Chris Mills Beekeeping

06/12/2022

No dodo, no tree!

The Scientific Squabble Over the Dodo Tree
An extinct bird, an ailing tree, and a controversial hypothesis.
BY LAUREN YOUNG

"Temple connected these facts, suggesting that the tambalacoque tree evolved the thick shell so it could protect the seed inside while it passed through a dodo’s gizzard. Then after digestion, it would be easier for the seed to germinate."

An extinct bird, an ailing tree, and a controversial hypothesis.

03/12/2022

“It brings back into the food system food that otherwise would be wasted, sent to landfill or similarly composted"
– Lowell Scarr

In South Africa in particular, the use of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae as animal feed are being touted as a more sustainable alternative to expensive, traditional feeds. Lowell Scarr, a BSF farmer from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, says that the production of BSF larvae solves several problems, including the recycling of food waste and replacing unsustainable feed imports.

Full instructions: chrome-extensio://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/tv/gardeningaus/PDFs/BlackSoldier_Fly_Farm_Instructions.pdf
Prof François Durand: https://wereldomons.co.za/2020/07/06/maak-jou-eie-soldaatvliegplaas/ -content
Tips: https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/tips-on-starting-your-own-black-soldier-fly-farm/
Starting Your Own: https://silkwormshop.co.za/starting-your-own-black-soldier-fly-farm/

Costa meets Gavin Smith, gardener and insect enthusiast, who farms black soldier flies and their larvae in a purpose-built compost bin. Black soldier fly lar...

01/12/2022

Did you know?

December comes from the Latin word decem, meaning ten, because this had been the tenth month of an early Roman calendar.

Happy December!

30/11/2022

The president-elect of Brazil, Lula da Silva, requested a number of countries, including the UK, France, America, Canada and Switzerland, to donate money to the international Amazon fund. Between 2003 and 2010, in his first term of office, Da Silva established a fund to protect this rainforest against climate change, and received large donations from Norway and Germany in particular. However, the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, who succeeded him, froze the fund, due to so-called unfair expenses. He also allowed the large-scale deforestation of the forest, to convert it into agricultural land.

– RSG News

26/11/2022

🐝 Buy local, seasonal and environmentally friendly food.

"Seasonal food can offer better taste and be more affordable, while local food can provide freshness, reduce food miles, offer benefits to local farmers and communities and help reconnect consumers with where their food comes from."

Unfortunately, by using pesticides, artificial fertilisers and other intensive farming techniques, industrialised agriculture in this country and across the world is damaging our life support systems.

25/11/2022

Make Black Friday GREEN! 🍃

"According to Adobe Digital Insights, during last year’s Black Friday, U.S. customers spent over $9 billion online (7.95 billion euros), which is 21.6% more than in 2019. The analysis realised that Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2020 created the largest internet commerce in US history, and they hope to improve on those figures this year."

The Black Friday holiday shopping season has arrived! But are all those massive deals and tempting discount campaigns worth the price?

23/11/2022

Evolution & Fossil Record of Bees

Where did bees come from?

"Bees evolved from ancient predatory wasps that lived 120 million years ago. Like bees, these wasps built and defended their nests, and gathered food for their offspring. But while most bees feed on flowers, their wasp ancestors were carnivorous. They stung and paralyzed other insects, bringing them back to feed developing offspring in the nest."

Bees evolved from ancient predatory wasps that lived 120 million years ago. Like bees, these wasps built and defended their nests, and gathered food for their offspring. But while most bees feed on flowers, their wasp ancestors were carnivorous. They stung and paralyzed other insects, bringing them....

16/11/2022

Three simple ways to recognize a honeybee scout.
– Rusty
Honey Bee Suite

"No matter what a scout bee is looking for, she shows particular behaviours that set her apart from the rest of the foragers."

Although scout bees look for different things, they have similar behaviors, often looking lost or confused before reporting to the recruits.

06/11/2022

"Competent and registered beekeepers incur costs when carrying out a bee removal. Like a plumber, an electrician or a handyman who comes to fix up something at your premises which you cannot do yourself, the same applies to a beekeeper with knowledge, expertise and the confidence to work with dangerous creatures such as honeybees."

Link: https://www.sabio.org.za/bee-removal-services/

11/10/2022

Just a friendly reminder to the general public this swarm season. We realise that some things can get lost in translation so we have decided to help our fellow South Africans with some nifty Bee Removal communication tips:

*Who wants some free bees?*

All you have to do is remove them from this two-storey roof/under the bath/inside this unmovable container/up that tree or from this brick wall without causing any damage whatsoever – the correct terminology is "do you have a slot to come do a professional bee removal that will take you approximately three to five hours, which I am absolutely willing to pay you for."

The question about free bees usually comes loaded with a quick follow-up with "if you can’t come I will have to kill them". The correct terminology is "I am unable to afford your services but I really need some help, could you refer me to someone willing to give up some petrol, personal time, effort and hard labour in exchange for immense gratitude and a cup of coffee/ice water" (at the very least).

In response to killing them, we would have a few emotions such as sadness, anger, and disappointment, but this will definitely be paired with a bit of humour at the thought of you getting stung trying. In all seriousness, please be careful.

*We will help with a couple of safety tips:*

1. Don't jump in the pool– hell hath no fury, that girls WILL wait for you. The chances of drowning while hiding is better than this actually working like in the cartoons.
2. Run. Away. If you get stung attempting to murder bees, this is probably your own doing.
3. Hire a professional beekeeper to do a removal.

We have no more safety tips.

Finally, please stop peddling wild swarms off as though they are free. If a wild swarm is near your home it means they chose you. Pay your Beekeeper and then send the slip and your complaints to the universe for inconveniencing you, it's not our fault you are the chosen one.

03/10/2022

Swarm season is in full swing! If you see a cluster of honey bees in a tree, on a fence or chair etc, please don’t use bug spray on them.
They are a travelling mass of bees called a “swarm”, who is in search of a new “home”.

Please call me at 081 813 6700 to rescue the swarm of bees.