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Across the Fence:  The Secret Life of -Farm Girl - Bee Keepers  |
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Kathy A.
True Blue Farmgirl
116 Posts
Kathy
Utah
USA
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 Posted - Nov 22 2004 : 10:03:39 AM
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Hi Everyone, Lately I have come across some information on organic honey. The -Dutch Gold Honey- brand has certified organic honey it gets from areas in Mexico and an island off Brazil where there is no chance of bees gathering from nonorganic crops. I'm still searching for the beekeepers in canada that had certified organic honey I have lost that info.
Certification is extremely difficult to achieve, even if your bees are in the right area, there is a good article on this process in the Bee Culture magazine. http://bee.airoot.com/beeculture/months/03sep/03sep3.htm Eileen, I thought of you because you have bees, the article is interesting even if you can not go organic and the magazine is great if you haven't already found it.
There is a company in Eastern Wa. that is very in tune with the health benifits of bee keeping and it's products. They are knowledgeable about Bee Venom Therapy, propolis, ect. also they have neem products which are mixed with honey, that should be quite potent!! anyway, their website is a treasure trove of info. and products. for people interested in Bees and Bee keeping products. http://www.dancingb.com/index.html ~Kathy
It's fall hope everyone stays healthy!
"When the leaves fall the stiptease is over; things stand mute and revealed" --Annie Dillard
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Sandra
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Sandra
Tazewell
VA
USA
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Posted - Nov 28 2004 : 08:46:28 AM
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Honey...one of my *favorite* things! I don't keep bees but Daddy has kept bees for more than fifty years; my brother keeps them as well and has been for more than twenty-five years. I figure why should I when I can just help them AND get honey <g>. Daddy and Steve have both gotten bees from a swarm and are called upon most every spring by someone who thinks bees are a "bad thing" and want someone to "get rid of them, please". Daddy and Steve are glad to oblige <g>. Our farm is Thistle Cove Farm and we sell thistle honey in our farm store; someone in the next county harvests it.
Kelly in <I think> Kentucky is a good place to get queens for re-hiving. They have been in business for decades and decades and have a wonderful reputation. Although I've noticed the newer postal carriers seem a bit nervous when they hear the bzzzzzzzz from the little box.
BTW, Steve is allergic but bees don't seem to sting unless a person gets agitated and nervous. We work them without protective clothing; Steve will sometimes wear a veil; but lots of smoke and calm nerves are the ticket.
Sandra @ http://www.thistlecovefarm.com...a grasp on the past & a hold on the future... |
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Sandra
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Sandra
Tazewell
VA
USA
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Posted - Nov 28 2004 : 08:53:30 AM
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Oh gosh...another thing...call your ag college to find local bee keepers. There's usually a bee keeping society in each USA state as well.
Sandra @ http://www.thistlecovefarm.com...a grasp on the past & a hold on the future... |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1197 Posts
Eileen
USA
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Posted - Nov 28 2004 : 09:44:00 AM
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Our bees are safely to bed for the winter. This does not mean we leave them alone however. We begin to feed in December if they have too little honey store for the rest of the cold season but they seem to be doing fine. I was surprised to see some of them out foraging last week when we had a few days over 50 degrees. I even still have a few flowers blooming. Today we got our first real frost of the year.
Rodney and I usually tend our bees without bee suits but do wear gloves. We also do not use the smoker. We have only had one problem and it was our own fault. Rodney accidentally dropped the hive lid and disturbed the whole colony. Amazingly enough neither of us got stung. We stood still and apologised to them. They buzzed around us for a few minutes but then seemed to calm right down. I am sure that if we run that we both would have been stung. Bees are really fun to have.
I have never had thistle honey. Is it really good too?
We have a lot of thistle growing here under the blackberries. Our county considers this plant a noxious weed. I cannot figure it out however because it is the primary food source for the gold finch. We also have an abundance of those here. How can such a needed thing be considered a noxious weed? I refuse to get rid of them. I have friends whose horses consider them a tasty prickly treat! It is so comical to watch them eat these thistles!
