With all the stories in this issue of Seaside, I have to say that my favourite is our “Can We Talk” interview (pg. 10) with local beekeeper, Matt Ashmead.
When you meet this unassuming yet very enthusiastic-looking Saanich firefighter, you would never imagine the connection and passion he holds with these special creatures; it really got me thinking.
Imagine this: our pollinators, including honeybees, are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat and approximately $2 billion annually for the agricultural industry. Honeybees are always working, and they travel incredible distances to collect pollen; it’s because of these amazing journeys that we are able to enjoy many foods like cucumbers, pumpkins, cherries and apples.
But our bees are disappearing! The danger that the decline of bees and other pollinators represents to the world’s food supply is highlighted by some parts of the country banning a class of pesticides, known as neonicotinoids, suspected of playing a role in what Matt describes as “Colony Collapse Disorder” (CCD). Other factors causing CCD include widespread use of pesticides and fungicides, pests and parasites, weather, disease and nutrition. Global warming accelerates the growth of pathogens such as mites, viruses and fungi.
After doing a bit of research, I read about how California’s almond orchards, spreading across 800,000 acres, require 1.6 million domesticated bee colonies to pollinate the flowering trees and produce what has become the state’s largest overseas agricultural export. But given the widespread bee losses to CCD, California almond growers were able to pollinate their crop only through an intense, nationwide push to cobble together the necessary number of healthy bee colonies.
The disappearance of honeybees has transformed into a global epidemic. Since 2006, North American migratory beekeepers have seen an annual 30 to 90% loss in their colonies; non-migratory beekeepers noted an annual loss of over 50%. Similar losses are reported in Canada, as well as several other countries in Europe, Asia, and Central and South America.
Probably the most common bee controversy ever is associated with a quote from Albert Einstein, who allegedly said: “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.” Perhaps why this created a huge buzz was because it was rather unimaginable for Albert Einstein, neither a bug scientist nor an expert in bee keeping, to make this statement.
Whether Albert Einstein ever talked about bees becomes an irrelevant concern in light of a more important one, like the question asked to Matt: “In what ways can we help protect our pollinators?” In summary, he says: “Remember: bees are intrinsically linked to human survival. It is time we started listening to their ‘buzz!’ ”
A couple of facts about our fearless friend: honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins and minerals, and it’s the only food that contains “pinocembrin,” an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning. The bee’s brain is oval shaped and only about the size of a sesame seed, yet it has remarkable capacity to learn and remember things and is able to make complex calculations on distance travelled and foraging efficiency.
I’ve just rediscovered my best friend!
