Apis Newsletter January 9, 2010

Dear Subscribers,

It has been chilly here in Gainesville, Florida.  So much so that there was actually ice on a local retention pond and the hooded mergansers that were there were forced  to find open water elsewhere.  I am writing this just before the opening of the big megameeting in Orlano, consisting of a number of organizations from both the USA and Canada (Canadian Honey Council and CAPA). The American Bee Research Conference is also going to be on tap http://abfnet.org.   This is a must meeting for beekeepers who want to remain fully informed about beekeeping issues in 2010.

Florida's beekeeping history is rich in many ways.  Few probably know that Roger Morse spent time in the Sunshine state.  We are reminded by Peter Borst <peterloringborst@GMAIL.COM>, who wrote the following on the Bee-L discussion list:

This May 12 will mark ten years since the passing of Roger A, Morse, "a Cornell University entomology professor who brought the science of apiculture to the practice of beekeeping." I thought it fitting to present some of his early prescient writings. I hope he will be remembered by all who gather this January in Orlando.

THE SCOPE OF THE BEEKEEPING INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA
ROGER A. MORSE State Plant Board of Florida, Gainesville

According to J. J. Wilder (1928) one of the first apiaries of any size in Florida was established in 1872 where the city of Daytona now stands. A company from New York City settled in the Daytona area and attracted considerable attention by coming to Florida in the fall and returning to New York in the spring with a cargo of oranges and honey. 

HONEY PRODUCTION IN FLORIDA

Florida beekeepers produced their first million pounds of honey in the late 1920's, and during the 1930's consistently produced over a million pounds each year. Honey production in Florida has gradually increased and in 1954 Florida ranked third among the states. In 1955 Florida dropped to fifth place. While honey production has increased appreciably, the number of colonies of honey bees in Florida has only a little more than doubled during the past twenty years. The increased honey production can be traced in part to the increased citrus plantings. At the same time a part of this gain is proof of the value of improved methods and equipment used in the industry today. A few decades ago many colonies were kept in skeps, hollow logs and boxes without movable combs. Today only a few hundred colonies are maintained under such conditions.    Modern beekeepers are moving their colonies in and around the State, taking ad- vantages of several honeyflows. An exam ple of this mass movement of colonies is found in the over twenty thousand colonies which are moveds to Florida each year, largely from other southern states, mostly for the orange honeyflow. 

APIARY INSPECTION IN FLORIDA 

The State Plant Board of Florida began American foulbrood inspection in 1920. Until the fiscal year of 1954 the State Plant Board checked, on an average, about fifty per cent of the colonies in the State. By concentrating their efforts in the heavy honey-producing areas, State Plant Board inspectors were able to keep the incidence of the disease below levels of one per cent. As migratory operations have increased, disease control has become more difficult, and during the past few years the incidence of American foulbrood has increased. Approximately 57 per cent of the colonies in Florida were inspected during the fiscal year of 1954, while in 1955 approximately 66 per cent were inspected. The incidence of disease dropped from 1.597 per cent in 1954 to 0.903 per cent in 1955.  Migratory operations will continue to increase, especially as more citrus trees come into bearing and more colonies are attracted into the State each year. Increased inspection will be necess ary to keep the disease level below one per cent.    

Florida still has an extremely strong inspection service and active beekeeping extension program, mostly due to an influential state association http://floridabeekeepers.org

Florida is also home to several other meetings besides this year's convention in Orlando.  Check out the second S.E. organic beekeeping convention in Palm Beach in early February, with the provocative theme, "riding the wave of change." http://seobc.beekeeperspbc.com/

Bee Health: The January Newsletter for the eXtension.org Bee Health Community of Practice is now available online at

Included in this issue:

    * New Feature: Managed Pollinator CAP Updates
    * Social Media Strategy Developed
    * YouTube Channel Launched
    * New Feature: University of Florida Bee Disease Videos
    * FAQ's Organized by Category
    * Google Analytics: Bee Health Homepage in Top 10 at eXtension.org
    * On the Calender


Survey of Beekeepers:  A team of students from Bradley University (Peoria, IL, USA), is conducting research about beekeepers and their characteristics. The results of this research will be used to identify  characteristics of those who choose to become beekeepers, to compare various subgroups of beekeepers with each other, and to compare other groups with beekeepers.

