Biodynamic beekeeping
Biodynamic beekeeping keeps bees true to their nature — oriented on the colony as an organism, with natural comb building, swarm increase and winter feed enriched with herbs.
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What is biodynamic beekeeping?
Biodynamic beekeeping carries the founding idea of biodynamics over into the keeping of bees: the colony is understood as a single organism, comparable to the farm organism, whose natural life processes should be disturbed as little as possible. In 1923 Rudolf Steiner gave a series of lectures on the nature of bees in which he warned against a form of beekeeping aimed one-sidedly at yield and breeding, and foresaw long-term consequences for bee health. These lectures count as one starting point of beekeeping true to the nature of the bee.
Practice true to the bee
What marks it out are practices that follow the colony’s natural behaviour rather than steering it as far as possible:
Natural comb — the bees build their comb themselves rather than on industrially pre-stamped foundation; the size and shape of the comb is left to the colony. Swarm increase — increase happens through the natural urge to swarm rather than through artificial queen rearing and making up nuclei. Restraint in intervention — no clipping of the queen’s wings, handling the colony as gently as possible, no routine chemistry. Demeter beekeeping has its own standards that make these principles binding. Beekeeping true to the nature of the bee is today established as a current beyond the anthroposophical world as well.
Winter feed and biodynamic herbs
A connection to the world of the preparations shows in the winter feed. Where feed is added for the winter, dried biodynamic medicinal herbs can be put into the feed syrup — as what is called winter feed tea. The plants used are the same ones that play a part in the compost preparations: yarrow, chamomile, dandelion and valerian, as well as stinging nettle, oak bark and horsetail. Beyond that, the most important “preparation” for bees is a good supply of forage — planting flowers rich in nectar and pollen creates the colony’s basis of life.
What Demeter beekeeping is about
Demeter has had its own standards for bees since 1995. What makes the honey is the way the bees are kept: they fly far and do not forage only on biodynamic land. The beekeeper follows the life of the colony.
The colony as a wholeThe colony is seen as one being, in its place and its time.
Increase by swarmingThe swarming urge gives new colonies and young queens.
Natural combIn a large, undivided brood chamber the bees build their own comb.
Against varroaOnly organic acids, heat and beekeeping methods such as brood removal or trapping combs.
Honey in the winter feedAs a rule, 10% honey is added to the Demeter sugar for winter.
Never heatedNeither at harvest nor at bottling; it is bottled before the honey sets.
Source
Compiled from knowledge graphic no. 22 in Lebendige Erde (4/2022); Demeter standards.
Frequently asked questions about biodynamic beekeeping
What distinguishes biodynamic from conventional beekeeping?
Biodynamic beekeeping orients itself on the colony as an organism: natural comb, swarm increase and restrained intervention rather than breeding methods optimised for yield.
What is winter feed tea?
Bee winter feed enriched with dried biodynamic herbs (yarrow, chamomile, dandelion, valerian, stinging nettle, oak bark, horsetail).
Did Steiner speak about bees?
Yes, in 1923, in a series of lectures on the nature of bees that counts as a starting point of beekeeping true to the nature of the bee.
Buy and use biodynamic preparations
Horn manure 500from €19.69View preparation →
Horn silica 501from €14.19View preparation →
Horsetail preparation 508from €14.19View preparation →
All biodynamic preparations →How much do I need? Open the preparation calculator →