doodlemaier: (Default)
[personal profile] doodlemaier posting in [community profile] bee_folk
I was kicking around the idea of becoming certified in beekeeping, today. After a whole lot of searching through the Virginia State Beekeepers Association's website I discovered that the certifying organization was, actually, Eastern Apiculture. On the website there's a tab at the top for "Master Beekeepers/Certification" On the bottom of each page concerning master beekeeping certification was a link that said "prev" and "next" and I was getting increasingly annoyed at how much clicking it was taking me just to get to where someone would actually begin with such a process. Throughout my search for "the point" I learned that they ask that you have "a minimum of 5 years as a serious beekeeper (emphasis mine) in some aspect of apiary management such as a very dedicated hobbyist (check), a commercial beekeeper, working for a commercial beekeeper or as an apiary inspector. . . . (Wait! One can be employed as an inspector and not be a master beekeeper? -2 credibility points). You'll also need a college level course in beekeeping, a letter of recommendation from someone who might, themselves, be a master beekeeper. . or not, apply and be accepted (or not) and then to pass the certification exam (within 80%) consisting of (a $50 fee) a section on theory, one on practice, and some kind of oral presentation.

And then there's the fixed-comb, wooden skep school of keeping bees for which inclusion consists of putting together some wood to form a box, and some bees. . . at which, apparently, any idiot can succeed by simply allowing bees do what they've done instinctively and unfettered for millions of years.

Historically, I've managed to destroy all interest I had in any number of subjects I professed a love for by studying the life out of them; by dispensing with any sense wonder in lieu of cold, dead facts; to trade authentically motivated and productive self-paced, hands-on, made-from-scratch, do-it-yourself learning for measured, scheduled, skull-drudging study. In this process I remembered the differences I had learned at great risk and expense in college between "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" motivation and, in turn, began to suspect that beekeeping, for me, is absolutely no different. I asked myself at that point, do I want to become certified by an hierarchical system with a proven track record of routine decline and near extinction (which at a 100% failure rate I've already a bitter, bitter taste of), or to enjoy a modicum of self-satisfying success with an anonymous group of illiterate peasant farmers who kept bees without issue for thousands of years? Do I follow a path of ancient wisdom or of modern technology? Did I want inclusion or exclusivity? I'm not saying that certification is a shill or master beekeepers don't know what they're talking about. Only that the path we choose for ourselves be genuine. . .

Clearly, I have a couple more years to wrestle with this insurrectionist, black market beekeeper's attitude. Perhaps I'll look back into certification as a master beekeeper at some point. . . or not.

Date: 2011-04-10 12:22 pm (UTC)
ext_665095: (Default)
From: [identity profile] ludditeapiary.blogspot.com
phenomenal post!

"or to enjoy a modicum of self-satisfying success with an anonymous group of illiterate peasant farmers who kept bees without issue for thousands of years"

I too have labored on the academic treadmill, spinning away semesters, and years. building Warres I found my feet back on solid ground.

great blog - thanks!

Date: 2011-04-14 12:14 am (UTC)
ext_665095: (Default)
From: [identity profile] ludditeapiary.blogspot.com
1 package Italians, 2 packages with Russian queens arriving in a few weeks - all destined for my Warres. Very excited!

So interested in following your work with spales. My one Warre (a rigorous colony) died during a 3 day stretch of severe cold weather in Maine. They starved, surrounded by honey, Appears as if they would not cross the short space into the comb above.

Uninterrupted brood nest makes perfect "bee" sense.

Profile

bee_folk: Angels of Agriculture (Default)
Bee Folk

June 2015

S M T W T F S
 123456
78910 111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jun. 11th, 2025 03:04 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios