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Updated: 1:49 AM Feb 4, 2008
Bees Provide More Than Honey
WTAP News A nationwide die off of honey bees last year isn't worrying officials in West Virginia. The number of bees killed was less than most states but emergency supplemental feed was handed out at the 2008 Honey Bee Expo Saturday. Speakers at the Expo talked about the importance of this insect in our everyday lives.
Posted: 8:50 PM Feb 2, 2008Reporter: Leslie Cebula Email Address: leslie.cebula@wtap.com |
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The 2008 Honey Bee Expo at the West Virgina University at Parkersburg was about more than just beekeeping.
"I have multiple sclerosis, and I've got over 400,000 bee stings in my body, and I've been able to walk better now than I was before I started the bee stings," said Floyd Alexander, Apitherapist.
Alexander of Warren, Ohio practices Bee Venom Therapy and taught a session on the treatment Saturday.
"We place a bee sting on you and the calcium is destroyed by the venom therefore mobility comes back and allows you to move much freely than you did before," he said.
Andrea Garnes has a hive at her home that she says is the one thing that's helped her the most since she was diagnosed with M.S. 29 years ago.
"It helped me a tremendous lot and I wouldn't be where I am now if i didn't have it," Garnes said.
The medicinal purpose is one of the many of the honey bee.
"One bite out of every three bites of food, you can directly thank a honey bee pollination for," said George Clutter, West Virginia State Apiarist and Inspector.
Direct pollination in crops like apples and watermelons but also secondary pollination in alfalfa that feeds cattle that we eat is also made possible by the honey bee.
"So we would be facing food shortages if it wasn't for the work of the honey bee," said Clutter.
But there was a time when even Alexander thought he didn't need bees.
"It took me about two years and then I went and got stung and then and all of a sudden I started to wiggle my toes, and I hadn't done that in years and I've been doing it ever since.
More than 200 people came out to learn about beekeeping, see new products available for beekeeping, and more at the Honey Bee Expo sponsored by the Mid-Ohio Valley Beekeepers Association Saturday.
Other sessions included information on the basics of beekeeping, honey, flowers and nectar sources, and much more.
For more information on Bee Venom treatment call Floyd Alexander at 330-898-3545.
If you're interested in learning more about beekeeping you can also call George Clutter with the WV Department of Agriculture at 304-257-0251.
