Save the Honeybees in Hatfield Borough

Save the Honeybees in Hatfield Borough

SAVE THE HONEYBEES IN HATFIELD BOROUGH Sponsored by Keith & Gwendolyn Snyder

Help us take the Sting out of proposed ordinance 533.

Please send an email to the Hatfield Borough Manager and let your voice be heard in support of Honey Bees and all Pollinators, let him know you oppose this proposed ordinance: email mdefinis@hatfieldborough.comPlease be sure to copy us: savethehoneybeesinhatfieldboro@gmail.com so we can make sure your voice is heard.

Pollinators are a vital part of agricultural production. In the United States, more than one-third of all crop production – 90 crops ranging from nuts to berries to flowering vegetables - requires insect pollination. Managed honey bee colonies are our primary pollinators, adding at least $15 billion a year by increasing yields and helping to ensure superior-quality harvests, 278 Million Beehives are maintained in the United States. So why then does Hatfield Borough, located in Montgomery County Pennsylvania want to restrict Backyard Beekeeping, through the drafting of an ordinance, to do just that. The sad reality is it all started with a single complaint to get the ball rolling. What you might find so surprising, the fact all of the Borough Council Members, including the Borough Manager, and the Mayor , all sat around a table at the most recent General Borough Council Meeting, looking to pass an ordinance that will restrict and limit beekeeping, within the Borough of Hatfield to an unrealistic level without really knowing anything about Honeybees .

It became quite obvious this proposed Ordinance was drafted out of fear and not facts and science, which has been duplicated by other boroughs though-out the state of PA, thus magnifying the impact of this poorly written ordinance. Again, out of this same lack of knowledge and fear of bees, as anybody knowable with Honey Bees knows, they do not attack humans, and are not interested in people food. It did seem to be the general consensus, if it flies and it-stings, it’s a bee. Clearly not knowing the difference between Yellow jackets, Wasps and Honey bees.

After endless Beekeepers and experts from the local area, as well as the state, approached the podium, to explain the importance of Pollinators, and in particular Honey Bees, and why having more of them, and not less, is the what they should be thinking about. Dr. Vincent Aloyo who has been a beekeeper for almost 50 years, and he is a master beekeeper, he has taught undergraduate beekeeping courses at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown and Temple University, Ambler, he explained the vast differences between Yellow Jackets and Honey bees. Yellow Jackets are not Bees at all, he said they are Wasps, and they do no lose their stingers after an attack and are free to attack again and again. Wasps are much more aggressive and will sting with a vengeance for no apparent reason. Common Honey Bees typically only sting if they feel extremely threatened or if you invade their home. If a honey bee uses it's stinger, it is committing suicide, as it will die shortly after, so stinging you is the honey bees’ last resort. Honey bees are an essential part of our ecological sustainability. Honey bees, however, are in danger, and one way to help honey bees make a comeback is through “backyard beekeeping, “individuals can help honey bees by planting less grass and more flowers and pollinating plants , and also decreasing their use of herbicides and insecticides. Individuals should also consider keeping a few hives of honey bees in their back yard to increase pollination of local gardens, trees and wild flowers. Your only regret will be, why did I wait so long to find out just how great, gentle and wonderful Honey Bees are.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that honeybee populations are less than half what they were in the 1940s.Most scientists believe the honeybee’s plight has been caused by a complex set of factors, including negative effects from pesticides, various diseases and parasites, and habitat degradation. One of the most recent honeybee studies found that beekeepers lost about 40 percent of their commercial colonies in the past year — a worrisome statistic because honeybees play a crucial role in pollinating crops. In fact, many experts are afraid that their continued decline could have a major impact on human food supplies. Beekeepers have been steadily losing colonies. The number of honey bee hives in this country has decreased from 6 million in the 1940s to about 2.7 million today.

After all of the residents from Hatfield and the surrounding communities, the Apiary experts, including a master beekeeper, all presented the facts about honeybees and beekeeping, explaining the vital importance of Honeybees, and other Pollinators. It is our sincere hope that Hatfield Borough Council Members will do the right thing by re- drafting an ordinance based on facts and knowledge, as well as science of Honey Bees , not out of fear and lack of knowledge of the subject matter, they are trying to pass a law about. An ordinance that supports responsible backyard beekeeping, without placing unnecessary or redundant requirements on the Beekeeper.

All beekeepers are expected to follow Best Management Practices, as provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultural. Some of the other articles contained in the proposed ordinance seems to many , to be an abuse of power and a breach of a person’s right to pursue what their calling is in life , taking into consideration that Honey Bees pose little to no threat to community safety , on the contrary they benefit our community.

Making unrealistic limitations on Beekeeping will only hurt our community, to appease a couple residents, who out of fear, or for other personal reasons, want to decide for all of us. As of 2014 there were 3400 residents in Hatfield Borough, surely these few complainers do not represent the majority of the Residents of the Borough.

Please come out and show your support October 3rd at 7:30 at the Hatfield Firehouse, Save the Bees, because without Honey Bees humankind will no longer exist “Albert Einstein”

Help us take the Sting out of proposed ordinance 533

Please send an email to the Hatfield Borough Manager and let your voice be heard in support of Honey Bees and all Pollinators, let him know you oppose this proposed ordinance: email mdefinis@hatfieldborough.comPlease be sure to copy us: savethehoneybeesinhatfieldboro@gmail.com so we can make sure your voice is heard.