Miners, keepers: Could bees be the answer to West Virginia’s coal slump?
In Summers County, West Virginia, what was once a booming coal-fueled economy has diminished as coal usage in the U.S. has dropped to its lowest since 1979. The Appalachian Beekeeping Collective based in Summers County is hoping to help the economy by introducing former coal miners and low-income West Virginians to beekeeping. The Collective plans to pay the new beekeepers for the honey they produce to supplement their income and introduce a new kind of natural resource to West Virginia.
A creative way of making new jobs in areas that have dying industries. I am sure there are others.
What are your thoughts?
Should be some decent honey with all the mountain laurel in the woods
It depends on the area. I remember a drive in the mountains with my mom and aunts where they were surprised to find mountain laurel, because it was rare there. That was when I was in college, and it was the first time I'd seen it.
You're right. It was pretty abundant where I grew up.
My neighbor has a lot in his woods. I don't have any. But he's at a higher elevation than me.
I've never heard of mountain laurel being used that way
An excellent idea - serving two important purposes. First of all, there have been reports that the bees are dying out, so this will be an important boost, but secondly, the coal miner families need the income.
Thanks for posting this, Perrie. My cousin in Kanawha County, WV has taken up beekeeping. He's an electrician, not a coal miner, but he's found it to be a great way to supplement his income, and he's also helping the bee population to survive.
A darn good idea that serves two purposes. Income and contintued survival of the bees.
Great idea, and I think greenhouse growing even using solar would be a great job creator for year round jobs lowering food costs for the entire region giving the state a boost.
Did you know that dandelions are one of the first flowers a honey bee visits in the spring?
I think of dandelions as low profile sunflowers
I like that!
Damn! I thought I was the only one to think that!!!
It's almost like calling Walmart the ugly step sister of Target, kinda LOL!
I found these to be an interesting take on the word...
" Dandy Lion: (Re)Articulating Black Masculine Identity seeks to distinguish the historical and contemporary expressions of the Black Dandy phenomenon in popular culture. The first comprehensive exhibition of its kind, this project highlights young men in city-landscapes who defy stereotypical and monolithic understandings of Black masculinity by remixing Victorian-era fashion with traditional African sartorial sensibilities."
Dandy Lion: Lions that are extremely happy or playful .
I have a good friend who is gay and self identifies as a "Dandy Lion" which he said was the gay version of a "cougar" which is why I looked it up to see if that was a commonly used definition, but I only found the two above, though the urban dictionary definition does sort of hint at it.