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Looking to start local NATURAL beekeeping group (Lakeland/Polk County, FL)

5K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  greenbeek 
#1 ·
.

I posted this on my local craigslist today.

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to post it here, either:

Looking to start local NATURAL beekeeping group (Lakeland/Polk County, FL)

http://lakeland.craigslist.org/grp/3098057184.html

I have been trying to find like-minded bee keepers (or bee guardians) in the Polk County area who share common views regarding
how bees should be treated - or NOT treated - for that matter. I have had no luck in finding such a group.

I am interested in forming (or helping to form) a group of minimalist bee keepers/bee guardians who have similar beliefs
as such trailblazers as Michael Bush, Corwin Bell, Dee Lusby, Phil Chandler, Kirk Anderson and many others.

There is a group in Los Angeles called 'Backwards Beekeepers' formed by Kirk Anderson of which I would consider the perfect
model to go by. http://www.backwardsbeekeepers.com/

If you are also interested in forming such a group which puts the bees first instead of perpetuating the outdated, large, commercial operations, then please contact me
and let's see if we can find more than 3 people in Polk County who also share similar beliefs.

I heard it put very well in a video I watched recently regarding 'urban bee keeping' of which a wise lady said the following:

"Instead of one bee keeper having 200,000 hives, we should shoot for 200,000 people having one hive."

Here are some inspiring videos and audio regarding this philosophy:

"America's only urban beekeeping store on rescuing honeybees"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiqWPjSC-dA

"Urban Beekeeping | Subculture Club - featuring Kirk Anderson of Backward Bee Keepers"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjiePi0_Nh4

"Short audio piece of Corwin Bell being interviewed concerning Bee Guardianship"
http://www.kvnf.org/news/news-archives/chautauqua-corwin-bell
 
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#2 ·
PatBeek,
I'm a bit further north of you (St. Augustine) but I would enjoy trading advice and information with other natural beekeepers. My family has been keeping bees since the 1950's and has never relied too much on any chemicals, although I think I am the pioneer of the family in the I.P.M and completely chemical free beekeeping. I'd enjoy hearing what other methods people use, wish you luck in your endeavor.
Eric
 
#3 ·
I"m about 2 1/2 hrs away but if you started a group I'd like to visit at some point and I would work in a camping trip or something fun. Please contact me if you get a meeting started. Thanks.
 
#4 ·
Ramona and I will both be speaking at the conference in Ocala in Aug (the 18th I think) . Probably focusing on breeding, but perhaps a version of our "developing a treatment free northern apiary" geared towards.southern beeks.

Deknow
 
#8 ·
Hello!
I am very glad to hear of your intentions to start a natural beekeeping group :)
I am a new beekeeper, currently studying in England with the Natural Beekeeping Trust. I am moving to Sarasota in the next few months and would like to share what I have learned as well as learn from other natural beekeepers in the area. I am interested in sharing about the biodynamic sunhive initiative, started in Germany, which offers bees a very compelling housing option. I intend to return with the capacity to teach workshops in the creation of these amazing hives.
I am new to this forum and will look forward to getting together with other guardians of the bees!
All the best.
 
#9 ·
Hey Pat!

I think I got in touch with you a year or so ago (jumping the gun, for which I'm the gold-medal champion!) to get some of your TBH nucs. Have you had any success getting a handful of like-minded beeks together? (I'm in NW Citrus County, about 2.0 hours from Lakeland but a DURN sight closer to you than to say, Michael Bush or Kirk Webster :))

I know I'm responding to this thread about 4.5 years after the fact, but still V E R Y interested in connecting with like-minded bee guardians!

"S E R I O U S L Y" interested in a nuc for this spring, Lord willing :cool: and referred a lady in Tampa to you for a possible removal (hive in a hollow tree!)

Peace,
Joseph
 
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