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
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Posted - Nov 28 2004 : 6:28:30 PM
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Although I do not presently keep bees , I have in the past and they are fascinating and a never ending source of interest.In kindergarten I met a girl who remains one of my best friends and her Dad has been a beekeeper all these years. He has always been an amazing source of information ( and honey) and is now starting to teach my son some of his secrets so who knows ... the circle may remain complete!
Eileen--do you not use a smoker because it affects the flavor of the honey?
Also... noxious weeds are usually defined as plants that are so agressive they overwhelm the natural balance of an environment and begin to cause negative impact by their presence( such as loosestrife choking out tributaries and necessary streambeds to the point that run off is diverted out of previously open and running water back into areas that cannot accomodate the backwash and flooding occurs.
As for thistle, I know it is a huge agricultural problem and zaps the soil of alot of crucial nutrients so... given the soil conditions in your area they may want to limit it's encroachment like they do with loosestrife in Minnesota and here in NJ. Bramble
with a happy heart |
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Kathy A.
True Blue Farmgirl
116 Posts
Kathy
Utah
USA
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Posted - Nov 30 2004 : 1:23:06 PM
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Hello Everyone,
Eileen I'm amazed you don't use a smoker with your bees. It sounds like a good idea if you dont feel it's necessary. You and Rodney have really been initiated into the world of bee keeping since you caused a major disturbance and all went well with no stings. I feel the standing still as well as the holding good thoughts for them was key. They are soo intune with their surroundings perhaps they felt your vibrations!
Sandra, you are so lucky to have Bee keepers in the Family, I'm sure you know how fascinating bees are. Once when we were moving some hives (a major disturbance) I got several bees under my veil That was not a pleasant experience and it took me days to get over it emotionally I was really freaked out, but I'm glad I did. Also I left a post for you about Garlic on the swap forum you might have missed it because that's an odd place for garlic. ~Kathy |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1197 Posts
Eileen
USA
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Posted - Dec 01 2004 : 3:51:44 PM
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The story about the smoker is this We first got our hives this past february while I was still recovering from my first knee replacement surgery. I was able to paint the hives and get them prepared for the bees but the bees came in May and I was still not steady enough to take the walk through the blackberries to the other side of our property to work with them so my husband was in charge of tending them. I made all the food for them and he delivered it as well as checked the hives for problems. He always tried to light the smoker but was never successful at getting it going so got frustrated with it. After the first couple of weeks of trying I began to notice that he was not taking it with him. I did not ask however about it because I felt he must have found a way of taking care of them without the smoker. He always put on his bee keepers suit however but I saw him leave his gloves behind a few times. I guess he forgot them and did not want to bother coming all the way back for them so did his business without them. He got stung one time when he accidentally put his thumb on one while opening the top. No big deal. Then summer came and I went with him a few times in my bee suit but it was very hot and he did not wear his suit. So the next few times we went I did not wear mine either. We both always wear our gloves now but seldom wear the veil. Neither of us tend them if we are upset about anything and we always maintain a peaceful mind when working them. I am sure that they listen to our thoughts! They were upset by the dropping of their hive lid but seemed to understand how sorry we were about it.
I am curious, How do bees get into your veil? Ours zip to the suit. I guess maybe they could get under it if we did not have the suit on but just the veil. I have never thought of just wearing the veil before. Funny.
Eileen[
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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Kathy A.
