Northern Kentucky Beekeeper

Updates and News

2010-01-23T00:03:00.002-05:00

With the bone chilling, shortened, and often gray days of winter here in Northern Kentucky, there hasn't been much in the way of beekeeping going on, but I did want to post an update for those of you who still read this blog, even during the winter.

First, I did finish my novel. It's just as bad as I expected it to be and will never again see the light of day. I'm glad I spent the time writing it and I have decided that I will never be a writer.

Second, I found out this week that I am being transferred to Charlotte, NC. The family and I are very excited about the prospect of heading to a new town for new adventures. What does this mean for my bees? Well, if Exodus has survived, I'll sell the bees, but if not, it won't be a problem. I am planning on taking my hives with me and starting them up again. Since we'll be moving during the summer, there is no use in repopulating the Genesis hive and so my beekeeping for 2010 is most likely going to be put on hold.

Finally, I know that many of you are waiting for the next podcast episode. I'm not sure when that will be, but please be patient. Keep checking back and let me know what your plans are for 2010.

Writing a Novel About Beekeeping

2009-11-22T09:22:00.006-05:00

Some of you have been wondering where I've been and why I haven't updated my podcast in quite a long time.

Well, first off, I'm doing just fine. However, I have been busy, and although not entirely on the subject of beekeeping, I thought I would share this anyway.

I have been distracted by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). For those of you who don't know what it is, it's an annual event whereby professional writers, authors, or just wannabe writers, of which I am none of the above (I'm just a regular person who tries different things). All attempt to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.

I'm currently at 32,652 words or 65% complete. My novel is about a terrorist plot to destroy the worlds honeybee population and the race to stop it. So, it is kinda beekeeping related, in a way.

So, that's what I've been up to. Planning and now writing my novel. Something I've always wanted to do.

I have gotten some good feedback lately and I'm excited about the next few episodes of the podcast which, hopefully will be out soon.

Thanks for checking in.

Genesis Crash, Paying the Rent, and Final Inspections

2009-10-06T06:42:00.005-04:00

I've been meaning to get out to my hive for a while now to do a final inspection and prepare the hives for the winter. The weather here has turned cooler with temperatures dipping down into the 40's at night. The days are still warm, but winter is surely coming.

First, I payed the 'rent'. I took the landowner/farmer four pounds of honey. I think that's pretty fair given that I only got about 23lbs total. As suspected, he was very appreciative and commented on how light the honey looked.

Upon my arrival at the hives, I immediately noticed that there was absolutely no activity at Genesis. I donned my full beekeeper suit and smoker and cracked open the lid to find nothing but cockroaches, wax moths, and a stray bee or two. Interestingly, there were very few dead bees inside the hive. It looked like someone had decided to turn my hive into a haunted hive with all of the cobwebs, moth damage, and the silence.

Exodus continues to amaze me. I wasn't sure about this hive, but the incredible number of bees inside was exciting to see. There were lots of baby bees which tells me I still have a good, healthy hive at this point. I had left a couple supers on this hive, hoping that they would capture some of the late honey, which they did, but not I have a few frames of uncapped and capped honey. My mentor told me to freeze it, and then give it back to them in the spring if I don't mind blending spring with fall. No problem there.

I did see capped brood, eggs, and some honey stored up for winter. These bees will need fed in the next few days and I'll be brewing up some heavy syrup for the winter feeding.

Overall, I'm excited that at least one of my hives made it. It's been two years and I was fortunate to get some honey and learn a lot about the Genesis hive during the time it thrived. I'll be doing a good cleaning and painting of Genesis and will be welcoming a new package of bees in the spring.

Thanks to all of you who offered advice on what to do and how to save Genesis, but it just was not meant to be.

013 - Interview With Linda Tillman

2009-09-28T05:03:00.015-04:00

In this episode of The Beekeeping Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Linda Tillman, better known as 'Beekeeping Linda.

Linda is actively involved in the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers association as well a titan of the beekeeping blogs. She was gracious enough to answer lots of questions about what makes a good beekeeping club, beekeeping and technology, and her experience in chronicling her beekeeping experience on the web.

Links mentioned on the podcast:

Linda's Blog

The Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association

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2009 Boone County Fair Results

2009-08-07T07:09:00.025-04:00

Back in February, I stated that one of my goals for the 2009 beekeeping season was to enter the local Boone County Fair with my honey. I think showing honey is a great way to share the rewards of beekeeping with non-beekeepers and, hopefully, encourage others to get started in beekeeping themselves. It's also a friendly way of competing with fellow beekeepers.

Well, I did it! This year, thanks to the bees, I took 2nd place for a full frame of honey and 3rd place for a 1lb jar of white extracted honey. I've recieved beautiful red and white ribbons to show for the effort, five dollars total prize money, and more importantly, I learned about the judging and correct display of honey and frames of honey. This will certainly be a topic of a future episode of The Beekeeping Podcast.

Congratulations to my beekeeping mentor, Susie, who took 1st place in both the same categories I entered. That's really the way it should be, for as it is wisely written, "The disciple is not above his master..." (Luke 6:40).

I'm already looking forward to next years competition.

Episode 012 - Brewing Mead With Your Honey

2009-07-31T21:36:00.018-04:00

In this episode, I discuss one of the best things a beekeeper can do with their honey, brew a delicious batch of mead. Mead is an adult beverage somewhere between beer and wine and dates back thousands of years. With just a few ingredients, a few pieces of basic brewing equipment, and some time, you too can brew a five gallon batch of mead.

Here are the links mentioned in the podcast:

The Making of Mead ( Free .pdf book)

The Complete Guide to Homebrewing, Charlie Papazian

National Mead Day, August 1, 2009

Basics of Mead from Honey.com

Finally, here is my recipe, adapted from Papazian's Antipodal Mead recipe.

NKYBEEKEEPERS MEAD

(This will make roughly 5 gallons or 30 750ml bottles)

Ingredients:

15lbs Light Honey

Filtered Water

1 Package of Dry Champagne Yeast

Yeast Nutrient

Optional, but recommended:

Gypsym - Amount as recommended by manufacturer

Irish Moss - Amount as recommended by manufacturer

Yeast Nutrient - Amount as recommended by manufacturer

Acid Blend - Amount as recommended by manufacturer

Combine honey and water to equal 5 gallons in stainless steel pot. Add Irish Moss directly to pot. Boil for 15 minutes, removing scum and any other undesirable foam. Remove from heat, cover immediately, and allow to cool to room temperature (this may take several hours). Transfer to carboy. Hydrate yeast using one cup warm water, heated in microwave. Warm, not hot! Pitch into carboy. Add gypsum, acid blend, and yeast nutrient. Immediately seal carboy with airlock. Allow to ferment completely at room temperature for about 6 weeks or until airlock completely stops bubbling, and only after taking a hydrometer reading. Transfer to new container and allow to clarify for 6 months or more. Transfer as needed to clarify. Bottle, enjoy.