If you are 18 years or older and keep bees you are invited to be a part of this research by completing short anonymous survey about beekeepers. We are interested in new beekeeper as well as those who are experienced. Hobbyist, sideliners and commercial beekeepers are all invited to participate. The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9NSWHZ5.  The survey will be available online until February 14, 2010.

If you have any questions about this research please feel free to contact me, Dr. Wendy Schweigert at:  wendy@bumail.bradley.edu

Plans for L.L. Langstroth Bicentennial and Stamp:

 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:02:23 -0600
From:    MRH <wildwoodflower@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Today begins the Langstroth Bicentennial

Merry Christmas!  Today, Dec. 25 2009,  is the 199th birthday of
Lorenzo Langstroth (1810-1895), inventor of the modern beehive.  This
begins the beginning of his Bicentennial Celebration.  Many of us are
planning events during the next year to commemorate his life and work.
Please join in by organizing celebrations in your area.  Your local
beekeeping, gardening, farming, scientific, academic, and
environmental communities all have a reason to celebrate.

Marc Hoffman
___________________________

Send your ideas and plans to lorenzolangstroth@gmail.com. For more information and inspiration here are a few sites to visit:

Announcement of organizing meeting on January 21 in Philadelphia.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/blog/index.php?/archives/467-Welcome-to-the-200th-Year-Lets-Talk-Science!.html

Google Group devoted to the Bicentennial Celebration
http://groups.google.com/group/lll200?hl=en

“Bee Man,” a one-man play about LLL’s life and works.
http://www.LorenzoLangstroth.com

Kim Flottum’s Catch the Buzz about the Langstroth stamp initiative.
http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2009.12.22.09.43.archive.html

Hive and the Honeybee Collection, Mann Library, Cornell University.
Online version of Langstroth on the Hive and the Honeybee, 1853
edition.  19th century journal articles, searchable, by and about LLL.

Patent 9300 available from the US Patent and Trademark Office, also on
Google Patents.  The movable frame beehive.

Call to action by Carl Flatow:
http://lll200.googlegroups.com/web/Open-letter.pdf?hl=en&gda=3Q5skkIAAACbRhgp4_wF3RG6gtDbeZpHT0NL_O1dc5H2kWQe3ZREkig9aiIH6PvGS1GZcIk7KNJV4u3aa4iAIyYQIqbG9naPgh6o8ccLBvP6Chud5KMzIQ

Short Biography of Langstroth by Ophia Smith in the Ohio Historical
Society Journal:
http://search.ohiohistory.org/texis/search/context.html?query=pg&pr=public&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&sufs=0&order=r&cq=&cmd=context&id=4aaab1a417

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Gleanings from the January 2010 edition of Bee Culture

Matt Haas, Hiddeford, ME describes every beekeeper's nightmare, when hungry bees find unprotected honey.  Dick Largen, Bethalto, IL is ready to try a top bar hive.  Colin Taylor, Bury, Manchester, UK describes another winter storage technique.  Michael Salnicky, Cresco, PA suggests a way to repopulate the landscape with feral swarms, increasing genetic diversity.  Racheal  Kinkennon, Edwards, MO asks a lot of questions about the potential effects imidacloprid and derivatives in her neighborhood.

Editor Flottum spent Thanksgiving talking about new ways to care for aging pets (dogs).  Read how this has parallels to beekeeping.  Bee Culture also embarks on a year-long series celebrating the life and work of L.L. Langstroth.

Of the many things new for 2010, check out the 53-minute DVD entitled Nicotine Bees, developed by EAS Chairman Jim Bobb and the double jar invention just right for checking mites using the powdered sugar method.

