Today we talk with George Langworthy, writer and director of a new film called the Vanishing of the Bees. www.vanishingbees.com.

We're also joined by Max Wong, a beekeeper associated with Backward Beekeepers.http://www.backwardsbeekeepers.com/

Bees across North America are "disappearing," the likely victim of a new generation of pesticides known as systemic pesticides. France faced a similar experience 15 years ago and banned them. Langworthy's film is now available on DVD and through itunes. A local solution (while we wait for the EPA to wake up and smell the coffee) is to keep bees locally. Ironically bees are now happy, if not happier in urban environments where they are relatively free of pesticides and monoculture farms.

If you've got a swarm you'd like to part with call the Bee Hotline 213 373 1104.

You can re-hear the show at http://soundcloud.com/deadlinela/become_a_backyard_beekeeper.