| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kathy A. |
Posted - Aug 25 2004 : 07:50:09 AM
Hello Everyone , Is there anyone out there reading the forum, who is also a Bee keeper? There is a long chat in the reading room, about the book "The Secret life of Bees" A very entertaining and interesting read. It has rekindled my passion for bee keeping. I am not exactly a bee keeper, more like - the assistant to the bee keeper- but, at one time my husband and I had 200 hives which kept us extremely busy. We are now planning a move to a more nothern cooler climate, and when we do I'll have bees on a much smaller scale maybe not more than 3 or 4 hives. I'd like to chat with other lady bee keepers and I especially need to learn what to do to keep them as organic as possible. Bees are suseptible to disease and mites, and location is a big issue. Of course it's all worth the effort. The Author of the book did an excellent job on researching bee lore, and fact, it's full of fascinating information even if you never intend to get near a hive. I've started my bees wax candle production, and when I get back to it I'll be using low tech (hand crank) equipment, this time it will be more for fun and passion than for profit. Are there others on the forum who have a mild to extreme interest in BEES?
Farmgirl/gardener-Potter/Poet |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| almostidaho |
Posted - Jun 09 2006 : 10:23:06 AM
Nice to see all the other beekeepers out there. I've a few thoughts to add.
About "The Secret Life of Bees:"
Everyone raves about this book. Honestly, it let me down. I felt it was a terribly formulaic 'Women's Book' with all the stock characters and plot devices publishers use to target middleaged women like me. I don't like to be a 'target,' thank you very much. There were even a few bee facts the author included which didn't coincide with my experiences. But since beekeeping is one of those endeavors which is very adaptable to place and climate, I just figured we had had different experiences in beekeeping.
I found Sue Hubbell's "A Book of Bees" to be far better written and satisfying. I've just checked my bookshelf and discovered it's gone - whoever borrowed it must have liked it enough to keep it! Better buy another copy to pass around.
About mites and other nasties which threaten bees:
We're discovering that the greatest threat to our bees is the deadly species H. sapiens. For example, in just ONE WEEK (last Friday thru last night), three of our four property borders have been blasted with insecticides on three separate occasions!! Two have been our county mosquito abatement fogging trucks and one was our neighbors spraying an adjacent field for weevils. None had warned us about their intentions, and, in the case of the county, we have repeatedly requested that they not fog us, both verbally and in writing. AARGH! At least our neighbors gave us heartfelt apologies when we let them know what was going on.
We have also just found out that our other apiary, in another town, is now getting fogged. We suspect that the county has ignored our requests for that area too. It's heartbreaking because we've used this isolated apiary to bring along a hive for the past three years completely untreated with chemicals and antibiotics to see if we can develop a group of bees adapted to local conditions and naturally resistant to mites and foulbrood. This incredible hive even survived nearly being ripped apart this past winter by animals!
My husband and I are so furious with these local boneheads we've agreed that if anything happens to our hives (like dying in the midst of what's been an excellent season so far), we're prepared to take legal action. We don't have any extra money by any means for a step like this, but we've decided it's our line in the sand, so to speak.
So as not to end on a downer, here's some good news from our bees. We were curious to see how our girls had fared in the chemical onslaught, so last night we suited up and visited the three hives in our backyard. The New World Carniolans have dramatically boosted their population in the past month as well as nearly filled one honey super already. We added another honey super. Our new Italian package has also taken off, so we gave them a super loaded up with Ross Rounds cassettes (I'd love to hear of anyone's experiences with those things). Then the split we made last month with a Buckfast queen looks like something out of a beekeeping textbook! We gave them another deep super so they'll have lots of room to expand. We also had planted half our garden with a green manure of buckwheat. It's about to bloom, so we're excited to see what honey we get from that.
With sweet thoughts,
Tami |
| vtharvestfolkart |
Posted - Jun 04 2006 : 07:58:27 AM
Hello Carla. I myself am getting ready to take up beekeeping. wanted to get started for this summer....but...it didn't happen. I guess i will have to wait until next summer. everything happens for a reason in my eyes. this will give me time for more research. Take care and best of luck. doreen
Please take a look at my folk art. http://www.crowsoup.com/Market1137.php
"IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AN END TO JOURNEY TOWARDS....BUT IT'S THE JOURNEY THAT MATTERS IN THE END" |
| FlipFlopFarmer |
Posted - Jun 03 2006 : 11:21:14 PM
I'll build my hives this fall / winter after the gadening is done. Spring and Summer are already too full of chores and projects to start on anything new. I'd like to get everything ready to hive my bees in the early summer of next year.
I would very much like to take a class or find someone near me that I could learn from.