The demographics of beekeepers and reporters for Bee Culture are inexorably shifting to a more urban focus.  Read how this is described by the  regional honey price report.

Beeyard stories in only six words continues.  Read creative entries like "Knocked over hive, had on sandals."

Clarence Collison takes a closer look at both the old and new nosema. Read about the difference in virulence and why they are both considered bad news for bees and beekeepers.

Steve Sheppard reviews a recent study of genetic diversity in both southeastern and western bee populations. Read about the differences, and how a new influx of genes from Africanized bees as well as Australian and Russian stock is providing some needed genetic variation.

Marc Hoffman starts off his series on Appreciating Lorenzo Langstroth.  Read about his family history and influences.  See some current photos of places where he and his family lived.

Larry Connor says we should reexamen the beekeeper-provided nest within the context of new populations of honey bees found in the U.S. Have beekeepers been forcing bees into improper nests over the years?  What has been the impact of Varroa on nest size?  He urges beekeepers to start tinkering in the woodshop again and researchers to get on with this  kind of study.

Melanie Kirby is doing just that with top bar hives vs. Langstroths or a combination of both.  Read her musings. She recommends a still-classic publication by Curtis Gentry, The Small Scale Beekeeping Manual. 

Editor Flottum visits north Georgia producer/packer Blue Ridge Honey.  Read about this big outfit and why it's usually better to do something small well than the reverse.

Erik Osterlund reports on the northeast treatment-free conference held last August in Massachusetts. Read about cell size and use of top bar hives.  In the same vein visit the Southeastern organic conference in Palm Beach in February
.
Jim Tew also discusses hive design.  Read how even after a century and a half L.L.'s hive "continues to be genius."

Ross Conrad provides the skinny on high fructose Corn syrup (HFCS) and hydroxymethlyfurfural (HMF). Read how both human and bee health are affected by these substances. See my analysis written five years ago June and July 2003.

Jennifer Berry went to the National Honey Show at St. George's College in Weybridge, near London.  Read about her experiences and what it takes to both show and judge at this event.

Ann Harman provides warning signals about drops in membership of the East Cupcake Beekeepers Association.  She provides tips on staying relevant and why state associations are important to even the smallest beekeeper.  Finally, check out the  games she suggests that are both educational and fun.

Connie Krochmal looks at some perennials for the bee garden.  Read about Bergenia, candytuft, lambs-ears, phlox and pinks among others.

In all the news that fits read about Brushy Mountain being named North Carolina's Small Business of the Year, the retirement of John Gruszka (Saskatchewan's  Provincial Apiarist) and the changing of the guard at the International Bee Research Association .

Finally Mac Overmyer in the bottom board urges everyone to stop knocking the government.  He gives a sensible  answer to the question often raised, "Name one government program that works."  There are so many of value that Mr. Overmyer's rant goes on for ten more  paragraphs. This adds fuel to the Bill Moyers Journal I saw tonight, where the discussion was focused on the fact that many in this country think big government is the problem.  It's  really big business buying off the government that is most troubling and problematic.
   
Sincerely,


Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com

Bee sure to subscribe to Catch the Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases of importance to beekeepers.  Also access the Apis Information Resource Center , which contains archived articles, listing of  posts on blogs, web sites, and links to related materials.  Finally, don't forget to access the Global Beekeeping Calendar for events  of interest.

CATCH THE BUZZ - National Honey Board News

CATCH THE BUZZ

HONEY BOARD NEWS

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National Honey Board Shifts Marketing Focus

Firestone, Colo. – A recent research study has sparked the National Honey Board to refocus its marketing efforts for 2010, adding new programs and reformatting existing ones.

According to the 2009 Honey Attitude and Usage Study, current users of honey below the age of 45 have dropped significantly since 2006. This 27 percent decrease poses an opportunity for the National Honey Board to delve into other marketing avenues, like social media, to reach new and younger audiences.

