Episode 284 · September 7, 2017
284: Lynn Williams on The Decline of Honey Bees
Engineering a solution to a real threat affecting honey bees worldwide.
In this episode
After a long career on both the engineering and sales sides of industrial supply, Lynn Williams started the hobby of beekeeping to increase the productivity of his family’s gardens. A decade and a half later, and with many more hives he was frustrated to find the Varroa Destructor Mite had entered the local area. Unwilling to use pesticides, he elected to use his engineering background to find a solution. 2½ years later Lynn has an all-natural organic product that terminates the Varroa Mite without harming the bees.
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Having spent decades as a problem solver, Lynn Williams was not going to let a devastating influx of a tiny but effective killer mite threaten the existence of his beloved bees. He engineered a new tool for beekeepers is proving itself as a mite killer without damaging the hive, the honey or the bees. All this and he still has another ace up his sleeve as the profits from this new product will be used to help under-privileged kids go to camp.
- His career in engineering solutions
- Starting in beekeeping as a hobby or backyard beekeeper and working up to 37 hives
- Losing 21 hives in one season to the Varroa Destructor Mite
- How the mite gets into the hive and then how they produce
- The math of mite reproduction that takes over the hive
- The research that he found that exterminated the mite
Varrora Destructor Mite
- Why the heat does not kill the bees
- Taking his background in solving problems to the hives
- Designing a new heater for the hives
- Finding the bees cleaning house and removing dead mites
- Getting certified that there are no diseases influencing the hives
- How the bee losses are affecting the industry
- Why the massive amounts of new bees are hurting the industry
- Why that is so significant to humans
- Starting to get this to the market
- Some additional benefits that are being reported
- Turning the profits into summer camps for under privileged kids
- Getting the products out the door to the customers
As well as
- His failure – He does not stop at failure, he keeps working through different situations until he figures it out
- His success – Helping the little guys and big corporations to find solutions
- His drive – He’s not sure, he has been this way since we was a little kid
- His advice – Get involved with your local beekeepers association where ever you are, and please don’t use pesticides
Lynn ’s Book recommendations:
Beekeeping For Dummies
How to reach Lynn
Website: beehivethermalindustries.org
Phone: (803) 504-9313
UrbanFarm.org/MiteKiller
Producer's note: Here is a list of events that Lynn has attended: 2017 Fall Bee Convention Schedule
- Sept. 7th Wateree Bee Association Camden SC
- Sept. 9th Charleston Area Bee Association Charleston SC Dixie Plantation Cookout & Mite Kill
- Sept. 11th Yadkin County Bee Association Yadkinville, NC
- Sept. 22nd & 23rd Alabama Bee Convention Performing Arts Center Clanton Alabama Confirmed
- Oct. 2nd Buncombe County Bee Association Asheville, NC
- Oct. 6th & 7th Ga. Bee Convention UGA Campus Griffin, GA.
- Oct. 9th Wilkes County Bee Association, NC
- Oct. 20th & 21st Tenn. Bee Convention Hyder Burks Pavilion Tennessee Tech. Cookeville Tenn. - Lynn Williams Guest Speaker
- Nov. 10th & 11th Texas Frank Mayborn Center Temple Texas
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