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Episode 011 - Starting With Two Hives?

2009-07-29T15:13:00.014-04:00

In this episode, I share reasons why starting with two hives is important for beginners. I also give an update on my hives and talk about my extraction and getting ready for the fair.

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2009 Honey Harvest

2009-07-28T22:55:00.009-04:00

Today was honey harvest day. Perhaps the best day of a beekeeper's season. A close second would be the first spring inspection where live bees are found inside a hive. But, I digress.

Since the local county fair is next week and I made it one of my 2009 beekeeping season goals to show honey this year, I went out and harvested what the bees have produced since April 9th.

Early this morning I dropped by the county extension office and picked up the extractor. Both hives had honey in the supers, but Exodus had nearly 6 of 10 frames complete. Genesis had barely a combined 3 of 10. I was really suprised because I had thought this year would be even better than last years 36 lbs.

We decided to make it a family event and everyone was assigned tasks. I use the method recommended to me by my beekeeping mentor and simply scratch the cappings open and then spin the honey out. After filtering the honey through a simple colander we bottled it up. We ended the day with 23.5 lbs and one full frame to show at the fair.

I was a little disappointed with the quantity thus far, but my wife (The Queen Bee) reminded me that we aren't trying to make a living selling honey. Thank goodness for that! She so wisely explained that the kids loved working in 'the honey factory' and it offered them something very special and unique to do with their dad. So true...indeed today was the best day of this beekeeper's season.

Here are some pictures.

Thriving vs. Failing Hive

2009-07-28T21:21:00.013-04:00

Today I went out to harvest the honey from Genesis and Exodus so I would have some honey to show at the local fair next week. More about the harvest in the next post, but a quick hive update.

Exodus: Of course, this hive continues to thrive. Lots of bees and activity and lots of honey stored up for the winter. Could this be a sign of a cold winter to come? I don't know. I need to find a good frame of eggs in this hive as well. There is so much honey that I don't want it to become honey-bound. I have seen minimal eggs in my latest inspections.

Genesis: If a picture is worth a thousand words, I think this comparison tells it all. This is a failing hive. Not a single egg, minimal brood, and no queen cells from the frame I transfered last week into this hive. Honey levels remain low and unless I get a new queen in this hive, I believe it will fail very quickly. Another concerning thing that I saw were hundreds of dead bees on the screened bottom board (after tearing into this hive). The bees are just too depressed to do any housecleaning, or my making the hive entrance too small has limited their ability to clean out the hive. Anyone have any ideas on this? I also believe that this hive is being visited by a skunk or raccoon. I also did a powdered sugar shake on this hive to knock down some of the Varroa.

I think this is why it is important for new beekeepers to always have more than one hive. One can compare and contrast the health and well-being of one hive with another.

From Exodus to Genesis - Transfer of Brood and Eggs

2009-07-20T13:13:00.002-04:00

Today I went back to the hives to check on Genesis.

Genesis: Again, there was very little activity outside. The queen cells remained uncapped, no eggs in sight, and no sign of a queen. I decided to transfer a brood frame from Exodus to Genesis. Needless to say, both hives were a little unhappy with my taking them down to the brood chamber. No stings, but plenty of buzzing around and bumping me. I also reduced the entrance to the bare minimum in order to help them defend the hive. Minor honey stores.

Oddly, I saw some mud on the front entrance which could indicate skunks visiting Genesis. The next time I go, I'll have to place some rolled up wire fence in front of the hive.

Exodus: Plenty of bees, activity, and massive amounts of honey in this hive. Way to go girls!

Hive Check - Good News and Bad News

2009-07-14T17:08:00.008-04:00

Today I took advantage of the nice weather and went out and checked the hives. Here's the report:

Genesis: My concerns about this hive and its well being have been confirmed. First, there was very little activity coming or going. On my last visit, I had put the second super on this hive. Sadly, the bees had not even touched it. The bottom super was still at about 70% complete with no frames looking completely full. Plenty of honey, but no eggs in the top brood chamber. I did see swarm and supercedure cells, but no evidence of a queen. I did see emerging bees so that mean

s that I had a queen at least 22 days ago. If counting by the few larve I saw, then I could safely say that I had a queen 10 days ago. That being said, I believe that this hive either swarmed or has superceded the original queen. My concern is not for honey stores at this time, but rather the population. I'll do another inspection in a week to ensure that a queen does exist and is laying. If not, I'll transfer a frame of brood from Exodus into Genesis and let them raise a queen themselves. I did see a wax moth larve, but only one. This hive will take some monitoring to ensure it survives the winter. (in the photo above, notice the classic honey arch. The interior of the frame should be filled with capped brood and/or baby bees, instead, it's empty. Classic sign of a loss of a queen)

Exodus: Surprisingly, this hive is doing great. The bees were 'boiling' out of the hive. They had completed one super and are onto the second. The top brood chamber is full of honey, massive amounts. No signs of trouble, but I did only see a few cells with eggs. That's good enough. I'll defiantly be taking some honey off of this hive.

Changes Coming...

2009-07-04T15:47:00.011-04:00

After getting some constructive feedback from a friend of mine who is a professional media expert, I am going through the process of changing things around a little with regards to this blog and The Beekeeping Podcast. I'm working to polish up the website and make things a little easier to navigate.

I'm also working on the format of The Beekeeping Podcast. Stay tuned...

If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please send me an e-mail.

For starters, here's the new iTunes icon:

Episode 010 - Hive Inspections - Part I

2009-06-25T11:38:00.013-04:00

In this episode, I share ideas for performing external hive inspections. This episode is part one of a two part series where I cover both internal and external inspections.

If you would like a copy of my hive inspection log sheet, please e-mail me.

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Back Checking The Hives

2009-06-18T22:32:00.003-04:00

Time: 5:30pm
Temp: 82'
Weather: Hazy, clouding up with scattered storms, no wind

In one of my previous podcast episodes, I talked about the importance and effectiveness of simply observing your bees. Today, I employed that technique. Instead of smoking my bees, opening up the hive, and disturbing the work that the bees were doing, I just stayed a few feet back from the hive and observed the bees coming and going. Most beekeepers will tell you that it sets the bees back a day or two of production when you open the hive. Well, I don't know if that's true or not, but I don't like to open up the hive, or disturb it more than I have to.