In reaching a younger demographic, the National Honey Board hopes to expand the awareness and use of honey into other markets, such as snacks and natural home and health remedies. The 2009 study has found younger users of honey more likely to use the product in these fields.

“Younger users of honey seem to be a little more creative in how they use it,” said Bruce Wolk, Director of Marketing for the National Honey Board. “Because of that, we need to communicate with them through new channels, like social networking, to continue positive trends in honey purchases and usage.”

But it’s not just reaching a younger demographic that the National Honey Board has in mind – the organization is directly targeting current users of honey as well, regardless of age. Further research has shown that 60 percent of respondents report purchasing honey within the last year, a drop of 18 percent from 2006. This could mean a decline in not only purchases, but also in honey consumption and demand altogether.

The National Honey Board conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey. The National Honey Board is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

National Honey Board Makes Education a Primary Goal

 

Firestone, Colo. – Research studies have shown that many people don’t know exactly what ingredients are in a bottle of honey, and the National Honey Board is making honey knowledge a key priority in 2010.

According to the 2009 Honey Attitude and Usage Study, 1 in 10 respondents thinks honey has added ingredients, such as corn syrup, sugar and preservatives. In addition, 1 in 7 respondents thinks that the color of the honey reflects its purity.

With its updated messaging strategy, the National Honey Board hopes that by informing consumers, food processors, chefs and the foodservice community that honey is pure and contains only one ingredient – honey – that there will be more consumption of and demand for this natural sweetener.

“There are so many misconceptions about honey,” said Bruce Wolk, Director of Marketing for the National Honey Board. “The 2010 focus on education gives us an opportunity to reach out to the consumers and the foodservice industry about the basics of honey and why it is such a versatile product.”

Honey blends, a combination of honey and artificial ingredients, are becoming commonplace in discount grocery stores and usually contain only a small percentage of honey. The 2009 research study shows that many consumers are aware of these honey blends, have previously purchased a honey blend and have demonstrated positive intent to purchase a honey blend in the future. This trend, if not further explored, may affect the future of honey.

In its educational component of the 2010 campaign, the National Honey Board will focus on basic honey messaging, educating consumers on pure honey, where it comes from and the natural process of how it is made.

The National Honey Board conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey. The National Honey Board is an equal opportunity provider and employer. In it’s educational component of the 2010 campaign, the National Honey Board will focus on basic honey messaging, educating consumers on pure honey, where it comes from and the natural process of how it is made.

The National Honey Board conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey. The National Honey Board is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping. Watch this space, our web page, Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, and thedailygreen.com for registration information on our upcoming webinar on Urban Beekeeping.

  Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here

 

 

 

 

 

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 9 June 2009

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• Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 9 June 2009
• Invitation to Apimondia 2009
• Field Day Beekeeping Photographs: Spring Inspection
• Bee Registration Time in New Brunswick
• Beekeepers Field Day at Keswick Ridge
• Central Beekeepers meet 12 May 2009
• The White House and Bees?
• Maritime Bee Tour 2009 Set For PEI
• Video: Honey Bees Fighting Varroa Mites and Bee Louse
• Beekeeping Magazines Go Online
• Different Types of Hives
• Irish Honey Lore for St. Patrick’s Day

Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 9 June 2009 Posted: 15 May 2009 12:54 PM PDT The next meeting will be our spring potluck supper, so bring along your favourite supper dish and a good appetite! Tuesday, 9 June 2009 Central Beekeepers Alliance Spring Potluck Supper Keswick Ridge Community Hall, Route 616, Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick 6:30 p.m. Visitors and new beekeepers are always welcome! View Larger Map Central Beekeepers Potluck Supper 9 June 2009 comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Invitation to Apimondia 2009 Posted: 08 May 2009 12:37 PM PDT Apimondia 2009, the 41st annual congress of International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, will be held in the south of France, 15 – 20 September 2009. 200 scientists 200 exhibitors 10 000 delegates More than 100 countries represented The theme this is year is The bee, the sentinel of the environment: Because the health of honey bee populations is of concern to all, Apimondia 2009 plans include a special welcome for all interested members of the general public — as well as beekeepers and bee breeders, scientists and researchers, policy makers, advocates for the environment, and representatives of agriculture, industry, and governments — with its Apimondia for Everyone venue and program of events. Meanwhile, the call for papers has gone out to potential presenters at the conference. Scientists and researchers are invited to submit their papers to the Apimondia committee through the website at www.apimondia2009.com. (English, French, German, and Spanish versions of the website are available by clicking on the appropriate flag in the upper right corner of each page.) Program details are also being added to the website regularly, as the details are finalized, so do check back there often for updated information. For more information: http://www.apimondia.org/ http://www.beekeeping.com/apimondia/index_us.htm Invitation to Apimondia 2009 comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail No Related Post

Field Day Beekeeping Photographs: Spring Inspection Posted: 07 May 2009 09:42 AM PDT Central Beekeepers Alliance held a beekeeping field day for new beekeepers on Sunday, 3 May 2009. We unwrapped the hives and opened them up for inspection, for the first time since they were put away last fall. Fortunately (?) there were a couple of deadouts too — a useful learning opportunity as we carried out a “post mortem” to figure out if disease was present, or if the bees had died for some other likely reason. As soon as the rain stops again, the next step will be applying formic acid pads (for Varroa mite control) to those hives that were successfully over-wintered. Here’s a selection of photographs for those who missed this afternoon of spring hive inspection, socializing, and cinnamon buns. Click on any picture for a larger image and more information about what it shows: Field Day Beekeeping Photographs: Spring Inspection comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Bee Registration Time in New Brunswick Posted: 06 May 2009 03:06 AM PDT Reminder, it’s time to register your bees! All New Brunswick beekeepers are required to complete an Application to keep bees form and send it in to the Provincial Apiarist by May 31st, 2009. This applies to everyone who owns honey bees, or who has honey bees in their possession. The Provincial Apiarist will assign a registration number for each apiary, and send the beekeeper a certificate of registration that is valid until May 31st, 2010. There is no fee, but annual registration is required by law. You can download the registration form as a PDF file here, pick up a copy at the next Central Beekeepers Alliance meeting, or contact Chris Maund at the Crop Development Branch, New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture. Bee Registration Time in New Brunswick comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Beekeepers Field Day at Keswick Ridge Posted: 02 May 2009 07:10 AM PDT New beekeepers and friends are invited to suit up and join us for a beekeeping field day at Rick and Rebecca’s place on Keswick Ridge, on Sunday, 3 May 2009, at 2:00 p.m. We’ll be cracking open a couple of over-wintered colonies and doing a bit of spring management — and carrying out a post mortem on a couple of deadout hives, too. If you put your name down at a previous CBA meeting as being interested in attending the field day, you should have received an email about this by now. If not, and you’d like to attend, please email (cba@stonehavenlife.com) for directions — or meet Dan Richards at the lookout above the Mactaquac Dam about 1:30 p.m and he’ll lead you over. Beekeepers Field Day at Keswick Ridge comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Central Beekeepers meet 12 May 2009 Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:23 PM PDT Tuesday, 12 May 2009 Central Beekeepers Alliance Meeting Agricultural Research Centre, Fredericton, NB 7:30 p.m. Want to learn more about Beekeeping? Central Beekeepers meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Visitors and new beekeepers are always welcome! Most meetings include an educational session, group discussion, or hands-on demonstration for the benefit of beginning beekeepers in central New Brunswick. The Agricultural Research Centre ("Experimental Farm") is located at 850 Lincoln Road, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Entry is from the parking lot at the back of the building, at door "B". For a map to the Agricultural Research Centre, see our Next Meeting page. Central Beekeepers meet 12 May 2009 comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

