Better Beekeeping, Naturally and Biodynamically

摘要

"One way to help raise the health and vitality of the colony is to offer the bees an herb tea in late winter and early spring. What are needed are herbs that stimulate and heal the metabolic processes of the queen as well as the workers. We have achieved good results with the following formula: "Prepare a mild tea by pouring boiling water over a mixture of chamomile, yarrow and dandelion flowers, leaves (and stems) of peppermint, rue, hyssop, horse tail, stinging nettle and thyme. Tea made of oak bark that has been soaked overnight can then be added to the other tea. Sweeten this with just enough spring flower honey to make it palatable for the bees. Two or three such tea offerings are enough to strengthen their intestinal and metabolic functions. These teas should not be overpowering. You should be able to drink them yourself. Homeopathic amounts are usually more effective in their stimulating function than 'sledge-hammer' solutions. (The same holds true for human consumption, of course.) Certainly other healing herbs native to the American continent can be added."