Genesis:A beekeeping mentor of mine told me that if the bees are bringing in pollen that there are baby bees being born in the hive. There were also lots of bees coming and going. And, as an added bonus, I saw 'washboarding' bees. For those of you who have never seen it, it's either a lone bee, or a group of them, steadily rocking back and forth in rhythm. I haven't found a good explanation, but it's sure interesting to watch. (They are lined up above the mouse guard on the left side of the picture below)

Exodus:This hive had more activity going on as well. I saw some orientation flights and lots of bees coming and going.

I'll likely still do a full inspection next week and look for eggs, brood pattern, and check on the second super I put on earlier this week. I'm still preparing a few more podcasts with suggested show topics.

Honey and the County Fair

2009-06-17T21:33:00.004-04:00

Here in Boone County Kentucky we have a great fair every summer. This year, I'm really looking forward to entering my honey and a frame of capped honey in the competition. Here are the list of possible entry categories.

Open to the World HONEY - SECTION 402
(Honey is entered in the Vegetable & Crops Bldg. on Monday)
ALL HONEY TO BE EXHIBITED IN GLASS CONTAINERS

No Class 1st ($5)2nd ($3)3rd ($2)
001 White Extracted Honey 1 lb.
002 Light Amber Extracted Honey 1 lb.
003 Amber Extracted Honey 1 lb.
004 Dark Amber Extracted Honey 1 lb.
005 Chuck Honey 1 lb.
006 Chuck Honey 2½ lb.
007 Frame of Honey, shallow or medium, any color

Episode 009 - Pests and Diseases - Varroa Mites

2009-06-17T16:43:00.021-04:00

In this episode, I share ideas for detection and management of one of the most destructive pests that beekeepers will likely come across, the Varroa Mite.

Here is more information on treating for Varroa:

The Varroa Mite - Dr. Tom Webster, Kentucky State University

Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium - Varroa Mites

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Hive Inspection - Show Me The Honey!

2009-06-14T08:13:00.003-04:00

Time: 11:30 am

Temp: 73'

Weather Conditions: Hazy, Winds Calm

Today I visited my two hives. I realized it had been a while since my last inspection and I needed to cut the grass and weeds around my hives. The weather here has been a combination of both warm and wet which has given plenty of growth opportunity to the plants and flora in the area.

Both hives were extremely quiet. Not too many bees coming or going, no orientation flights, and not much activity when I opened up the hive. I'm not sure what this means and next week when I have more time, I'll have to do a very through inspection. When I checked the supers that I had put on back in April, each frame showed a beautiful amount of capped honey. The frames were about 70-80% complete. I added another super and closed up each hive.

I hope that I'll get at least one really nice frame to show at the fair this year. My friend let me borrow a really nice display case for frames which I'll detail in another post.

Episode 008 - Why Are Winter Beekeeping Losses Acceptable?

2009-04-24T07:47:00.028-04:00

In this episode, I share my thoughts about an e-mail exchange with Dr. Tom Webster. Dr. Webster is a specialist in Apiculture at Kentucky State University. He responded to my e-mail question, Why Are Winter Beekeeping Losses Acceptable?

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Here is a copy of my e-mail to him and below, his response (posted with permission).

Dr. Webster,

I'm a second-year beekeeper here in BooneCounty, Northern Kentucky. You may not remember me, but you helped me deal with a Varroa problem this past summer. Thank you.

I'm not what I would call a 'typical' beekeeper and find myself reading numerous resources, including web forums, blogs, books, magazines, and papers on beekeeping. One question, or thought, that continues to perplex me is the idea of winter losses of hives.

Let me explain...

As a beekeeper, I can certainly appreciate that honeybees are susceptible to various diseases and pests, similar to every other domesticated species. I can also appreciate that honeybee biology is very complex and their systems have the potential to be exponentially effected by diseases, pests, pesticides, and other factors due to the way in which they live (i.e. crowded conditions, reproductive cycles, division of labor). However, if I was a rancher and experienced significant losses in my numbers or cattle, or, in this case, the number of hives surviving the winter, how is it that, or why is it, that beekeepers seem to accept significant losses in their numbers and yet, seemingly continue to keep bees in the same manner in which they were lost? One example I recently heard was that a local beekeeper who looses his bees in the winter reasons that "the strong will survive and those that don't, oh well". I find this reasoning to be disturbing. In thinking about this issue, I thought about who I could contact for an academic and educated opinion about the matter. I can only imagine the following...

One, that there are a lot of bad beekeepers. Perhaps they don't manage, or mismanage, their colonies well by providing health treatments, poor location of their hives, not enough supplemental feeding, not monitoring the strength of hive numbers (perhaps having been depleted by swarming), neglect, or some other factor.

or

Two, that those things that are effecting the bees are so powerful that accepting winter losses is the new paradigm. I know that several older books that I've seen mention dwindling, but certainly not to the degree that it is talked about and mentioned today. How did beekeeping survive to this day?

or

Three, that the 'way' in which we keep bees has drifted so far from good management practiced by the early pioneers of beekeeping, even going so far back as the earliest records (medieval or earlier). Did early beekeepers have 'acceptable losses' as well? Perhaps using smaller hives, more natural treatments, natural attrition, allowing swarming, etc.

or

Four, some combination of the above. i certainly hope that I've explained my questions well enough. As a new beekeeper, I certainly want to establish good beekeeping habits by being informed, practicing solid management, and being proactive rather than reactive. That being said, I hope you can shed some light on my question/thoughts.

By the way, I checked my two hives of Italians the other day and they were alive and well.

Thank you.
And, here is his response...

Hello Darcy,

Your thoughts are very well reasoned and bear on much of what is happening in beekeeping. In general, the second point you list is probably the most important in winter losses.

Most of us are struggling with pathogens and parasites that are relatively new to the US. The center stage is occupied by the varroa mite. It is bad enough by itself, but it also seems to make pathogens like Nosema disease worse. The newly discovered Nosema ceranae has become quite widely distributed across the US. We have much to learn about it. I have heard some very alarming reports, mostly from large-scale commercial beekeepers, about enormous colony losses which are probably caused by Nosema ceranae and perhaps other factors. Most difficult are the viruses, which can be detected only by sophisticated techniques. They can be controlled mainly by keeping varroa mite levels low. There are 19 known honey bee viruses, and probably more that are to be discovered.