 Carla
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly. |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Jun 03 2006 : 12:01:04 PM
Dear Carla,
No top bar hives here. Thanks for the link. Lisa and KJD should check this out!
Ya know I went to this doctor here across the river who had a observation deck on a tbh in his waiting room. Now that made your time go by quicker! The TBH don't get the yields of mine because they don't produce the same amount of bees but we need beekeepers!  Looks like a economical way to get going. Do you have a time frame of when you will be setting this up?
What will be your nectar sources? |
| FlipFlopFarmer |
Posted - May 31 2006 : 12:04:33 PM
Do any of your beekeepers our their keep top bar hives rather than standard hives. I've been researching these and they seem economical and eady to make yourself.
Here's a link to a site that does the top bar method http://www.backyardhive.com/
I love the social structure of bees. So very interesting. I can't wait to try my hand at hives of my very own. Oh the honey!!! So sweet and yummy...not to mention the wax for making all sorts of salves!
Carla
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly. |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - May 31 2006 : 03:17:28 AM
And boy howdy I was just talking blackberry cake with Kay...there are no accidents cept maybe where I wrote Karen instead of Kathy 
Then another buzzzzzzing got sent this morphic resonance link from farmers almanac a video on tupelo honey farmer, interesting seeing the sources of our nectars across the country.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2955018799354500526
The Claim: Bee Stings Can Be Treated by Scraping Out Stingers
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/health/30real.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I inspected the hives yesterday.Found a virgin sooooo start a revolution feel the revolution has been humming in my brain since yesterday until I got that how ya going to keep them down on the farm link repeating is it time for a hivedivide? nuc nuc goose? |
| Eileen |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 5:14:20 PM
Ellen,
I love my Beeeees!
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 04:16:07 AM
hey cajungirl
welcome to the board
Blackberry cake is my fav too!killer bees have been in tx for over a decade they be like watchin for snakes or fire ants. any colony of bees defend their hive, Africanized do so with gusto . you don't rustle em up they don't bother ya!
Lisabee I missed the cake question last post yes it be 350 too!You sound gentle bees like sweetpea hearts! look http://www.dadant.com/index.html
start with one hive let em grow on ya!
Secret Life of Bees I liked.Not a how too more want to! Anybeekeepers heard the beeeeee from yor hive |
| KJD |
Posted - Nov 21 2005 : 08:24:34 AM
Thank you, Jan. I think I will try it - I've thought about getting it several times, so I need to go ahead. |
| owwlady |
Posted - Nov 21 2005 : 07:58:37 AM
KJD, The Secret Life of Bees is a great book. It centers around beekeeping, relationships, and racial issues. It left me with a good feeling although there are some disturbing things in it. Give it a try. I think you'll enjoy it. |
| cajungal |
Posted - Nov 20 2005 : 4:39:25 PM
Hi Ladies!
Tried the blackberry cake....loved it! I usually make pie or cobbler. This was super. Will try the others after Thanksgiving.
We're interested in doin' the bee thing but a little hesitant because down here in Texas we've got those dern "Killer Bees". Each summer, there are several attacks down here by Houston. I've done a little research but not enough to really know what to do. Any insight?
Blessings!
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Nov 20 2005 : 12:14:39 PM
Bees taking hits from public like when Cujo movie came out eeverybody was afraid of my st.B but then ifn they saw beethoven they aren't. Killer bee is giving bad press so not try beekeeping?
We bee hit with pests. Mite resistancers bee a matter of breeding besides hygiene of hives. Ya gotta take time to beehousekeep=look insides. bee proactive.
It's funny this topic resurfaced today just this morning I told my husband I had a dream about extracting honey and the golden ribbon of honey flowing into the jars,
you believe Karen there are no accidents?
Dreams of extraction = like slowly get me outta here?
Ellen, I left a post for you about honey in the Marketplace forum. Was it you that posted you keep bees using the- Be the Bee method?
I answer there. Email yor addy and I send honey. Isn't MissEileen yor bee the bee poster? I wrote I never wore suit until last year hurricanes.Two things bees hate are wind and rain. They call em waterwings on kids but bees wings dont help em float.Just like my horses bean storm makes em jittery. If so can you tell us about that? Don't do it without a veil without practicing!Practice with empty hives!!Go visit beekeepers so you know what to expect and what is step 1,2,3 so you can bee fluid!
