Yep that is what happened two Saturday s ago, I was introducing a scout from Troop 106 , and his dad, to the concept of beekeeping, and we walked up and saw a very small bundle of bees in the grass.
I poked around a bit and found a queen, very neat !! Had to run up to the house to get my bee box and queen clip, and returned in time to easily catch her.
Left the clip on the ground with other bees while I prepared a nuc for her. Took but 3 minutes before 5-6000 bees were flying above us. Very cool feeling, and the sound was amazing . And within 5 minutes they had calmed down and started to walk back into the hive.....nothing to see here, move along now.
So we caught a swarm before it swarmed, neat! Also discovered that one of my Wayne's hives seems to have lost their queen too, and had been overrun with Slimy damn larvae of SHB. Lost about 6 frames so far. Took them out into the sun about 50 ft away and let the bees take can of them. Will pull the honey supers before they get infected too.
Such is beekeeping, Win one, lose a bigger one.
The beekeeping books have been returned from the printers, they look fantastic.
Boy Scout Beekeeping Merit Badge Project
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Bees are still working
Ok scouts , scouters and parents
The bees are working away and we need to be sure we stay on top of the hives.
SUNDAY 2pm,1st July..... we will work our hives, and maybe do some honey extraction if everything ready.( me more than anything else) it is very hot and sticky job , so be prepared. long sleeves and pants for working the hives and shorts for honey work.
I am almost done with our worksheets, and as I'm sure you already know our books are printed , so everyone will get a book. I ask only my direct costs , $3 each please, I am going to give them all out and expect you to settle with me in your own time, some extra books are still available, not many as I have sold a few on the forums too, to other folks who are working or will work with scouts or youth.
I would like each scout to have a worksheet and we will begin signing off all the functions you have done, like I said originally , we will do all of the Merit Badge requirements, and those that complete , we will embroider a badge onto your sash.
For those boys who have attended most sessions, you have done more than half the requirements, some need to be hands on in the hive and we will need to do some oral work near the fall , based on the book. Describing the 3 bees in a hive, some basics on the pests and disease we face in NC, etc
Pls let me know your attendance this weekend
The bees are working away and we need to be sure we stay on top of the hives.
SUNDAY 2pm,1st July..... we will work our hives, and maybe do some honey extraction if everything ready.( me more than anything else) it is very hot and sticky job , so be prepared. long sleeves and pants for working the hives and shorts for honey work.
I am almost done with our worksheets, and as I'm sure you already know our books are printed , so everyone will get a book. I ask only my direct costs , $3 each please, I am going to give them all out and expect you to settle with me in your own time, some extra books are still available, not many as I have sold a few on the forums too, to other folks who are working or will work with scouts or youth.
I would like each scout to have a worksheet and we will begin signing off all the functions you have done, like I said originally , we will do all of the Merit Badge requirements, and those that complete , we will embroider a badge onto your sash.
For those boys who have attended most sessions, you have done more than half the requirements, some need to be hands on in the hive and we will need to do some oral work near the fall , based on the book. Describing the 3 bees in a hive, some basics on the pests and disease we face in NC, etc
Pls let me know your attendance this weekend
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