Not a good year, like so many other beekeepers we lost our hives- bees just absconded.
From looking after 10 hives myself,i am down to one strong Hygienic hive - ie I have never treated this hive for anything.
I also chose not to take any honey off this hive to keep them as strong as possible. Currently a Deep and Three supers which were full when last checked in September.
Hoping this winter is not too bad on the bees and can start rebuilding next season.
Any boys interested in learning , please contact me
Boy Scout Beekeeping Merit Badge Project
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Monday, April 8, 2013
Two new Beekeepers !!!
Jack and Dylan finished up all their requirements for the merit badge and thus have earned the Bee Keeping Merit Badge.
Congrats
Very disappointing turn out though - only one leader myself and 2 boys, I hope the other boys and participants will still be involved going forward.
We opened up the hive for an inspection, while we did not pull the whole hive apart, we did get down into the brood area and see newly laid eggs and while stores are a bit low the bees are bringing in nectar and pollen, so OK for now. We saw a few small hive beatles, no verroa in the drone brood - which is great news - and good solid activity in all 4 boxes of bees, stores are a little low compared to last time, so bees were eating a bunch while the bad weather endured, but now we are on warm to hot forecasts so will replenish soon
Joe took a number of photo's , so we will see those up here soon.
Congrats to Dylan and Jack - bringing the number of boys who completed all tasks and thus earning Bee Keeper Merit Badge to 4 out of the 9 who started. I know of three more who will probably also complete theirs in near future.
Looking to be a good season, lets all be involved and come out.
NOTE : if the times do not agree , be proactive and ask for another time and if I am available I will gladly assist you , even during the week. This is about YOU learning to take care of the bees.
To open a hive we want temps about 55, and no blowing wind and no thunder activity or rain.
Congrats
Very disappointing turn out though - only one leader myself and 2 boys, I hope the other boys and participants will still be involved going forward.
We opened up the hive for an inspection, while we did not pull the whole hive apart, we did get down into the brood area and see newly laid eggs and while stores are a bit low the bees are bringing in nectar and pollen, so OK for now. We saw a few small hive beatles, no verroa in the drone brood - which is great news - and good solid activity in all 4 boxes of bees, stores are a little low compared to last time, so bees were eating a bunch while the bad weather endured, but now we are on warm to hot forecasts so will replenish soon
Joe took a number of photo's , so we will see those up here soon.
Congrats to Dylan and Jack - bringing the number of boys who completed all tasks and thus earning Bee Keeper Merit Badge to 4 out of the 9 who started. I know of three more who will probably also complete theirs in near future.
Looking to be a good season, lets all be involved and come out.
NOTE : if the times do not agree , be proactive and ask for another time and if I am available I will gladly assist you , even during the week. This is about YOU learning to take care of the bees.
To open a hive we want temps about 55, and no blowing wind and no thunder activity or rain.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Beehive work this Sunday at 1:30
Looks like this weekend will be great weather.
--
Regards
Drone Bee
We will inspect the hive @1:30 pm Sunday afternoon sharp.
Long sleeves etc etc. lets see a great turn out. Those who still need to do the last few items let me know if interested and I will fwd the worksheet to you.
Rick
--
Regards
Drone Bee
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Hive opening this weekend March 24 at 1:30pm
We will look into our Scout Bee hive this weekend '
short session to look through the hive, ID the queen, and see on hive health.
New boys welcome, plus those who still need to finish off the last items, this is the day to do it.
Long sleeves please and water bottles.
short session to look through the hive, ID the queen, and see on hive health.
New boys welcome, plus those who still need to finish off the last items, this is the day to do it.
Long sleeves please and water bottles.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
2013 , the new bee season is upon us. Work day Sunday
Looks like we need to get together.
This Sunday , 1:30 on farm, will open hive to inspect, feed and check overall health.
Won't be long session , as my workshop is not ready for us. 30 minutes at most.
Those scouts who have not finished their beekeeping from last season can do the last tasks if hey want..... Pls let me know in advance so I can prep. A few just need the final questionnaire done, one or two need to also handle the bees first.
Will attach the questionnaire to a new post ,
Hope to see you out there in the sunshine Sunday at 1:30 till 2 pm.
Rick
This Sunday , 1:30 on farm, will open hive to inspect, feed and check overall health.
Won't be long session , as my workshop is not ready for us. 30 minutes at most.