I do say you got to wear what is comfortable if you can't see behin veil you are going to be clutzy and knock the bees. Like ifn you were earthquaked you get jittery and try to stop yer world from spinning by running outside. Gloved hands can smoosh em into stinging you to get you off them. aren't you more so then if you can see and be delicate?i am not macho! of course the reason i stopped using was i set my veil on fire with the smoker LOL once you get eyebrows sinnged stings arent goin to scare you!!
usually have on boots so no bees crawling up under pants
because i don't wear pants LOL swimmsuit in summer and shorts in winter
i think bees like my coconut butter oil...i bee sweeeeeeeet smelling. smokemasks bee abilty to smell so they go to inside to storedhoney what about you Eileen what be yor trance of smell to them?
There is so much to learn.yuppers isn't swarm a nice feel good word? |
| KJD |
Posted - Nov 20 2005 : 11:52:20 AM
Is the book, The Secret Life of Bees, really about beekeeping? Somewhere I got the impression it's a book about a family and a depressing or disturbing book at that. The title really makes me want to read it, but I don't want to read an unhappy book. Any reviews? Thanks! |
| Debs |
Posted - Nov 20 2005 : 06:15:33 AM
Hi Kathy, yep, I'll be getting my hives in New Zealand one day, just one or two. I want to harvest the honey, and make beeswax candles. There are plenty of suppliers there. The varroa mite is also found in NZ, seems to have got everywhere.
Bees are fascinating creatures, I love to watch the big fuzzy, fat bumblebees getting pollen from the flowers in our garden!
|
| Kathy A. |
Posted - Nov 19 2005 : 6:52:30 PM
Hi KJD, you are right, There are two parasitic mites reeking havoc with honey bee populations, The world needs more Bee keepers! it is such an interesting hobby or business.
It's funny this topic resurfaced today just this morning I told my husband I had a dream about extracting honey and the golden ribbon of honey flowing into the jars, (I miss seeing and smelling that.) thats all there was to the dream just that.
Debby that's another coincidence! The museum site is very interesting. NZ. should be a great place for you to start an apiary Maybe like Hawaii there will be less problems with disease. When you get started you may want to order your queens and bee packages from Hawaii, Just a thought.
Ellen, I left a post for you about honey in the Marketplace forum. Was it you that posted you keep bees using the- Be the Bee method? If so can you tell us about that? There is so much to learn. |
| LisaBee |
Posted - Nov 19 2005 : 6:48:27 PM
I really, really want to keep bees. Nothing huge, I think three hives would be good for me to handle on my own. I have read several books, including the ones mentioned here, and it just gets me more and more interested. I think I am going to build hives over the winter, and get started in the spring. Does that sound like a good plan?
Ellen, Is the honey cake baked at 350 degrees too?
"There is no teacup too large, nor book too long."
http://lisa222.blogspot.com |
| KJD |
Posted - Nov 19 2005 : 3:07:30 PM
I am fascinated with bees and hope to be a beekeeper some day. I was just reading the October 2005 issue of British Country Living magazine and there was a letter from a reader, commenting on an article from the June 2005 issue about beekeeping. It mentions the bees being under attack from a parasitic virus called varroa. They reference a conservation project located at www.bibba.co.uk for preservation of the honeybee. That's the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeder's Association. Says they need more beekeepers in Britain... |
| Debs |
Posted - Nov 19 2005 : 12:13:58 PM
Eileen - no, don't keep bees at the moment, but hope to at some point.
Debby |
| Eileen |
Posted - Nov 19 2005 : 09:12:28 AM
Debs,
Do you keep bees too?
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| Debs |
Posted - Nov 19 2005 : 04:19:16 AM
Reviving an old post!
I have had a fascination for bees and bee-keeping as long as I can remember. Not only does my name mean "the bee" but I was stung on each foot once, when I was 12 and 13 years old (from stepping on them) - very strange! I am going to check my library for the Secret Life of Bees. It sounds very inspiring. I have read quite a few articles and chapters of farming-type books on bee-keeping. I also visited a bee-keeping museum in Slovenia - which is amazing! Here is the website of the museum: http://www.muzeji-radovljica.si/4frame-mcebekarski.html
- click on the "vitual guide" (I loved the beehive panel display, such beautiful artwork!)
Oh and thanks for the recipes Ellen - I'll be certain to try and bake some honey cake - Yummy! |
| ByHzGrace |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 09:10:50 AM
I didn't know you had search until the other bee thread where Eileen said go look. ever had one bee just buzz you the whole time you are checking the hive. Not a stinger just a curious bizzy buzzer? I never wore a suit just long sleeves and swim googles. Unitl the storm last year Boy howdy they were wild from getting wind tossed. Do you have hive insurance? Our agent made us get a separate rider.
I heard the whole town of Ocala has chosen the Secret Life of Bees as their one book one community novel. Anybodies town do that?