Your first and third points are significant. Some beekeepers are not managing their bees well. But there have always been bad beekeepers. In much of the country winter losses have become worse, and poor beekeeping cannot really explain this. The third point should be focused on commercial beekeeping activities and perhaps new pesticides that affect the behavior of the bees. The practice of hauling hives thousands of miles for crop pollination has almost certainly caused greater varroa and pathogen problems, both directly and indirectly.

However, many hobby beekeepers are like you: Taking good care of their bees and certainly not driving them across the country. My hunch is that many small scale beekeepers have some level of pathogen in their hives. All of us have varroa mites at some level. Possibly some hives are near pesticide-treated crops. If there is little large-scale farming within a 2 or 3 mile radius around your hives, you can probably rule this out. Tracheal mites and small hive beetles are a problem only for a minority of Kentucky beekeepers.

I have wanted for years to get a better understanding of winter losses. As you say, it's disturbing to see many beekeepers accept these losses. Often this happens with colonies that seemed to be healthy the previous fall.

A big part of the problem is in observing and understanding winter losses. We can't check our hives during winter. In our first spring inspection we might find a sad little cluster of dead bees or, more commonly, no bees at all. We can't do an autopsy without a corpse.

So my approach has been to find a way to monitor bee colony health during winter without disturbing the bees. Last Friday I met with a group of techno-whiz folks at UnivKy. They are designing a system which will allow me to monitor temperatures at many spots within the hive. When the bee cluster temperatures start to drop in a particular hive I will know they are in trouble. Then I can open the hive and collect the bees for examination before they disappear. Understanding the problem is the first step toward controlling it.

For beekeepers who have been over-wintering successfully I suggest: 1) Stay with your current management practices. 2) Keep varroa mites at low levels with screened bottom boards, varroa-resistant bees and "soft" chemicals like Apiguard, Apilife, Mite-away. 3) Avoid buying bees, as that could be a source of new pathogens. If you want to increase your number of hives, split what hives you have (typically in May or early June).

I hope this helps.

Tom Webster

Episode 007 - Top Bar Hive Beekeeping, Interview With David Beard

2009-04-23T15:14:00.013-04:00

In this episode I interview David Beard who is a Top Bar Hive Beekeeper. David's beekeeping is a great alternative to the traditional ten frame Langstroth hive.

For more information on Top Bar Hive Beekeeping, here is David's blog: http://tbhbeek.blogspot.com/

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Guest Columnist

2009-04-19T03:50:00.014-04:00

I wrote the following for the Boone County Recorder, printed Thursday, April 16, 2009.

Thank A Beekeeper

As the trees, shrubs, and flowers in our area awake from their winter slumber, take note of the emergence of another, less appreciated, but no less important, visitor to our gardens, the honeybee. Honeybees are emerging from a long, cold winter and are hungry for nectar and pollen. By now, you have no doubt heard of the plight of the honeybee in the United States and worldwide; disappearing bees, dying hives, and a laundry list of pest and diseases that threaten to wipe out honeybees everywhere. As scientists struggle to come up solutions, let alone reasons for the decline, one may ask, what can I do?

You can encourage honeybees to visit your garden by planting a small area for wildflowers and other plants that honeybees like to visit. Limit the use of pesticide applications, and by all means, if you see a swarm of honeybees this spring, call a local beekeeper, they will usually remove the honeybees for free! Finally, take the time to educate yourself, your children, and your neighbors on the benefits of having honeybees around, and, if you are interested, become a beekeeper yourself.

At the very least, thank a local beekeeper. After all, they are working (or their bees are) to put food on your table. The local fresh fruits and vegetables you buy at the farmers market, grocery store, and get from your own backyard garden are the direct result of pollination by honeybees.

If you are interested in becoming a beekeeper here in Northern Kentucky, please visit the Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Association website at http://nkybeekeeepersclub.blogspot.com/.

Darcy Pach is a member of the Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Association, the host of “The Beekeeping Podcast”, and a local beekeeper in Burlington, KY.

Circular Bees

2009-04-19T02:32:00.004-04:00

While visiting my hives last week I snapped a few pictures. I was looking at one of them in more detail and I saw something that is rather odd. Look how the bees have arranged themselves. The queen was not on this frame...at the very least, it's odd.

The Beekeeping Podcast - Episode 006 - Weather for Beekeepers

2009-04-16T09:03:00.009-04:00

The weather plays a big part in the beekeepers life. Not only are there good and bad times to check your hives, but also great websites that beekeepers can use to help them get the most out of good weather opportunities.

I also mention these websites in this episode:

Listener Sites:

David's Top Bar Hive Blog

Brian @ Bubbatanicals

Weather Websites:

The Weather Channel

NOAA Weather

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First Sting and Reversing Spring Hives

2009-04-09T18:30:00.008-04:00

Today was one of the warmer days forecasted for the week so I headed out to the hives. First and foremost, my goals were simple, to reverse each of the brood boxes in order to assist in preventing swarming and to super my hives in hopes of catching some of the spring nectar flow. Because bees move up high in the hive during the winter the bees think they are running out of room so they swarm. Reversing the brood boxes gives the bees plenty of room upstairs. The spring nectar flow is on, so I may be able to catch some of the nice, light spring honey.

When I arrived at the hives I saw plenty of activity outside of each one. Here's how each one looked:

Genesis Observations: A hive full of bees. Bees everywhere! Lots of capped brood, burr comb, and drone comb. The top and bottom brood box had ample stores of honey, nice dark, capped with almost a blackish color wax. I was challenged by multiple bees and the smoker kept them at bay for the most part. However, several bees made it up my pant leg and one managed to sting me. The effect was lessoned by my thick white sock, where later I found the stinger. It felt like a needle prick. No redness or swelling, but I doubt that I got anywhere near the full effect.

This hive looks strong. Plenty of bees, honey, and activity that gives me confidence in the health of this hive. I removed the screened bottom board tray and saw lots of pollen, debris, and yes, mites. I'll have to do a spring count soon. No swarm cells.

Exodus Observations: This hive has always been the weaker? of the two. I'm glad I can compare them. These bees are generally smaller in size, a little more lethargic, but willing to challenge me quicker then Genesis. There were plenty of bees, some capped brood, and I managed to spot Mrs. Exodus herself making her rounds. She was in the bottom brood box in the middle frame. Surprisingly, the frames were not as full of honey like Genesis, but the bees were packing in pollen and some nectar. I'd say that this hive was 1/2 of the weight, population, and capped brood of Genesis. Similarly, the screened bottom board tray was full of debris and dead mites, at least 6 months worth of gunk.

