The well-being of the bees is the top priority in biodynamic beekeeping.

Students Learn Beekeeping, Build Bee Hives
by Maharishi University of Management, Iowa, USA, The Review, Vol. 23, #13
13 April 2009

Maharishi University of Management (M.U.M.) students studied seasonal hive management and constructed nine hives, both conventional and top-bar hives, to expand the M.U.M. apiary.

The hives were artistically painted by the students, and are being added to the five colonies of bees in hives built last year by the students.

According to Alex Kachan, who taught the course, the well-being of the bees is the top priority in biodynamic beekeeping, in contrast to conventional methods where bees are pressed and stressed for maximum honey and pollen production.

He says that the current problem nationwide with Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a problem that has very serious implications for the entire food production system. "CCD is devastating not only to beekeepers but very much to farmers as well, since it threatens pollination of so many agricultural crops, thus lowering yields to uneconomical levels of harvest and shipment."

He said it is now accepted that CCD is due to the mistreatment of the bees, including feeding them high fructose corn syrup and other unnatural feed and
chemical treatments. The goal of the M.U.M. course was to teach the value and skills of local holistic beekeeping to give students the practical knowledge they need to establish their own backyard apiary or consult communities and groups who wish to establish their own apiary.

"In light of the globally spreading problem of CCD, which so far has annihilated more than 800,000 hives in the U.S., it is crucial to teach people about organic natural beekeeping and inspire them to incorporate one or a few hives in every garden, farm, and even backyard," Mr. Kachan said. "According to the experts, such diversification and decentralization is a key strategy to neutralize the affect of CCD and ensure proper pollination of so many of our food crops."

The Bee Collective, a student club, was established last year by student Elisabet Humble and Mr. Kachan to encourage all students to learn more about the art of organic natural beekeeping. The M.U.M. hives will be important for crop pollination on the student minifarm and gardens as well as for educational purposes.

© Copyright 2009, Maharishi University of Management