I keep bees to cross my honeybelles. Do you paint your hives? When we replaced the ceiling with cypress we made some new hives with cypress.
Blackberry cake is my fav:
Beat 1 cup butter and 1cup of honey.Add 1 egg at a time and beat after each for a total of 4 eggs. Add 3/4cup berryjuice and 1 cup blackberries. Combine 2 1/2 teaspoons soda and 4cup whole wheat pastry flour. Add half the flour slowly and nutmeg.Fold in other half of flour.Bake in two large layer pans at 350 for 30 min. We top with frosting.
Honey Cake
Mix 1/3cup oil, 7/8 cup honey 1/2cup yoghurt 2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. In a 2 cup bowl mix 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.Add dry to wet and mix. Scrape batter into 12"loaf pan in a cold oven and bake 40 minutes.
Honey Butter Frosting
In small pan, bring 1/3 cup honey and 2 tablespoons sweet butter to simmer over low and simmer for 10 minutes more until the color just begins to darken.Remove from heat and allow bubbles to die down, then spoon/pour over cake. The cooking thickens the honey enough for it to stay where you put it and then it half hardens to something like candy.The butter gives it a butterscotch flavor. |
| Kathy A. |
Posted - Jun 24 2005 : 8:33:29 PM
Hi Bean, Sounds like you have been busy. It also sounds like you have wax worms in one of your hives. If the hive was strong the worker bees would kill the wax moth problem. Yes, replace those frames, To start clean the box and remove the frames (if the frames are not to damaged you can reuse them in the future the bees can repair them) with the worms as best you can, if you have another hive with brood take one or two of those brood frames and put into the weak infested hive. Take frames of brood and their attendant worker bees but be sure ~ that hives Queen is not on the frames you take.-- The new queen in the weak hive might not have time to build up the hive because the bees there may be to old and weak, but it's worth a try. There are chemicals for wax moth control but we don't recommend them, if the hive is weak they may do more harm than good. It's always a good idea to have 2 hives so you can borrow brood frames. I hope you don't get discouraged if you lose this hive because I think you have a good feel for bee keeping. if you do lose them clean up your hives get set up for two hives and order two packages of bees they will come with their own queens. You probably have been reading up on it but if there is a local beekeeper you could talk to I'm sure they could help. One thing I should tell you about borrowing brood to strengthen another hive, if you put those frames in a separate empty box on the bottom board with a sheet of newspaper separating the new box and frames from the rest of the hive. this way the introduced bees have to chew through the paper giving the hive time to get use to them,so they won't fight. Be sure there is an opening in the top part of the hive before you do this. a hole in the front or the back ,not the sides. Hope this helps Keep me posted. Your on the right track- You go girl!! ~Kathy |
| Bean |
Posted - Jun 24 2005 : 11:03:58 AM
Kathy- Ok i ordered a new queen.I think my hive is in very bad shape. It currently does not have a queen in it. also i have two brood boxes on and the bottom one has about 3 frames that has little white worms i think they might be the moths b/c there are a little bit of webs in the comb but not much. i think it is the beggining of the end for my hive. Maybe i can resuce them before they get bad. i put the new queen in not knowing what else to do. i also have some aspin strips in there. i don't know if i need anything else to kill the worms or not? will the queen do it? or do i need medicine or replace the frames that have the worms? please let me know if you have any advise. |
| Nicol |
Posted - Jun 22 2005 : 12:36:06 PM
I haven't moved up to actually honeybee hives yet but I do have orchard mason bees at my place. Orchardists are using them because of the decline in honeybees. They don't sting, which I like since I am a wimp. I do plant things that attract bees and see bees in my garden a lot. This thread has inspired me to purchase the book "The Secret Life of Bees" but I haven't started it yet. |
| Kathy A. |
Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 6:10:40 PM
Hi Bean, I am not familiar with the mite sticky trap, but it sounds interesting. Be sure the screen I'm talking about only makes the entrance smaller you don't want to make it difficult for the bees to enter the hive, just put a tiny bent piece of screen in the entrance to reduce it down in opening size to 2 inches. To kill the queen just use your hive tool to smosh her, I know this sounds bad it's something you will decide on for yourself after you get more into keeping. You need a good book to help you identify the Queen She is much larger than the others. There are lots of good books but I can recommend these right now and maybe more later:
The Hive and the Honey Bee by Dadant a hive queen and bee supplier.
ABC and XYZ of Bee culture by AI Root another bee supply Co.
Steve Taber's website is www.honeybeegenetics.com
and just for fun if you have'nt already read it be sure to get: The secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd at the library. it's a novel a great quick read and I think you will like it. ~Kathy |
