Monday, January 30, 2012

Dates for Feb and March

Ok , we have a few more things to get ready so that we have a home for our bees when they are ready.

We need to get more frames built, and put foundation into these frames, PLUS some more painting

YES _______ PAINTING ...... so this time bring the right clothes please

Second work day.:  SUNDAY February 12th at 2pm again...... sorry but Saturdays dont work all Feb due to swim meets.If the weather is nice - ie over 55 deg with little wind we can open a hive- so be prepared with clothing.....if not sure please ask questions.

The March work day Saturday 17th - St Patrick's Day might, in fact should be a hands on day........which means bringing appropriate clothes to work inside my bee hives and handle bees.

I should have a draft of your study books ready by then...... but please read the Pages on Bee Basics BEFORE coming on Feb 12th 
There will be a simple test to do

Anyone wanting to help prior to this date , contact me as i work in the wood  shop on Bee stuff most free times, weekends always!!!

Monday, January 16, 2012

First Workday

On one of only a few cold days this winter, we started work on building our hives.
8 boys, 3 assistant Scoutmasters,  two parents and two Bee Keeping Mentors from the local club got together at the barn and split up into teams of two boys each. Some of the adults stayed real close to the heater in the corner of the barn.......LOL.

We did a quick revision of equipment, and gave each boy a handout. Not all took the handouts home, but all the info is on the Blog tab, and once the proof reading is complete, we will publish the full Beekeeping book and give one to each boy and adult taking part.

Each team had adults supervising , but the boys did the almost all the work. Two boys starting assembling Medium frames using a 10 frame assembly jig, two worked on Medium Super boxes glueing all the finger joints and putting the box into the squaring jig, two more then nailed the boxes together, and when we had a bunch of boxes ready , the last two sanded them ready for painting.

One thing I had not thought of,  was that my workbenches have been designed for my height, so we had the boys working at too high a level and moved some of the work onto the wooden floors, both inside and outside the barn.

Another oversight was 11-13 year old boys with paint brushes....... yep paint everywhere......

Joe helping Conner and Jack sand a box



Wesley, Dylan and James
But we assembled, sanded and painted all 6 hive components -3x 8Frame Medium Supers, 2x 10 Frame Medium Supers and one 10 frame Deep, we also did one Bottom board, and I started cleaning, sanding and  repairing a second hand Super and an Inner Cover.

A Great first workday and all who participated gave good feedback and I believe a great success.

Next time we will continue with Frames and also wire the frames and insert Wax Foundation into them. I will setup a better workbench for the boys next time too.

email me if any questions...... or ideas...

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