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The Rural Voice, 1986-02, Page 58SATELLITE ENTERTAINMENT . AT ITS BEST 56 THE RURAL VOICE ONE MAN'S OPINION A buzzing business At this time of great financial distress, farmers are looking for ways to supplement their income. Driving a school bus has been such a standby for a long time. A number of farmers still have a small flock of chickens from which they sell eggs, or they sell chickens and geese, especially at Christmas time. We are all familiar with the roadside stands with sweet corn and fresh vegetables, and with farm signs inviting people to drop in and purchase farmer's sausage. Much of the old mixed farming has gone the way of the dinosaur much to the detriment of the vaunted "way of life" farmers fondly recall. One of the things we can learn from less developed countries is how they supplement their often substandard incomes. Take for example, a report writ- ten by The International Develop- ment Research Centre (IDRC). The IDRC is a Canadian organiza- tion that adapts science and technology to the needs of developing countries. Because it works with local peo- ple and listens to their experiences, I have admired this centre for a number of years. In the IDRC Report, mention is made of a Malaysian farmer trying to eke out an existence for his family, much like many of our own farmers do. He searched for ways to supplement his income. Last year, the farmer, Sitas Sar - to, started a bee colony which was so successful that his income soared by 25 per cent. From that income he has been able to repair his house and buy new clothes for his children. Possibly, next year, he will be able to buy them some luxuries. While honeybees were used by natives of Malaysia before this, it has always been like something biblical. Samson found honey in a lion's carcass, but more often, bee hives were found in hollow trees. Europeans had tried before to introduce higher yielding Euro- pean bees complete with hives into the country, but the bees always died after a time. The IDRC made funds available to Malaysian researchers to see what could be done with native species of bees. After four years of research, they were able to advise local farmers on disease prevention, bee starvation during the time coconut trees are not in bloom, and all the other things needed for successful beekeeping. They have developed a hive suitable for the humid climate with a simple "queen gate." This gate keeps the queen from leaving with most of the workers, and prevents wasps from entering the hive. The researchers give courses to farmers. They, in turn, pass their acquired knowledge to neighbours. Being like farmers everywhere, they make their own hives, after the model, from old nail boxes. Then they go out and capture wild bees from hollow trees and transfer them to their new home. As reported, the only obstacle to faster growth is that some farmers want to expand too fast before learning the problems and they become discouraged. Are there any farmers in our reading area who want to do the same as the Malaysians are doing? Some have already been doing this for many years. In fact, writer Yvonne Reynolds featured an apiarist in Huron County in the December 1979 issue of The Rural Voice. This winter of anguish may be used by some to study beekeeping and to build a number of hives. No one says that in our age of specialization we can't, to some ex- tent, return to mixed farming. El Adrian Vos, a regular columnist with The Rural Voice, is a freelance writer from Huron County. _1-*1-4=__Ill _ AlLin • Canadian Liquid Air Welding & Cutting Equipment • Miller Welders • Canadian Liquid Air Wires & Electrodes • Victor Welding & Cutting Equipment • Safety Equipment FOR WEEKLY DEPENDABLE DELIVERY CALL Durham Hardware & Equipment Limited 519-369-3546 409 Saddler St. W., Durham, Ont. NOG 1R0 1153 CANADIAN LIQUID AIR DISTRIBUTOR 56 THE RURAL VOICE ONE MAN'S OPINION A buzzing business At this time of great financial distress, farmers are looking for ways to supplement their income. Driving a school bus has been such a standby for a long time. A number of farmers still have a small flock of chickens from which they sell eggs, or they sell chickens and geese, especially at Christmas time. We are all familiar with the roadside stands with sweet corn and fresh vegetables, and with farm signs inviting people to drop in and purchase farmer's sausage. Much of the old mixed farming has gone the way of the dinosaur much to the detriment of the vaunted "way of life" farmers fondly recall. One of the things we can learn from less developed countries is how they supplement their often substandard incomes. Take for example, a report writ- ten by The International Develop- ment Research Centre (IDRC). The IDRC is a Canadian organiza- tion that adapts science and technology to the needs of developing countries. Because it works with local peo- ple and listens to their experiences, I have admired this centre for a number of years. In the IDRC Report, mention is made of a Malaysian farmer trying to eke out an existence for his family, much like many of our own farmers do. He searched for ways to supplement his income. Last year, the farmer, Sitas Sar - to, started a bee colony which was so successful that his income soared by 25 per cent. From that income he has been able to repair his house and buy new clothes for his children. Possibly, next year, he will be able to buy them some luxuries. While honeybees were used by natives of Malaysia before this, it has always been like something biblical. Samson found honey in a lion's carcass, but more often, bee hives were found in hollow trees. Europeans had tried before to introduce higher yielding Euro- pean bees complete with hives into the country, but the bees always died after a time. The IDRC made funds available to Malaysian researchers to see what could be done with native species of bees. After four years of research, they were able to advise local farmers on disease prevention, bee starvation during the time coconut trees are not in bloom, and all the other things needed for successful beekeeping. They have developed a hive suitable for the humid climate with a simple "queen gate." This gate keeps the queen from leaving with most of the workers, and prevents wasps from entering the hive. The researchers give courses to farmers. They, in turn, pass their acquired knowledge to neighbours. Being like farmers everywhere, they make their own hives, after the model, from old nail boxes. Then they go out and capture wild bees from hollow trees and transfer them to their new home. As reported, the only obstacle to faster growth is that some farmers want to expand too fast before learning the problems and they become discouraged. Are there any farmers in our reading area who want to do the same as the Malaysians are doing? Some have already been doing this for many years. In fact, writer Yvonne Reynolds featured an apiarist in Huron County in the December 1979 issue of The Rural Voice. This winter of anguish may be used by some to study beekeeping and to build a number of hives. No one says that in our age of specialization we can't, to some ex- tent, return to mixed farming. El Adrian Vos, a regular columnist with The Rural Voice, is a freelance writer from Huron County.