True Blue Farmgirl
116 Posts
Kathy
Utah
USA
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Posted - Dec 02 2004 : 12:17:42 PM
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| Hi Eileen, Your last post reminds me of the book the Gentle Craft of Keeping Bees. I like the way you think of your bees, it is especially nice for people who only have a few hives and have the time to tend and enjoy them. We have never used bee suits or gloves but always smokers and veils. The night we moved the bees I was wearing a Levi jacket the stiff collar didn't let the veil stay secure under it. That was a long time ago but a lesson I'll never forget! ~Kathy |
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Bean
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Christine
Myrtle Beach
SC
USA
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Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 11:09:05 AM
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Well, all this talk about blackberries is making me kinda homesick. I just moved to Myrtle Beach and my old house had about 20 blueberry bushes and 10 thornless blackberries and a couple of concord grapes and plum trees. We are making plum wine from last summer. we froze it and now we are starting the process. I plan to give the bottles out for my wedding party favors in October. I have two bee hives as well and the blueberry honey was great! We also made a whole lot of blackberry jelly last year. I don't know to much about my bee hives. I was donated them. I just moved them down to Myrtle Beach and i noticed on the bottom board were roches. I have a feeling i should treat them this summer and get them stronger so i don't even need to worry about the honey but i was wondering if you had any suggestions? i have never requeened either am i suppose to do that? I need help! ahhh!
I am 21 and love to cook, sew, herbal remedies, beekeeping, gardening, interior decorating, crafts, singing, working out, riding bikes, and anything with my family and two sisters. I am getting married in Myrtle beach on October 15th. I have two labs and a cat. I love making homemade wine. |
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Bean
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Christine
Myrtle Beach
SC
USA
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Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 11:19:37 AM
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| Eileen, I am with you on not wearing the proper suits for beekeeping. Its just too hot! so i just go out in gloves and shorts and a tanktop. I only get stung if i put my hand on a bee by accident and i don't have my gloves on. I have made them mad a few times by jerking one of the supers that were stuck but if you just stand real still and keep your heart rate down then they dont seem to notice you or care about you. When you start to feel nervous is when they get nervous. I think they can sense what your body is saying inside or out. one time i wore flipflops and one got stuck between my toes. oops! |
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Kathy A.
True Blue Farmgirl
116 Posts
Kathy
Utah
USA
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Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 12:00:58 PM
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Hello Bean, So glad to see another farmgirl bee Keeper,as you may know honey bees are on the decline. Where will we be without the pollinators! I got a laugh from the bee between the toes that sounds like me! I hope you wear a veil though, stings on the face are not good. Here are a few things to consider concerning your questions: To help with the roaches place the hives on a pallet up off the ground or cinder blocks, also you do need a bottom entrance for air circulation and bee arrivals but put screen across part of it to make the entrance small this way the guard bees will have a small entrance to defend from roaches. You should requeen every year to leave the old queen only decreases productivity, and encourages swarming and disease. You should kill the old queen but leave it in the hive for a few hours the hive needs to know she is dead. Then place in the new queen she will arrive in a little cage box that has the opening plugged with sugar candy. The hive needs to get use to her scent-pheromones so they will accept her, otherwise they may kill her right away, by the time they get her free (by eating the sugar candy plug,) they will have accepted her.
There is a queen breeder in California his name is Steve Taber he has done extensive genetic research in producing queens that are both disease and mite resistant. Keep up the good work the world needs more bee keepers. ~Kathy |
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Bean
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Christine
Myrtle Beach
SC
USA
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Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 4:42:30 PM
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| Kathy thanks for the great tips. I do have the a bottom entrance and the hive is up on cinder blocks. I don't have a screen on the bottom of the hive between the bottom board though. I have this mite sticky thing so all the mites that fall off the bees lands on this plastic thing with sticky stuff on it. I was also wondering if i need to replace the stuff that makes it sticky? I also have herd to do this killing of the queen but I have never seen one before so how am i supose to find a queen in all those bees and better yet kill her? I do know how to put a new one in though. Bean |
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Kathy A.
True Blue Farmgirl
116 Posts
Kathy
Utah
USA
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Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 6:10:40 PM
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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 |
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Nicol
True Blue Farmgirl
200 Posts
Nicol
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Posted - Jun 22 2005 : 12:36:06 PM
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| 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. |
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Bean
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Christine
Myrtle Beach
SC
USA
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Posted - Jun 24 2005 : 11:03:58 AM
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| 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. |
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Across the Fence: The Secret Life of -Farm Girl - Bee Keepers |
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The Secret Life of -Farm Girl - Bee Keepers