The White House and Bees? Posted: 04 Apr 2009 06:55 AM PDT Recently, Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture magazine, reported that Michelle Obama will welcome two honeybees hives into her organic vegetable garden.  To read more about the latest buzz on the White House lawn you can find the article by clicking on this link: thedailygreen The White House and Bees? comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail No Related Post

Maritime Bee Tour 2009 Set For PEI Posted: 03 Apr 2009 06:53 PM PDT The Maritime Bee Tour will be held July 17-18, 2009, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and hosted this year by the Prince Edward Island Beekeepers’ Association and the PEI Department of Agriculture. Updated 31 May 2009 to add: 2009 Maritime Bee Tour Agenda 2009 Maritime Bee Tour Amended Registration Form Guest Speakers: Dennis Van Engelsdorp, Penn State University Rheal Lafreniere, CHC & Manitoba Agriculture Alison Van Alten, Ontario Tech Tranfer Team and Local Beekeepers Tour: Jasper Wyman’s Blueberry Plant and more!! Accommodations: Glen Denning Hall, Holland College $99.00 / night + taxes (1 or 2 bedroom same price) with private separate bathrooms To book your room by phone, call toll-free 1-866-740-7702 or local (902) 367-7702 and indicate that you are with the Maritime Bee Tour “Code 233″ Maritime Bee Tour 2009 Set For PEI comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Video: Honey Bees Fighting Varroa Mites and Bee Louse Posted: 02 Apr 2009 05:20 PM PDT This video, Bees fighting varroa and braula coeca, was made by Ivan Brndušic, an electronics technician (from a long line of beekeepers on his mother’s side) who lives, works, and watches honey bees in the town of Bor, Serbia. When you see the bees’ attempts to remove the pests, it makes it very clear why hygienic grooming behaviour is a desireable trait for breeding in honey bees! There’s a great explanation — with annotated photographs — of exactly what we’re seeing in this video as the bees try to fight off both Varroa mites and the very similar-looking but relatively benign-to-bees braula coeca (bee louse) on Brndušic’s website at brnda.com. Video: Honey Bees Fighting Varroa Mites and Bee Louse comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail No Related Post

Beekeeping Magazines Go Online Posted: 18 Mar 2009 01:40 PM PDT The BeeKeepers Quarterly edited by John Phipps, has just announced that it’s taking its show online. The UK beekeeping magazine can now be seen on the Web at www.bkq.org.uk. The March 2009 and May 2009 issues will be “free samples” for beekeepers to try it out, and there will be a small subscription charge for future issues. The print edition will continue for those who prefer to receive the magazine in that format. This news comes from Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture – The Magazine of American Beekeeping, who is a regular contributor to the BeeKeepers Quarterly). Flottum notes that Bee Culture, too, will be releasing a digital edition later this year. Other digital beekeeping magazines include Bee Craft (UK) and MidWest Beekeeper (US). So far, the American Bee Journal is not available on the Internet, but you can subscribe to the Journal through its website, or view the Table of Contents, Covers, and an index of articles in past issues. Beekeeping Magazines Go Online comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail No Related Post

Different Types of Hives Posted: 15 Mar 2009 07:24 AM PDT The hive that is most common in our area seems to be the 10 frame Langstroth hive or commercial hive that uses brood boxes and honey supers. Langstroth brood box Which is the type of hive I will use to raise bees. As a beginner, I will use the standard equipment and practices available in my area, which allow me to expand my beekeeping education beyond books and the internet to include local beekeepers and supply stores. In the event that something breaks or is lost, I can easily replace it locally too. But I am sure I will start to experiment as many beekeepers do, with equipment and styles as my experience level grows. Different types of hives include traditional skeps, top–bar hives, William Braughton Carr (WBC) hives and the National hive used in the UK.  The WBC shown in the thumbnail at left is similar to a pagoda style of architecture. Although, the exterior of this hive structure is different, the inside resembles the standard frame and foundations found in National hives. An interesting style of bee hive can be found at the following link: http://warrebeehive.com The Warre Hive resembles a WBC hive but uses a top–bar frame internal structure to encourage a natural formation of wax cells from the top–bar down. As the bees construct the comb, it grows in a downward direction. Boxes are added to the bottom with new top–bars in each. The bees will stop the comb just above the next set of bars. This style of natural beekeeping is further explained by following the link. It also includes plans for building your own hive. Thank you Dan Richards for the link and information about Warre Hives! Different Types of Hives comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail No Related Post

