Cooking Up A Story

Call Of The Honeybees

Friday, June 15th, 2007
Ever since Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” first appeared, warning us against the dangers of chemicals in our natural world—we seem to be entering a new, more dangerous period, where the accumulated human effects upon the environment are producing an obvious toll. In this story, another human soul speaks out, this time, about the plight of the honeybees.

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Recipes from the episode: Honey Sweetened Apple Pie with Lemon Juice

Director’s Journal

The impetus for this story originated over the past several months. A number of alarming stories were coming from news outlets that honeybees were facing a mysterious syndrome— Colony Collapse Disorder— that was leading to substantial population declines of honeybee colonies throughout areas of the world.

  • queen honeybee
  • honeybee carrying pollen
  • Lynn Royce with her honeybee colonies

I asked a friend of mine, who happens to be an entomologist, if he could refer me to a honeybee expert. He said, funny I should ask, he had just gotten out of a conference, and it’s being considered a big deal. He referred me to a couple of experts that included Dr. Lynn Royce.


After talking to Lynn, it was clear that our story would not be just about this disorder.


It would also be about Lynn and her passion for these bees, and an impassioned voice speaking on their behalf, and that of the environment. As Lynn warns in the piece, Colony Collapse Disorder, is a serious problem we must face with scientific honesty, or risk tremendous consequences not only for the honeybees, but for our species, as well. Honeybees are vital to human agriculture.


Through care and management of her own hives, she is attempting to breed bee colonies that are resistant to a devastating parasite, the varrora mite. If her breeding efforts succeed, it may point the way toward developing commercial strains of honeybees that will be resistant to this mite, reducing the impact of at least one important stressor likely contributing to the Colony Collapse Disorder.


Of course, we also were able to sample some of the honeybee’s honey. That was the sweetest part of this story.


—Fred


Additional Resources


4 Responses to “Call Of The Honeybees”

  1. David Meade Says:
    June 21st, 2007 at 2:27 pm

    Very interesting episode. Great site, I’ll be subscribed!

    - Dave

  2. Michael Tyas Says:
    June 30th, 2007 at 1:31 pm

    Hi There! I recently subscribed to your show and really love it. I\’m going into Environmental Studies at university and would like to focus on food. I am inspired by your stories.

  3. Beth Says:
    November 11th, 2007 at 7:32 pm

    Over here in the UK the honeybees are disappearing too. Cell phone masts play a huge part with the low numbers of bees and butterflies. The radiation emitted by the masts is on a similar wave length to the mating vibrations of the insects, confusing them and they can’t find mates. The colony collapse may be due to a number of sources as said in the video. I think indigenous wisdom would say that they are not happy living with us anymore, and who could blame them.

  4. Adeline Says:
    December 13th, 2007 at 3:16 am

    Beth, you are damn right about the cell phones!

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