Interesting Article on Colony Collapse Disorder

2009-03-27T02:55:00.006-04:00

I just read an article, published by the BBC on March 5, 2009, regarding Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD has been blamed for the recent disappearance and/or failure of honeybee hives around the world. According to the article, in the U.S. alone, over TWO MILLION hives have been lost! There are dozens of theories about the exact causes of this phenomenon, but no hard evidence as of yet. The basic gist of the article is that some scientists believe that there is no one direct cause of CCD and that it may be, in fact, due to multiple events including rise in parasite populations, agriculture methods, etc. In fact, large population declines may be a natural part of honeybee populations.

I think this article demonstrates the lack of information that science has with regard to honeybees and the complex relationship to the environment honeybees have. So, if science can't solve the problem, what can?

I think good honeybee management practices by beekeepers, even hobby beekeepers, is a start. Taking good care of hives, educating yourself on pest and disease management, and promoting beekeeping within your community is something every beekeeper can do.

Your thoughts?

Here's a link to the article: 'No Proof' of Killer Bee Theory

The Beekeeping Podcast - Episode 005 - Location, Location, Location

2009-03-21T15:44:00.015-04:00

It really matters where your bees call 'home'. If you bees aren't happy with the location, you won't be maximizing their efficiency. In this episode, I discuss how to choose the right location for your hive. And, even if you can't keep bees on your own property, I'll share with you some ideas on how to find someone who will 'host' your hives.

Phil Craft's Website (Kentucky State Apiarist)

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The Beekeeping Podcast, Now on iTunes...Sort Of

2009-03-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

Finally, after a few days of technical difficulties, The Beekeeping Podcast is now available for download on iTunes. Search for "beekeeping" or click here to subscribe on iTunes. You can always listen online by clicking here.

However, from time to time, it keeps disappearing. Therefore, if you don't see it, just click on the link above to subscribe via iTunes.

The Beekeeping Podcast - Episode 004 - Record Keeping for Beekeepers

2009-03-17T00:10:00.014-04:00

In this episode I discuss why good record keeping is important for beekeepers.

Be sure to record your observations, the weather, ideas, notes, photographs, videos, and anything else related to your beekeeping. You'll really enjoy looking back on it one day and see how far you've come.

If you would like to keep a blog about your beekeeping, you can sign up for a free blog here.

To subscribe via iTunes: Subscribe in iTunes

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The Beekeeping Podcast - Episode 003 - Beginner Beekeeping Kits

2009-03-12T21:18:00.006-04:00

In this episode, I share my thoughts on beginning beekeeping kits, the differences, and I give my recommendation for purchasing one.

Show Notes:

Beginner kits range in price from about $130-$300

There are significant differences between beginner kits. The main differences are in the type (wood or plastic) and amount woodenware (number of brood chambers and supers supplied) and a veil or suit. Other more minor differences will be in the accessories (i.e. smoker fuel, included book, or tools)

If you're on a limited budget, then a simpler kit is fine. Realize that you want to harvest honey have to add on at some point soon. If you're serious about beekeeping, by all means, get a deluxe type kit and go for it! You'll save a little money and have everything you need (except bees) to get started today...

To subscribe via iTunes: The Beekeeping Podcast

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The Beekeeping Podcast - Episode 002 - Honey Flow Chart, Bee Updates, and A Book of Bees (Review)

2009-03-10T22:37:00.009-04:00

In this episode of The Beekeeping Podcast, I share my thoughts on my Honeyflow Chart, give an update on my hives, Genesis and Exodus, and also do a brief book review of A Book of Bees by Sue Hubbell.

To subscribe via iTunes: The Beekeeping Podcast

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First Feeding of the Year

2009-03-05T15:38:00.008-05:00

Today's temperatures got into the mid 60's so I took advantage of the mild weather and went out to the hives. Although it was extremely windy with strong gusts, I decided to feed the bees an extra supplement of syrup to keep them from starving. We've had a pretty good winter here, as predicted in my previous post about the Woolly Worms.

The winter recipe for syrup that I used is 2 1/2 quarts of water and 10 lbs of sugar. I used a total of 30 lbs of sugar. Each hive feeder was filled to the brim. Hopefully, this will be enough to carry the bees until the first bloom, which, according to my chart, should be the maple trees.

Both hives had plenty of activity with bees coming and going. The bees on top of the frames were a little lethargic, but that's to be expected.

One very interesting observation I made was the amount of dead bees outside of both hives. The 'undertaker bees', the ones responsible for carrying out the dead inside the hive, were very busy.

Below are two pictures, although not as clear as I like (I've made it a point to take better pictures this year)

Here is Genesis: Lot's of activity.

The work of the 'undertakers'.

The Beekeeping Podcast - Episode 001 - Starting Off Right, Five Things

2009-03-03T11:21:00.009-05:00

In this episode of The Beekeeping Podcast I recommend five things that a beginner beekeeper can do to get started off right in beekeeping.

Here They Are:

1. Join a local beekeeping club

2. Buy or borrow 'Beekeeping for Dummies'

3. Order equipment catalogues from equipment suppliers

4. Find a beekeeping mentor

5. Attend a local beekeeping class, seminar, or workshop.

To subscribe via iTunes: The Beekeeping Podcast

Listen Now:

2009 Beekeeping Plans

2009-02-14T14:49:00.007-05:00

Over the winter I've thought about what I would like to do with my beekeeping during the 2009 season. Last year was my first year and I spent quite a bit of time reading, researching, and just figuring it all out. This year, I plan on doing a few new things, here's what I was thinking about:

1. Podcasting "The Beekeeping Podcast" - Last year, I actually did two episodes of this, but I really wasn't committed. This year, I've got a new microphone and much more material. My main goal is to encourage other people who are just beginning or thinking about getting stated in beekeeping. I hope you'll tune in.

2. Catch a Swarm - After reading so much about swarming, I now want to catch one. I just don't want to see my hives swarm. I've got a swarm box ready and I'm waiting for a phone call from someone who knows where an easy hive to catch is. Last year, I got several calls about 'removing' bees from the inside walls of houses or eradicating hornets, no way. This year, I'd like to start a third hive with a swarm.

3. Photograph More - I've thought about trying to photograph all of the relevant honey flow sources here in Kentucky. The idea would be to share this with other beekeepers to help identify bloom times and kinds of honey they are getting. I also enjoy looking back over my first year in pictures and have committed to taking more detailed pictures for my blog.

