Bob Cole will speak at the Watauga County Public Library Thursday, May 26. Beekeeper Speaks At Watauga County Public Library By Mike Shands and Scott Nicholson The Watauga County Public Library is buzzing with excitement this month thanks to Bob Cole. A Certified Master Beekeeper, Cole will present To Bee or Not to Bee Thursday, May 26 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the library. The free program will feature information about the importance of beekeeping to the world’s food supply, technological advances in beekeeping, a slide show and a question-and-answer session. Cole will also discuss his role as an educator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has taken him to at least 38 countries to teach others about the importance of bees as crop pollinators and how to market honey. He said bees’ most important service to humans and nature is the pollination of food crops and other plants. “If it blooms, the bees will help to pollinate it, if not fully pollinate it,” Cole said. “Without them do not expect production, and do not expect seeds for next year’s crop. “About one-third of all food consumed in this nation needs to be pollinated by bees.” But various pests such as mites and beetles have destroyed much of this nation’s wild bee population during the last three decades. “Thirty to 40 percent of all crops and other flowering plants used to be pollinated by wild bees in nature, but the bees are no longer there. They’ve been wiped out,” Cole said. “Now almost all of the pollination for a farmer’s crops must come from a beekeeper’s bees.” He used the California almond groves as an example. Cole said the groves require one million colonies of bees for proper pollination, but the shortage of wild bees is forcing growers to offer $150 for beekeepers to bring a colony to the groves for a few weeks. One way the beekeeping industry is battling pests is by attempting to genetically upgrade the bees to make pest-resistant strains. Natural Born Beekeeper Both of Cole’s grandfathers were beekeepers, and he has worked with bees since he was about 3 or 4 years old. “When you’re working with bees you’re in another world outside of what you are and who your are. You’re in the world of insects,” Cole said. “One time I was thinking of changing the way I did something with the bees, and I told my grandfather about it. He said, ‘Have you asked the bees?’ ” Cole became North Carolina’s first Certified Master Beekeeper in 1981. He has also lobbied to promote bees’ importance and the need for more educational programs in high school and college. “I’m very happy I’ve been able to help other people to become beekeepers, but we need more people to go into beekeeping to help replace the beekeepers who are retiring,” he said. “We need a new generation of beekeepers.” Members of that new generation would be able to support themselves by renting colonies of bees to farmers, Cole said. “You can make a living if you have 50 to 100 colonies of bees, but a lot of people do it on the side,” he said. Cole said pests aren’t the only hazards to bees. Many gardeners and farmers use insecticides that are harmful to bees. He said anyone planning on using an insecticide should read the label to make sure it isn’t harmful to bees. Those working with beehives must observe a high degree of cleanliness. One of the little-known facts that Cole might discuss at the library is that most of the honey native to Africa is used to make beer, not as a condiment for foods, Cole said. One of Cole’s most recent awards was the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is North Carolina’s highest citizen’s honor for public service. Gov. Mike Easley recognized Cole’s work in promoting the importance of bees to the world’s food supply with the award. U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx presented Cole with the award. Cole is a member of the Watauga Beekeepers Association, which meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Boone’s Agricultural Conference Center. The association also holds a one-day workshop each year to offer information about starting a bee colony. College Foundation Program The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) will conduct a free information session at the library Saturday, May 21 at 11 a.m. The session will deal with planning and saving for college. Those attending can learn about using the CFNC website to explore career opportunities, find the right college, apply online for college admissions and financial aid, search for scholarships and grants and learn more about North Carolina’s 529 Savings Plan. For more information about CFNC look online at www.cfnc.org or call toll free (866) 866-CFNC (2362) Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about either program call the library at (828) 264-8784. The library is located near downtown Boone on the corner of Queen and Depot streets.