http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php en-us CuteNews http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1251978730&archive=
Then someone invented a clever way to house bees that did not require them to be killed, but instead allowed people to manage and control them to some extent, arranging things so as to trick them into producing more honey for their masters than for themselves, and we became bee farmers. And that was sustainable for a while because there were still many of them and although there were also many of us, we could manipulate their reproduction so as to make more of them as we needed.]]> 1251978730 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:52:10 +0100 http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1251823495&archive=
1. Download our one-page introductory leaflet, print off as many copies as you wish, and distribute them to friends or put them on noticeboards. You can also email them to people - saves on ink!

2. Download our two-page leaflet '10 Things You Can Do To Help The Bees' and pass that around, post it on noticeboards, etc.

3. Tell your friends about Friends of the Bees!

]]> 1251823495 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:44:55 +0100 http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1251821110&archive=
We guarantee to make good use of your donations - we plan to set up teaching apiaries and to train people to teach sustainable, natural beekeeping.

We also want to create educational material for schools, to encourage children and young people to take more interest in bees of all types and recognize their importance to life on Earth.

By becoming a Friend of the Bees, you will be able to say that you are doing something to help secure the future - not only of the bees themselves, but also your children's ability to feed themselves.

In addition, we will be offering subscribers discounts on training and other events organized by Friends of the Bees.]]> 1251821110 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:05:10 +0100 http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1248956493&archive=
1. Interference in the natural lives of the bees is kept to a minimum.

2. Nothing is put into the hive that is known to be, or likely to be harmful either to the bees, to us or to the wider environment and nothing is taken out that the bees cannot afford to lose.

3. The bees know what they are doing: our job is to listen to them and provide the optimum conditions for their well-being, both inside and outside the hive.

These principles seem to me to form a solid foundation for our thinking about how we approach bees and beekeeping. As soon as we step beyond those basic principles, we find ourselves in danger of beginning to create a 'book of rules'. And it doesn't take much looking around the world today to see how divisive and destructive those other 'books of rules' have been.

'Natural', 'balanced' or 'sustainable' beekeeping – whatever name we give it – is a process, not a fixed goal. We have to remain flexible and always be on the lookout for ways to improve our approach, so everything in this book is offered in this spirit: indications of what seems to work, with the possibility that there are even better ways yet to be discovered, or – more likely – re-discovered, as there is really nothing new in beekeeping.

Phil Chandler]]> 1248956493 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:21:33 +0100 http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1248953532&archive= Natural Beekeeping Network forum, which is open to everyone interested in natural beekeeping.

We are also conscious that other insect pollinators, are affected by our activities, and we want to help find ways to find a sustainable balance between honeybees and other pollinator species.

We believe that some of the problems currently affecting honeybees are caused by inappropriate beekeeping methods, and this is what motivates our search for more benign and natural beekeeping practices.

We also believe that agricultural insecticides - particularly the neonicotinoids - are likely culprits in the widespread decline in the bee population.

So take the opportunity to do something to help the bees - you can become a Friend of the Bees now for as little as £1 per month.

If you would like to be one of the first to hear about our activities and how you can participate, please enter your name and email address on the enquiry form.]]> 1248953532 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:32:12 +0100 http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1246901083&archive= 1246901083 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:24:43 +0100 http://fotb.drogon.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1246900492&archive= 1246900492 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:14:52 +0100