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Beekeeping Classes

2/24/2014

2 Comments

 
   Tonight was the last beekeeping class with our local clubs VP instructing. It was very informational. Thursday night will be the last class in a different location with the local clubs President instructing.
   I have found BOTH classes to be very educational. Not so much in the basic beekeeping, as BOTH gave a very good basic account of how to keep bees in an understandable manner. But the difference was in their individual styles and methods. Each recommending a few small things be done in a different manner. One likes something done this way, the other prefers to do the same thing in a different way.
   I cannot recommend enough that everyone should attend ANY local classes you can. Presuming you can sit through the things you already know, you will gain a fantastic insight into the method the instructor likes to use. When you see a beekeeping course come up with an instructor you do not know, TAKE IT! Not only do you get to learn about this new instructors methods, you get to meet good people along the way. You will hear ideas you may not have thought of, and you may even find a tidbit of gold that will make keeping your bees easier.
   The greatest difficulty I have in taking these classes is keeping my mouth SHUT. There were times I couldn't, and I hope I did not offend either instructor. Both classes covered the same material for beginning beekeepers, but I thoroughly enjoyed the classes, and I did learn things I did not know, and consider it well worth the time and travel.
   Is it Spring yet?
2 Comments

February 18th, 2014

2/18/2014

0 Comments

 
Updated the site today with a few more pictures and information. Temps were AT 50 degrees so I took the opportunity to open the hives and check bees and stores.
   I had to add sugar to most hives. ALL hives are IN the top. Reserves are gone despite some extra feeding last fall. It will be a struggle to keep them going until it is warm enough for syrup.
  I cleaned out the one deadout I had and looked it over well. Top of the cluster was two inches from honey. This hive was the last of my deep south bees. Because of these bees I have very strong dislike for southern bees in general. ALL of my other hives MOVED to stores despite the incredibly harsh cold this winter, this hive did not.
   Tim Wilbanks mentioned in a talk he gave at a class that Reputable breeders imported northern genetics, (specifically referencing his fathers operation I assumed) to keep this exact thing from happening.  His talk impressed me enough that I have ordered TWO packages to give the Wilbanks bees a go up here and see how they do. I am interested in comparing them to the northern raised and bred Carniolans and the feral survivors I currently have. Time and COLD temps will tell!
   I also have VSH Gold Queens ordered to increase the resistant genetics of my Apiary. I am excited to see how these bees perform when compared to the rest!
   Its going to be an interesting year!
0 Comments

February 15th, 2014

2/15/2014

5 Comments

 
   I have been asked a couple of times why I didn't link a forum to my site so people can ask me questions. It can be done here.... But;
   I believe I have done this by linking an external forum. World Wide beekeeping forums. What I do with my bees is MY method, and it may not be right for you. I enjoy answering the questions I can, but I am only one person. Join WWB Forums and you will get a lot more answers that may well be more fitting to your circumstances.
   If you DO have a question for me, you can Email me through the address found near the bottom of the ABOUT page, or you can PM me through the forums I recommend you join!
   I have no problem with comments here, so long as you remember the diversity required in different climates and situations!

   Right now, its snowing like mad. I have not been able to check my hives since the start of November, so I am looking forward to the "forecast-ed" 52 degree day that is supposed to happen this coming week. It has been a long hard winter with wind gusts of 50 mph and wind chill temps of -50. I know one hive is done, but the rest are still hanging on, don't ask me how with the brutal cold we have had. Getting in to check supplies and feed if necessary will make me feel a LOT better. We still have possible COLD weather for at least a month and a half, and I have seen it snow FEET in the middle of April, so were not out of the woods yet.  If the weather will at least return to normal we will have occasional breaks, like the supposed upcoming 50+ degree day where the bees can MOVE to better stores and I will be a lot more comfortable in my spring plans for splitting and re queening the surviving hives.
   The hardest part of beekeeping is not knowing what you will have when the queens you ordered in January arrive in late April. Ordering ten queens for ten hives, and coming through the winter with six hives alive makes life difficult. But! With six good strong hives there should be enough bees by the time the queens arrive that enough splits can be made.
   As always, I will update as time inexorably progresses.
  

  
5 Comments

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