Saturday, October 29, 2005

Beehive; £40

Even the word 'bee' is a bit off-the-wall. They're fascinating little beasties with their collective conscience and their Three Muskateers-like "all for one and one for all" approach to their lives. Bumble bees are reputed not to be able to fly (an urban exaggeration, see this article), and should they defend themselves by using their sting, they die, torn apart by their faild deterrent.

They're useful though - transporting pollen about with them as they go about their frenetic nectar-searching business, fertilising plant after plant without even knowing that they're multitasking. Back at home they make wax, honey and honeycomb as they all pull together to feed their queen's hungry children. I'm amazed by their clear delineation of jobs - nursery bees, worker bees, queen, mating bees - and the fact that they're physically suited for the jobs (something to do with what the nanny-bees feed them?) that they'll spend their lives doing. I wonder whether they do hear a hive mind in their heads, or whether they just have a really strong sense of community and of 'doing unto their neighbour'. Humbling and intriguing all at once.

We don't have that, we humans. If the 225 richest families in the world gave just 4% of their wealth that could give access to basic nutrition, health care and education for the whole world.
Not just interesting buzzy things, bees - maybe they could do seminars in care for the community for us.

Not just interesting to this couple too; honey = money for them - as well as its well-known health benefits & the fact that it tastes nice!
[ Send a Cow catalogue, www.sendacow.org.uk ]

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