Hobbies And Interests
Apiary Location
Hives that are being kept using biodynamic practices should be located on land that is either uncultivated or organically managed. The number of colonies should also be limited to ensure that there is sufficient pollen and nectar. Accurate records need to be kept concerning the location of the hive, the seasonal movements, site description, honey yield, and colony count. These practices will ensure that the hives are being handled in a manner that is best for the bees.
Hive Requirements
Ideally, beehives should be constructed of natural materials. Wood used for hives needs to be completely free of artificial chemicals, preservatives, and pesticides. The inside of the hive can be treated with beeswax or propolis, a natural resin collected by bees. Only natural preservatives that are ecologically safe and non-synthetic should be used to treat the outside of the hive. The honeycomb within the hive will be constructed entirely by the bees, with only a thin starter strip of pure beeswax to guide them. Langstroth-type hives, Warre hives, top bar hives, or traditional bell-shaped skeps made of straw or clay can be used. In biodynamic beekeeping, the brood chamber should be large enough to accommodate all of the brood--so that the brood area is not spread across two separate boxes--in a wooden hive.
Colony Increase
Bee colony increases need to be accomplished through natural swarming. Bees should be allowed to swarm or at least to come as close to swarming as possible. Then, the resulting colony increase can be captured to form another colony. In some cases, the swarming behavior can be preempted and a new hive can be created using the old queen. Selective breeding is allowed in biodynamic beekeeping to help continue the process of developing better bee strains. Queens and packaged bees can be used if obtained from sources that follow organic or biodynamic practices.
Pest Control
No chemical pesticides are used. The goal of pest control in biodynamic beekeeping is to have hives that are healthy enough to withstand attack from pests, such as small hive beetles, varroa mites, and tracheal mites. Organic acids, such as lactic or formic acid, can be used to control mites if infestations are problematic. The less of these substances introduced into the hive, the better.
Moving Bee Colonies
Although migratory beekeeping has been practiced for thousands of years, moving bees for pollination purposes has, particularly in the United States, introduced significant stress to commercial bee populations. This type of beekeeping has the potential to contribute significantly to the occurrence of colony collapse disorder. In biodynamic beekeeping, moving hives is generally limited in distance and only to one or two times per year. Ideally, it is best not to move bees at all, if sufficient forage is readily available.
Feeding
In biodynamic beekeeping, it's important to leave sufficient honey on the hive to provide enough food for the colony to over-winter. In some cases, this will not prove sufficient, and feeding will be necessary. A sugar solution made of organically grown white sugar can be used.