Most Likely

My 96-year-old mother forever encourages my brother and me to take our old memorabilia, photos, and high school yearbooks home.

  I say encouraged as it was either take them home or they would be thrown out. I can't blame my mom, as she'd only held onto them for the past thirty-plus years. As I was flipping through the volume from my senior year and came across the Favorites section, I had forgotten about being voted Most Likely to Succeed. At first, I chuckled at my big '80s hair and youthful expression. But then, I started thinking about success and how we measure its value. Do we measure success by the clothes we wear or the cars we drive? Is it our bank account or popularity that drives us?

Or should we measure intangible values like sound health, happiness, and love instead? 

How do we reconcile our position in the natural world and the sustainable use of its resources? Do we exploit and look the other way, believing they will always be here? Or do we blame others, big business, and the current tumultuous political process for their mishandling of our natural resources or their greed? Do we view ourselves as inhabitants or as stewards? If the latter, what is our measure of success? 

Working among creatures inhabiting the natural world is a blessing as a beekeeper. I gauge my measure of success in maintaining healthy and productive hives.

Unless you've been living on a deserted island, you are probably aware of the plight of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). 

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), characterized by the lack of adult bees in the hive despite the presence of a living queen and immature brood, was first documented in 2006—the finger of culpability points in several directions. The first is the advent and use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Neonics were developed in the 1990s as a replacement for organophosphates. This class of pesticide is less toxic to mammals and can be applied directly to the soil where it is taken up by the plant itself, providing a targeted approach and limiting the risk of over-spray.

Another causative agent of CCD can be directly linked to the Varroa mite. The Varroa mite is a virus-transmitting parasite that attaches itself to the immature larvae, causing deformity and weakness in the adult bee. Weak hives become susceptible to pathogens such as nosema, a pathogenic gut virus usually affecting older foraging bees. They become weak and unable to return to their hive and usually die some distance away.

Backyard beekeepers during the 2022-23 year presented a higher than average colony loss. The chief culprit in this survey cited the summer colony loss directly correlated to varroa mite infestation.  

Thousands of hives are shipped nationwide to pollinate crops such as blueberries, cherries, and almonds yearly. The California almond crop is 100% dependent on the honeybee for pollination. Transportation, overcrowded conditions, and poor nutrition elevate the reported percentage of bee losses.

By now, we understand the critical role the honeybee plays in pollination. But what about honey? According to the U.S. Honey Board, Americans consumed 450 million pounds of honey in 2013. Domestic production in the same year was about 149 million pounds. So, where does all the extra honey come from? 

Importation is at an all-time high to meet the demands of the burgeoning honey market. And while South America has been a reliable source, a few suspect Asian imports have entered the commercial honey market. Did you know that commercial honey may contain up to 30% unknown additives? Doesn't that make you feel comforted?

So, what can we do to ensure the success of the honeybee? I thought you would never ask.

*Consider becoming a beekeeper. Check your zoning laws. Many urban areas approve of backyard beekeeping.

*If you are considering the above, take a class from your local bee club. And I encourage you to find an experienced beekeeper to mentor you through your first year.

*If you cannot or are not interested in keeping bees yourself, buy local raw honey from a reliable source. Remember, once honey is processed, pollen is destroyed.

*Plant bee-friendly plants and flowers with staggered blooming periods to provide a continued source of nectar throughout the season.

*Discuss spraying times with your local farmer if you live in a farming area like me. Chances are he is as keen as you are to keep pollinators alive and healthy.

*Avoid spraying in the middle of the day when most foragers are out of the hive.

*Consider planting a flower, pesticide-free zone around your fields.

*Above all, be informed and aware.

If you are still with me this far, you realize the challenges the honeybee faces. I took up beekeeping as a hobby with the idea I could make a difference. My hobby has become a desire to advocate for the bees by sharing my experiences with you. After all, it's in our best interest that the honeybee is the most likely to succeed.