Beyond The Hive (though hives could be included): A vote for home "victory gardens"

A gardening columnist at the Washington Post says home gardens represent a victory against agribusiness, and for those who create them. Meanwhile, I cannot help but think bees will benefit, too.

Bees used in pesticide research are stolen

Bees being studied for the impact of pesticides were stolen from the research lab.

Beyond the Hive: New Associated Press Stylebook's food section

For those interested in food writing, here's an article on why the Associated Press decided to add a separate section on food in its stylebook.

More on "Beekeeper's Lament"

The book by Hannah Nordhaus makes the Christian Science Monitor's top 20 list of non-fiction titles to read this summer, coming in at a respectable No. 7.
Book editor Marjorie Kehe writes:

Commercial beekeeping is under siege from many directions in the 21st century, as journalist Hannah Nordhaus reveals in her fascinating glimpse into the life of a commercial beekeeper. (May)

Bears destroying honey colonies

Here's a report from Florida about a beekeeper who had a bear of a problem with keeping colonies.

New book: "Beekeeper's Lament"

Here's some news about a "How One Man and Half a Billion Honey Bees Help Feed America." The book features John Miller, a commercial beekeeper who travels around the country providing pollinators for farms that don't have them. The author is Hannah Nordhaus.

New report reveals continued honey-bee loss over last winter

The full report won't be available until later this year, but preliminary data show continued loss of honey-bee colonies. Among the findings, losses overall (from all causes) were about 30 percent over the 2010/2011 winter. The study was a joint production by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Apiary Inspectors of America. This article notes that such losses hit small, individual operators the worst, because a loss of only five colonies is huge for someone who began with only 10. The news release from the USDA can be found here. The abstract of the report is available here; this site includes links to prior surveys, but a place to sign up to be counted in the future. You can listen to an audio report here.

Foreign Policy: The Food Issue

I just picked it up this afternoon, and cannot wait to get immersed in it. Meanwhile, you can listen to the author of the lead story, Lester Brown, speak with Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air.

From China, the country that brought you tainted honey... exploding watermelons

Watermelons "treated" (overtreated?) with growth chemicals are now exploding like land mines.

Farm Aid 2011 announces date (8.13), location (Kansas City, Kansas)

Willie Nelson, John Mellancamp and friends will set up shop this summer in the heart of the flood-devastated Midwest -- Kansas City, Kansas -- on August 13.

Blake Shelton

Beyond the Hive: Blake Shelton's feel-good honey video of the summer

Yeah, it's just a country song, but lots of eye candy in the form of honey in his new video.

Why North Dakota leads US in honey production

For starters, the summers are not scorchers; for another, there is a good mix of crops, clover, etc., to help the bees create good honey. Man cannot live on Twinkies alone; bees cannot live on mono-crops.

Beyond The Hive: Help Stamp Out Hunger

Here's a reminder for you to leave food with your mail carriers on May 14, and help stamp out hunger.

Writer in Los Alamos, New Mexico, touts meadmaking

The writer talks about mead as a pleasant alternative to wine, and offers some advice on making it.

Honey production strong in California

Honey producers in California say that their bees are healthy again, that abundant rainfall has produced more flowers for bees to visit and that a tightening honey supply from the rest of the world means times are good.