Those scouts who have not finished their beekeeping from last season can do the last tasks if hey want..... Pls let me know in advance so I can prep. A few just need the final questionnaire done, one or two need to also handle the bees first.
Will attach the questionnaire to a new post ,
Hope to see you out there in the sunshine Sunday at 1:30 till 2 pm.
Rick
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Hive Management - Scout Evaluation
These are what we will be looking for :
Most of these tasks we have already done,
also see the tab above for opening a hive.......
Part 2 - Hive Management
- Handle Frames of bees
- Pull out a frame of Honey or Pollen – being careful not to hurt Queen
- Identify Drone bees and Queen bee
- Point out pollen, honey, nectar, brood (both capped and uncapped)
- Identify Drones cells
- If available , can you point out a Queen cell or cup?
- Can you identify eggs ?
- Explain why is a queen important to a colony of bees?
- Lift a super of honey off a hive
- Help extract the honey from the frames, by cutting off cappings and spinning out the honey OR by crush and strain method.
- Help Bottle the honey
Monday, July 16, 2012
Work Day This Coming Sunday 22nd 2pm
Sunday Afternoon 22nd July , 2pm we will work the hives
If we have thunder or IF it is raining, we will not work the hives but we will do some workshop work, so please still come..... I would like to have an idea who will be coming please,so please email me or just respond to this post in comments (that also emails me).
Remember it will be hot, have water bottles and also light colored long sleeve shirt/ long pants , BUT we will also take another look at Honey Extraction, so have short sleeves too plus clothes that will take getting sticky too.
We also need to add some wax foundation to frames, so boys who have NOT yet done this work I suggest you offer to do this..... when we start I will list out the tasks , and you boys will do all the work this time,
Important I am going to start evaluating all of you on Hive management.
From the moment we walk into the Apiary, you boys will be in charge on Sunday. We will meet under the big Maple tree at the entrance at 2pm sharp......all equipment will be already in place at the hives.
You will open the hive (doing all that you have to to make this happen- think about what you need to do before opening a hive)
You will look for Brood, both capped and uncapped, and also show us eggs
You will point out honey, nectar, and pollen stores in the hive to one of the mentors
And if lucky , find the queen
You will then close up the hive - doing everything you need to do ,(to do his correctly, think of important things you must do......)
You may ask questions at any time if unsure , this will not be a negative in your evaluation
Those who don't yet have books read up on the forum pages please, as all the relevant sections will be posted in the Tabs, and I will get you your books... $3 each
Honey extraction is HOT, Sticky work
We start by cutting off the cappings (the white wax covering the honey cells),
we then drain the comb by spinning it in an Extractor,
the room needs to be HOT, at least 96 degrees, so that the honey will flow and be spun out of the comb.
The comb is then reused and put back on the hives for the Bees to fill again, any damaged area they will fix.
If we have thunder or IF it is raining, we will not work the hives but we will do some workshop work, so please still come..... I would like to have an idea who will be coming please,so please email me or just respond to this post in comments (that also emails me).
Remember it will be hot, have water bottles and also light colored long sleeve shirt/ long pants , BUT we will also take another look at Honey Extraction, so have short sleeves too plus clothes that will take getting sticky too.
We also need to add some wax foundation to frames, so boys who have NOT yet done this work I suggest you offer to do this..... when we start I will list out the tasks , and you boys will do all the work this time,
Important I am going to start evaluating all of you on Hive management.
I would like you all to divide up into teams this Sunday and each team will work 1 hive.
From the moment we walk into the Apiary, you boys will be in charge on Sunday. We will meet under the big Maple tree at the entrance at 2pm sharp......all equipment will be already in place at the hives.
You will open the hive (doing all that you have to to make this happen- think about what you need to do before opening a hive)
You will look for Brood, both capped and uncapped, and also show us eggs
You will point out honey, nectar, and pollen stores in the hive to one of the mentors
And if lucky , find the queen
You will then close up the hive - doing everything you need to do ,(to do his correctly, think of important things you must do......)
You may ask questions at any time if unsure , this will not be a negative in your evaluation
Those who don't yet have books read up on the forum pages please, as all the relevant sections will be posted in the Tabs, and I will get you your books... $3 each
Honey extraction is HOT, Sticky work
We start by cutting off the cappings (the white wax covering the honey cells),
we then drain the comb by spinning it in an Extractor,
the room needs to be HOT, at least 96 degrees, so that the honey will flow and be spun out of the comb.
The comb is then reused and put back on the hives for the Bees to fill again, any damaged area they will fix.
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