4. Enter My Honey In The Local Fair - Last year I only saw one jar of honey at the fair. This year, I'll be entering mine and I hope to encourage others to do the same. Non-beekeepers can't appreciate what they don't see. Besides, I like those blue ribbons!

5. More to come...

They've Survived

2009-02-13T19:14:00.005-05:00

Today's temps got to 50' so I went to check on the hives. I gently tapped on each one and heard them respond with buzzing. That means they're alive and well. I'm so thankful because here in Northern Kentucky we've had a cold, wet winter here. Beekeepers across the country dread this time of year because, in some parts of the country, winter losses are over 50%.

Both hives seed to have good food stores, although Exodus was a little lighter than Genesis.

Now, I'll prepare for a little late winter feeding, and on the next warm day, load them up.

A New Year in Beekeeping

2009-01-12T08:05:00.003-05:00

With the turn of the calendar so begins my second year as a beekeeper. I'm very thankful to all the people who helped me my first year, including those of you who read my blog. I'm encouraged every time I look at the visitor map and see the red dots from new locations and those that grow bigger. I know some of you are non-beekeeping friends and family. Thank you for allowing me to share my experience with you.

As for 2009, I have a few interesting ideas, including cataloging local honey sources here in Northern Kentucky, entering my honey in the local county fair, and continuing to encourage new people to start beekeeping.

There are several beekeeping schools coming up in the local area. If you are interested, please check out this link to the Kentucky State Apiarist. There, Phil gives all the details of upcoming classes, but you have to sign up early for most of these as they fill up very fast.

I look forward to hearing from you all.

Precipitation Data - Cincinnati Area

2008-11-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

At the beekeepers meeting last night we discussed the dearth and how it was effecting the local beekeepers. I decided to do a little research and come up with some monthly data on the local area and what the actual precipitation was. Here is a chart of the results:

For data on your area, visit NOAA's Website.

Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Meeting

2008-11-12T06:47:00.001-05:00

Last night the Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Association had its November meeting. I've been looking forward to getting together with my fellow beekeepers and having a chance to compare notes and discuss a few ideas for the club.

We decided to spend a little money and purchase a couple books for two local libraries here in the area. 'Beekeeping for Dummies' and 'The Beekeepers Handbook', both excellent books for beginners were selected and we'll be buying two copies of each for the local community.

One set will go to the Boone County Library and the other to Campbell County Library.

We also had a few new beekeepers visit the club, one from Ohio and one from West Virginia. They both brought some interesting ideas about their clubs as well as lobbying activities in West Virginia where the state subsadizes beekeeping costs. Interesting...

I also got ahold of a homemade frame display case. I'll be attempting to make one of these this winter.

Goodbye to 2008 Beekeeping Season

2008-10-30T03:53:00.001-04:00

Date: October 28, 2008
Time: 2:00 PM
Temp: 47'
Weather: Cold, Dry, and Windy

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye...the 2008 beekeeping season is done. Today I closed up the hives and did a final check in the bees. Nothing much to report as the temperature was only in the 40's. I didn't even use a veil. Although I nailed in the mouse guards, I would recommend screwing them in. I was only challenged by a bee or two which promptly went back inside after not finding me too interesting. There was plenty of activity inside the hives and they seem like they have plenty of honey stored up for the upcoming winter.

I removed the top feeders, added the mouse guards, tilted the hives forward with a few pieces of scrap wood, spaced the top cover for ventilation, and closed up the screened bottom board.

Thanks to all of you who have written me e-mail or have simply checked out the website. I have some very cool ideas for next year and promise to keep the website interesting and informative in the months to come.

In the mean time, I'll be attending and working to build up our local beekeeping club and look forward to meeting all of the local beekeepers who have contacted me.

First Frost

2008-10-27T23:12:00.000-04:00

Here in Northern Kentucky the weather has definitely turned towards winter. The leaves have been changing, the grass has stopped growing, and while deer hunting near my hives last week, I noticed minimal activity coming from the hives. The temperatures here have been in the 60'-40's range, but tonight is expected to be the first frost of the season.

Tomorrow, I'll head out to the hives for one last seasonal visit. I need to remove the top feeders, tilt the hives a little more, install mouse guards, remove the ApiGaurd, and say good bye to the 2008 beekeeping season.

Visits from Around the World

2008-10-22T06:05:00.000-04:00

I'm amazed at the number of people from all over the world who have visited my website. To date, visitors from six continents have visited.

Thanks to all of you who have sent me e-mails and continue t0 make my website interesting.

Cleaning up and a Bee Battlefield

2008-10-03T15:09:00.000-04:00

Date: October 3, 2008

Time: 2:00 PM

Temp: 67'

Weather: Cool and Dry

This afternoon I went to the hives to install the second round of Apigaurd treatment in both hives. Apigaurd is used to kill off the Varroa mites that have infested my hives. I picked up a few leaves of tobacco from the field and added it to my smoker...mmmmm good. It's said that tobacco smoke is also good for treating Varroa. Both Genesis and Exodus were pretty quite. I checked the weight of both hives and both seem to have a good amount stored up for the winter. I'm terrible as estimating weight, so I'll just say 50lbs? Here's a video of Exodus. (Notice how slow the bees were moving)

I removed the empty supers that were on top of each hive and fed the bees a winter syrup mixture. The recipe is 2.5 qts water and 10 lbs of sugar. Each hive got about 1.5 gallons.

Bee Battlefield

On top of Exodus, underneath the empty super that the bees had been cleaning up, I found dozens of dead bees, cut in half. Strange...I suppose they were battling robbing yellow jackets.

I also saw a field mouse in the area of my hives. So, sometime very soon I'll be installing the mouse guards on each hive.

"You are an adequate beekeeper"

2008-10-02T19:55:00.000-04:00

I took an online beekeeping test. I scored 29/50. The result is the title of this post. I suppose that that's not too bad because the questions were pretty difficult.

Here's the link: Online Beekeeping Test

Let me know how you did...

Wooly Worms

2008-09-30T08:11:00.000-04:00

This post is a little off topic, but does relate to an earlier post. The land owners grow tobacco on the land where my hives are. Here in Kentucky, tobacco is a still popular crop to grow.

The landowner needed some help getting the cut tobacco off the ground and up into the barns. Having never done it before and wanting to learn more about it, I volunteered to help. Needless to say, it was a lot of work and I can definitely say that I don't think I want to grow tobacco in the future. It was however fun to be out there with a few guys doing some manual labor in the sun.

