Self Sufficiency Special

Beekeeping is growing in popularity in this country

Meet the beekeeper

Robert Bell lives in Cornwall with his family. He manages about 330 hives sited on organic farms around the Lizard peninsula

“Imanage my hives organically, i.e. without the use of antibiotics or artificial pesticides. Many of these chemicals are used in conventional beekeeping, particularly abroad, to combat introduced parasites and diseases that now afflict the bees. Interestingly, as much as 90% of the honey we consume in the UK comes from abroad. I have kept bees for the last 8 years, and when I started my children were seven, eight and 10 years old. They have all in their turn come with me to inspect the bees, though with varying amounts of enthusiasm! It is very easy to keep bees in a back garden. You can keep bees anywhere. They are kept on rooftops in cities all around the world (ironically, there are often more flowers and nectar available in the gardens and green spaces of the city than in rural locations where you often find prairies of sprayed monocultural arable land). Historically bees were kept very close to home, there are many examples of houses built incorporating hive cavities into the walls, and some so bees could be accessed from inside the house! Go back a century and bees were everywhere, not just kept bees but many wild bees. In the intervening years there has been a fall in beekeeping brought about firstly by changes in farming practice (roughly speaking over 80% of UK honey came from clover before the agrochemical revolution, now over 80% of UK honey comes from oil seed rape). And secondly, problems of introduced parasites and diseases, which have all arrived in the last few decades, have discouraged people from beekeeping and more dramatically have wiped out all the wild honeybees. The only honeybees you see now are those kept

by beekeepers. This has all led to a general ignorance of the honeybee and most people are petrified of them I could say that the major benefit of beekeeping is that someone has to keep them. What if no one ‘kept’ the bees? Would they survive? Would we? Last year after the Colony Collapse Disorder outbreak in the USA killed many bee colonies due to an exotic virus infection more people took notice. Certainly there are other great environmental benefits. Anyone with a fruit tree will see the benefit of thousands of extra pollinators in the area. Many species depend on insect pollination, the flowers to make seed, the species that depend on the seed and so on up the food chain; it all begins with a bee. Keeping bees awakens us to this ecological world and involves us intimately with its cycle, they educate and enlighten us. They have always done so; people have kept bees for many millennia and it is also feels very good to be part of that continuity, particularly in this modern world. There is also benefit in joining beekeeping societies and associations, meeting the experienced, idea sharing. I have not emphasized honey as it is called bee keeping and not honey making. Honey can be a fringe benefit, though not always in surplus; last year was the worst summer in 50 years and the honey harvest was poor. But what a benefit! Honey eaten straight from the hive is a great pleasure and this pleasure is magnified many times when the honey is from your own bees from your own environment. You can be sure of its purity and origin unlike most supermarket honey. The same advice goes for all those wanting to keep bees. Firstly be sure that you understand the time and commitment needed to look after

“Honey straight from the hive is a great pleasure, you can be sure of its purity”

FURTHER INFORMATION British Beekeeper’s Association bbka.org.uk Poultry Club of Great Britain poultryclub.org Domestic Fowl Trust domestic fowltrust.co.uk Rare Breeds Survival Trust rbst.org.uk British Waterfowl Association waterfowl.org.uk British Goat Society allgoats.com

them. The standard plan is: Make sure that there won’t be a problem with siting your bees with respect to others, including yourself and your family – maybe that hive next to the washing line wasn’t such a great idea! Read as much as you can about honeybees and beekeeping – ‘Guide to Bees and Honey’ by Ted Hooper is personally and widely recommended, read it twice! Find a local beekeeper and try to get as much hands on experience as you can. Joining the local beekeeping association (every county has one) can be a way of finding a keeper or easier is buying some local honey; the address is on the label. Some also have courses and evening classes. They can also provide the ‘nucleus’ of bees that is the start of their new colony. For families with young children the culture and nurture of any living thing teaches us so much, and at the least it teaches not to be frightened of bees. An old farmer often asks about the well being of my hives, saying, “what’s good for the bees is good for all of us” and he is right, we are connected more closely with the bees than we might first realise.” n

40 The Green Parent | Self Suf ficiency Special
In case of sun burn Carefully cool the area with cool compresses. Then apply fresh aloe vera gel or an after sun lotion to the affected area. Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. A rehydration drink can be made using 1 part water, 1 part apple juice, 1 tsp salt and 1 tbsp honey. Mix thoroughly and offer to your child as frequently as possible. Afterwards, ensure that the skin has healed before exposing to the sun again.

Play safe in the sun A baby’s skin is five times thinner than an adults and the outer protective layer is not yet fully developed so it is important to keep your baby covered up in the sun. Susannah Marriott, author of Green Babycare (£12.99 DK) says, “The best cover up is not a chemical sunscreen. The least worrying product is a sunblock, which usually contains ingredients such as zinc or titanium dioxide that sit on the skin’s surface, deflecting harmful UV rays. These types of products usually tinge the skin white.” The best choice of all is to cover up with a wide brimmed hat and loose fitting clothing; hemp and bamboo are naturally UV resistant fabrics.

Bamboo is

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these shirts mak e

great beach

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Bamboo sunshirt in pink

£18, tattybumpkinshop.com

Children’s Health Summer ailments can be treated using natural methods – here we look at bites and stings planting marigolds, which help to keep some insects at bay. If he gets bitten again, give Rescue Remedy immediately and follow with homeopathic remedy Apis for stings that are red, swollen and painful. Insect venom is often acidic so using a paste of baking soda and water on the bite can help reduce the pain. If your son is going to be outside often, consider getting a venom extractor, a small pump that gently pulls the venom out by vacuum, easing the pain right away. It is a very simple and effective device that doesn’t hurt at all to use and is available from many outdoors shops. Auromira Parks is our resident naturopathic doctor, see auromira.co.uk .

v

u

w

x

Natural treatment for bites and stings u Living Nature Manuka oil and honey gel, £12, greenfibres.com v Essential Care organic first aid lotion, £9.95, willowtrading.co.uk w Sting Ease Fresh Herb Spray, £4.99, totallyherby.com x Dr Burt’s Res-Q ointment, £4.95, johnlewis.com

Ask Auromira

QWhen my seven year old got stung last summer his arm swelled up and was very painful. I want him to have the pleasure of being able to play outside without worrying about insects but I am worried that he might be allergic to stings or suffer from anaphaylactic shock. Can you recommend any preventative or treatment if he gets stung? Jen, Hants AIt sounds like your son had a nasty sting last summer. Thankfully there are several things you can do to help him avoid future stings or to ease the pain if he happens to get stung again. Local swelling and pain are normal reactions to some insect stings. However, if you are at all concerned that he may have a serious allergy to insect venom, it would be wise to discuss this with his doctor, as anaphylactic shock is a medical emergency. Symptoms of a serious allergy include difficulty breathing, nausea or swelling of a larger area of the body (not just the sting site). To help avoid future stings, choose light coloured clothing for your son and avoid perfumed products that may attract bees. Using cedar, peppermint or citronella oils can help deter insects as well as eating garlic as part of his usual diet. If you have a garden, consider

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