Werner Gysi

Sorry, this is Sep 2020 and I returned from a 6 year around the Glove sail. Back on land now and updated my website. Some of the links posted 8 years ago below may not work any longer. I generated a new website. Please use it instead or use the Contact form if you like to ask questions about holistic management of bees or growing food. The books Harmonic Farming: Bees and Harmonic Farming: Homesteading are all still available at http://www.goolymooly.ca. Thanks.

Werner Gysi wrote:How to keep bees without chemicals and antibiotics. I have done this for over 30 years now and I think it is time to share some of my knowledge.

For those that like to work their apiary in a sustainable, holistic way here is what I did with my bees yesterday, April 10/11. The 5 minute movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY6JhtfPF4w will show how to manage the varroa first thing in the spring.

For those that are following up on SMC (Sustainable Mite Control, on my web page under Holistic Hive Management ( http://goolymooly.ca/data/publishing/werner_insidebook_bees.html )) Under the tab Holistic Hive Management I added the management regarding "Drone Frame Removal" and describe when and how I remove drone brood. It is not culling existing brood but removing frames introduced during the management when the dandelions flower (see other tab). I hope to be of help with all the information I shared about how I manage the varroa mite without using chemicals but just management. This is the last step in doing so and your bees should be as strong as mine have been for the past 6 years, using this approach.

I am on a mission to save the bees and like to share my 30 years of experience how to keep bees not using any antibiotics or chemicals but just management.

I Printed my first book in 1995 and since updated that copy in 2010. It is called Harmonic Farming: Homesteading, with a lot more information gathered over another 15 years. I also split the original book into two, just for homesteaders and for the beekeeper, called Harmonic Farming: Bees (printed 2011).

I will be on a tour across Canada, tomorrow April 13/2012, in Calgary. I will be the keynote speaker, talking about a holistic approach to beekeeping. Starts at 7p.m. at the Calgary Unitarian Church, 1703 1st St. NW, $10.00, proceeds go to the Calgary Permaculture Guild. I also give a one day workshop on Saturday, also in Calgary starting at 9 a.m. For more information and my assignments in Red Deer and Edmonton (Sunday April 15/2012) go to this website http://www.backyardbees.ca/courses. On April 25. I will be in Kamloops. Other confirmed dates are: Beekeepers' Association in Thunder Bay, Orangeville and Anchester Ontario in June and July. Let me know where you are at home, because I will be conducting over 55 signing events at Chapters all across Canada, starting June 8. If you like to know more about me just google Werner Gysi (also on youtube) and you will find a lot more information about how I live in harmony with nature. For a complete list of events and dates call up this link: http://goolymooly.ca/data/publishing/events.html

How to keep bees without chemicals and antibiotics. I have done this for over 30 years now and I think it is time to share some of my knowledge.

For those that like to work their apiary in a sustainable, holistic way here is what I did with my bees yesterday, April 10/11. The 5 minute movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY6JhtfPF4w will show how to manage the varroa first thing in the spring. As I work with nature I use "natural pointers" to manage bees. These pointers are very critical in order to be in harmony with nature and at the same time help the beekeeper to structure her/his management. The first "natural pointer" is the pussy willow showing us that fresh pollen is available and this triggers the queen to lay a lot more eggs (hazelnuts will be at about the same time). The next "natural pointer" is when the temperature (in the shade) reaches 15 degree C, sunny and no wind. The attached movie will show the management at that time. Hope some of you can adapt this kind of management. I will keep you posted on the next management, the natural pointer being the "dandelions flowering" but you can already read up on this at: http://goolymooly.ca/data/publishing/werner_insidebook_bees.html . Use the tab Holistic Hive Management and then select the tab that interests you. These are all pdf files. Feel free to print them out to carry to your apiary. I would appreciate if you would refer to this method as SMC (sustainable mite control) by Werner Gysi. I am on a mission to save the bees and will travel across Canada this summer, starting June 8. in Calgary till August 12., reaching as far as Ottawa, ON. I have over 50 events confirmed, some to beekeeping associations. If you like to invite me please contact me.

As a homesteader working the land for 30 years now I have seen a lot. I have put down my experience in a couple of books called Harmonic Farming: Homesteading (2009) and a new one Harmonic Farming: Bees (2011) so others can have a faster learning curve.
However, what is happening to the bees all over the world now is outrageous. Someone has to stop the insanity of agribusiness at the cost of an ecosystem or we will be in big trouble. As it is, our ecological footprint, according to WWF, is way above the sustainability of our planet. I can't even have my own corn seed any longer, as GMO crops are grown close by. And now those crops are sprayed with pesticides that do not hurt the plant but obviously kills millions of bees. Who wants all this? Are we a minority?

For anybody that likes to be independent I put down my experience in the book Harmonic Farming: Homesteading (March 2010). The information suites all areas where there are dandelions growing. It covers veggies, fruits, nuts and berries, as well as animal husbandry and structures. Have a look at the TOC and chapter 1 on this site:
http://goolymooly.ca/data/publishing/werner_insidebook_homesteading.html
To order use this link
http://goolymooly.ca/data/publishing/store_werner.html

There is also Harmonic Farming: Bees. This book shares my experience with bees using a holistic approach. You can read chapter 4 if clicking on the book cover http://goolymooly.ca/data/publishing/store_werner.html
It can be ordered now at a reduced price and will be available in March 2011.

darien wrote:
Has anyone any experience with keeping bears out of or away from compost piles? We're new to living in the foothills of the Cascades and have found that bears frequent our land... and eat apples, berries, and apparently rummage through the compost. Is there any solution that does not involve elaborate electric fencing?

Try marking your territory, pea around the compost. Throw your wood ash on top of the compost or use lime to cut down on the smell that attracts the bear. Don't throw fish smelly stuff on the compost. However, if the bear is desperate he will eat whatever there is. They are very considerate and would not take from such a compost heap (covered with lime and/or ash) if not in trouble. So you may have to live with it.