Now, for the interesting part. While picking up this tobacco, we counted the number of Wooly Worms and analyzed the results. The saying goes that an all black Wooly Worm means a cold winter and a black and brown one means a mild winter. The count was 8-1 for a COLD WINTER.

Newspaper Article

2008-09-25T09:06:00.000-04:00

Today the Boone County Recorder, a local newspaper, published an article about me.

Here's a link to the article: 'Beekeeper Blogs Progress'

Paying the Rent

2008-09-24T09:49:00.000-04:00

Early this morning I paid the rent for my hives. Actually, no money traded hands, instead I took both landowners (father and son) a big jar of honey. No fancy labels, no special bottles, just about 4 lbs of honey for allowing me to keep my hives on their property. Both were very appreciative.

I also took the empty supers and wax cappings over to the hives to let the bees clean them off. Since I'm treating each hive with Apigaurd, I put the supers on top of the hives. Immediately, several yellow jackets came over and started eating the honey left on each super. My bees were barely waking up and only a few were flying. Hopefully, they'll clean the wax and supers out within a few days.

The weather here continues to be in the mid 80'-mid 50's with no rain. Beautiful, but a little dry.

Honey Harvest 2008

2008-09-18T21:12:00.002-04:00

I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Today, the whole family worked together and harvested the twenty supers that I pulled off of the hives a few days ago. I did have some honey that tested more than 20% moisture content. So, for the past few days the frames have been sitting in a make-shift tent made of painters drop plastic and a dehumidifier. After a few days the 20% moisture had dropped to around 15%. Oddly, most of my capped honey tested at 18%. My understanding that 18% is on the higher end of honey, but nevertheless, it's honey.

After totally disassembling, washing, and then reassembling the borrowed extractor, we definitely put it to good use. Wow, the electric motor is amazing and really made short work of spinning the honey out of the frames. Everyone pitched in and had a specific task to do. My wife uncapped, the two boys monitored the honey flow gate, and the little one kept the quality control up by taste testing. We had a great time spending time together and working on such a unique project. The boys were totally enthralled with the amount of honey that came out of the frames.

Speaking of amounts, the total take for 2008 was nearly 3 gallons for a grand total of 36 lbs.

The Queen Bee

Teaching the fine art of uncapping

Quality Control Team

My favorite frame for 2008

And a video

For the extraction process, I simply used a stainless strainer for larger filtering and a 'paint filter' for finer filtering. Other than that, it's pure, raw honey. Next step...bottling.

More Feeding

2008-09-18T21:12:00.001-04:00

Date: September 18, 2008

Time: 1:00 pm

Weather: Low 80's, clear and calm

After seeing how much syrup the bees consumed yesterday, I went to Kroger early this morning and bought 40lbs of sugar to feed the bees. It's on sale and I decided to make as much syrup as my feeders would hold. Both hives had plenty of activity upon my arrival and were touching up the last bits of sugar left in the empty feeders. Each hive got 2 1/2 gallons of 2:1 sugar syrup (15 lbs of sugar for each hive). I'm interested to see how fast they can consume that much syrup.

Immediately after closing up Exodus, I noticed a few yellow jackets, a hummingbird and a butterfly checking out things close by. Word must travel fast that there's food nearby...

I also noticed a few inch-worms on the ground close to Genesis, but I don't think they'll be a problem.

Doctoring the Hives

2008-09-17T10:54:00.000-04:00

After a little research and an e-mail from Dr. Tom Webster from Kentucky State University, I've concluded that my hives need to be doctored and treated for Varroa. My mite counts were well over 50/day (50-100 is dangerous).

So, off to the hives... Both hives had activity outside, although, Genesis had more, as always. I opened the lid of of Genesis and was shocked to see that the bees had consumed every bit of syrup I put in yesterday. That was a gallon. Exodus was the same way. Strangely, both hives had literally hundreds of bees drowned dead inside the feeder. I'm not sure what's up with that, other than they were really excited to have something to eat I suppose. The dearth is here and food sources are scarce. I'll have to refill those feeders asap with another couple of gallons of 2:1 sugar syrup.

I also installed a treatment of ApiGaurd which is a chemical that will kill the Varroa mites that are infesting my hives. As directed, I'll give it two applications, two weeks apart. Left untreated, they would surely cause my hive population to dwindle and eventually crash the hive resulting in a total loss. I used an empty super box as a spacer between the top brood chamber and the feeder.

I did not inspect the hive today as my time was limited. I'm still not sure on the course of action I'll take for the suspected Wax Moth. I really need to do a full hive inspection and check for webs, larvae, and damage and confirm their existence in the hive. From the reading I've been doing, Wax Moths are a symptom of a weak hive. Perhaps treating the Varroa will allow the bees to strengthen up and eradicate the suspect larvae themselves.

I also picked up the county owned extractor. It's a really nice three frame, electric driven model. Thanks to the county extension agent, I'll have my honey extracted in no time.

Varroa Count and Possible Wax Moths

2008-09-16T15:14:00.000-04:00

I visited the hives today and saw lots of activity on 'Genesis' and some, but not quite as much on 'Exodus'. Note the 'first flight' taking place at the front of the hive. All of that brood must have emerged!

I fed each hive a 2:1 gallon of syrup in order to shore up their winter supplies. I also pulled the sticky boards off of the hives to check the Varroa count. To my disappointment, after preforming the count, the levels were pretty high, which means that I may have to treat them with some chemicals in order to avoid my hive crashing this winter. I have an e-mail in with the State Apiarist asking for a recommended treatment.

Here are the results: (Calculations based on 120 hrs in hive)

'Genesis'

Total Count - 494

Daily Calculated Fall Rate - 98.8

Hourly Calculated Fall Rate - 4.11

'Exodus'

Total Count - 719

Daily Calculated Fall Rate - 143.8

Hourly Calculated Fall Rate - 5.99

I also found what I believe to be three Wax Moth larvae stick to the sticky board. I have to do some research on this, but may need to pull each hive apart and do a much more through inspection.

Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Association Field Day

2008-09-14T00:47:00.000-04:00

Today the Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Association hosted the annual field day and cook out for members and people interested in getting started in beekeeping.

It was a small group and we beekeepers had a good time sharing our experience and passion with potential new beekeepers. We had a live hive demonstration as well as equipment, reading materials, and even a door prize drawing for one of my bottles of mead. The day concluded with a business meeting, the pledge, and a q/a session.

