly.

It should be stressed somewhere in the writing that the bees should also be
maintained with an unlimited broodnest scenario that would include adequate
stores of pollen and honey on hand and maintained at all times within each
colony to avoid the above scenario of having to feed. Then if in drought
emergencies of extreme length for example bringing on dearth of food, then
and only then should stores be fed and then only organic honey or pollen.

Dee