Irish Honey Lore for St. Patrick’s Day Posted: 12 Mar 2009 04:31 PM PDT Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Irish Culture and Customs remind us that honey holds an important place in the history and traditions of the Emerald Isle: Ireland has been described by many poets and story-tellers as the land of milk and honey, and there is little doubt that there was milk and honey in abundance in earliest times… Honey was so important in early Ireland that a whole section of the Brehon Laws was devoted to bees and beekeeping. Tributes were paid in honey and no banquet table was complete without honey and mead, the legendary drink made from it. Honey was used not just for cooking, but also for basting, and as a condiment in which to dip meat, fowl and fish at the table. The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore by Hilda M. Ransome (first published in 1937) explains that there’s a whole section about honey in the Brehon Laws, which date back to somewhere around 600 AD and probably much earlier — the “Bee-judgments” as the laws about beekeeping were called. For example, under those old laws, anyone who kept bees was obligated by law to share the honey harvest with land-owners of the four adjacent farms, as that’s where the bees gathered nectar. And if a man found a swarm in the faithche (the green surrounding and belonging to a house), three-quarters of that colony’s honey harvest at the end of the year was owed to the owner of the house. It certainly speaks to the value placed on honey! We can guage what abundance of honey there was by the size of the vessels in which it was measured. The Brehon Laws mention four sized of vessels used when measuring honey in large quantities. A milch-cow measure was one which, when full, an ordinary person could lift as far as his knee; a heifer, one he could life to his waist; a small heifer to his shoulder; and a dairt or still smaller heifer vessel which he could raise over his head. It was a quaint way of measuring! You can read more about the Brehon Laws on a fascinating website called Library Ireland, dedicated to sharing Irish culture and folklore. For those who’d like to enjoy their honey in Irish culture with a bit of a “kick” to it, David Lee of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations explains how to make your own mead. The potent honey-based beverage might go nicely with this gourmet menu from the Institute of Northern Ireland Beekeepers, drawn from the old legends of County Tipperary: Appetiser: Wild Irish Rabbit Terrine, accompanied with hedgegrown brambles, Mead Chutney, garnished with Armagh Apple Crisps, accompanied with Guinness wheaten bread. Main Course: Crystallized pan fried Wolf fish, served with Colcannon potatoes served with a white butter sauce, infused with Field Nettle emulsion, garnished with Irish streaky bacon and deep fried leeks. Dessert: White Chocolate Beehive, filled with a Hazelnut & Irish Mist parfait, served with a rich raspberry & thyme compote, and a splash of fresh cream, garnished with Ling honey comb. If that’s a bit much, just take a page from A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland, by PW Joyce (first published in 1906), which says: A mixture of milk and honey was sometimes drunk; a mixture of lard and honey was usual as a condiment. Honey was sometimes brought to table pure, and sometimes in the comb. Often at meals each person had placed before him on the table a little dish, sometimes of silver, filled with honey; and each morsel whether of meat, fish, or bread was dipped into it before being conveyed to the mouth. Or what about a broiled salmon steak, basted with honey, like the meal that was served by Ailill and Maive, king and queen of Connaught, to the young chief, Fraech, according to the old Irish tales. That sounds like a St. Patrick’s Day meal that would go down just fine here in New Brunswick! Irish Honey Lore for St. Patrick’s Day comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail No Related Post

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