Removing Honey

2008-09-12T07:23:00.000-04:00

Date: September 11, 2008

Time: 11:00 AM

Temperature: 72'

Weather: Sunny, but clouding ahead of cold front bringing rain for two days

Today was the day! I took the honey supers off both Genesis and Exodus hives. First a few observations:

Both hives were still buzzing with activity, although not as much as in past visits. I believe that this may be due to the cooler temperatures and the end of the honeyflow here in Northern Kentucky. The only major nectar source left is Goldenrod, which as some people may know, is an extremely strong and dark variety of honey.
The drones are still in both hives. As part preparation for winter, the drones (males) are expelled from the hive to maximize food stores.
I observed both capped brood and larvae in both hives.
Honey Robber worked will with minimal disruption and no stings.

Now, a few weeks ago I added an extra super to each hive and rearranged the frames in each hive. Since then, I can't say anything has changed. After taking a good look, I believe that out of the two supers I have about 50% capped honey, 75% total honey stored, and 25% blank. I've secured a dehumidifier to remove some of the water and get the uncapped honey to about 16% moisture level to prevent fermentation.

Monday I'll be extracting the honey with the kids from the county owned extractor. It should be fun and I'm looking forward to seeing the total honey take for 2008.

Mead is Made

2008-09-07T15:50:00.001-04:00

Last year, I bought 5 gallons of 'wildwood' honey from a local beekeeper to brew mead with.

In July of 2007, I brewed a 5 gallon batch of traditional mead using a recipe I found in 'The Joy of Homebrewing' by Charlie Papazian (using about 15 lbs. of honey). Today, after allowing it to age for over a year, I finally bottled it up.

It remains at 14.80% Brix and an alcohol content of 15.75% which is a little stronger than I wanted, but nonetheless, it's delicious. It has a wonderful honey aroma, taste, and sweetness that nothing else can compare to.

I can now add 'Mazer' to the list of titles I carry around.

Here are some pictures from the brewing process.

Bloom Times Chart

2008-09-05T16:03:00.000-04:00

Click for larger image.

While the 2008 beekeeping season isn't finished yet, I'm already planning for next year.

Another thing that I learned this year was that knowing the bloom time of flowers that my bees are visiting is important. Here's something that I put together using some information from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. The information is for Kentucky, but may be useful to others as well.

Interesting Population Chart

2008-09-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

I put together this chart to illustrate the annual population fluctuation within a typical honeybee colony. What is most interesting to me, is where a colony starts out given that it comes from a package (the red circle). Now, the question I have is what does the population chart look like given that I start with a package vs. a nuc or existing hive.? I'm curious if someone knows the answer.

Preparing to Wind It Down

2008-08-29T22:32:00.000-04:00

As the summer draws to an end here in Northern Kentucky, I'm getting ready for the fall and winter beekeeping season. If the predictions of the Old Farmer's Almanac are correct, we're for a colder than normal winter here in Northern Kentucky.

Here's an excerpt:

November will have above-normal temperatures, on average, followed by an exceptionally cold December. After a welcome mid-January thaw, temperatures will be colder than normal in February and March. The coldest periods will be in mid-December, early January, and early February. Precipitation will be near normal in the east and above normal in the west, with above-normal snowfall nearly everywhere. Expect snowfall in time for Thanksgiving, frequent snow in December, and additional snowfalls from January to mid-February.

Today I ordered a few beekeeping items that I need to complete the next phase of my beekeeping season, extraction! I also threw in a few items for wintering my bees.

Most first-year beekeepers are fortunate if they get any honey at all. If you've been following my posts, you know that I have at least 10 frames in each super full of capped honey. I've very fortunate that 2008 has been a good year for beekeepers here in Northern Kentucky.

Here's a list of things that I'll be doing over the next two months:

Extraction of capped honey supers (early September)
Varroa count and treatment if necessary (early September)
Offering of sugar syrup to shore up winter supplies (early September)
Closing up of hive for winter (install mouse guard, reverse entrance reducer, ensure proper ventilation, close up bottom of hive) (early to mid October)

More to come...

Pictures Around the Hives

2008-08-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

Time: 1:30 PM

Temp: 82'

Weather: Mostly Sunny, Slight Breeze N

I had to run to the beeyard today to pick up something I had left behind durning my last visit. I took my camera with me and took some pictures of some of the beautiful wildflowers that are blooming right now. I'm not sure if the bees like these or not, but they really are nice to look at.

Here's the water source (less than 100 yards away) that my bees use.

Ironweed

Queen Anne's Lace -- Daucus carota

Tick Trefoil -- Desmodium sp.

Recommended Resources for Beginners

2008-08-23T16:11:00.000-04:00

I'm often asked how I got into beekeeping. Most of the time what people mean is 'how' I got into beekeeping and learned what I needed to know.

As a first-year beekeeper the amount of advise can get overwhelming, but for those of you who are interested, I've made a top ten list of things that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in keeping bees.

1. Look at the calendar. The beekeeping season actually starts well before spring. A first-year beekeeper will have to order/make hives, buy a few simple tools, and secure some bees, either by mail order or from a local source for delivery in March or April. Either way, the time to start reading, gathering supplies, and preparing for the season is during the winter.

2. Get to know some local beekeepers. The best way to do this is to find the local beekeeping club. If you don't know where to start, contact your local agricultural extension agent, state apiarist, or ask around at the local farmers market. Find out who the local beekeepers are in your area and ask them about their beekeeping activities.

3. Buy, borrow, or check out several books on beekeeping. I highly recommend 'Beekeeping For Dummies' and 'The Beekeeper's Handbook'. Both are excellent resources. Other recommended resources can be found on my blog under 'On My Bookshelf'.

4. Surf the net for topics on beekeeping. Many beekeepers come at it from different angles. You may be interested in pollination, producing honey or honey products, or you may be interested in beekeeping as a business. Whatever your interest, there are literally hundreds of websites that will have information for you. Be sure and check out blogs, web forums, and chat boards.

5. Order supplier catalogs and start getting familiar with equipment. Many suppliers carry slightly different items.

6. Attend a beekeeping workshop or field day. Many beekeeping clubs or organizations will host a weekend workshop on beekeeping. Theses are geared toward the beginner beekeeper and will prove invaluable in building your confidence and knowledge base. (I attended two of these before I ever had bees.)

7. Get to know your equipment and how to use it properly. Practice manipulating the hives, using the tools, lighting the smoker, and manipulating the hive before there are bees in it. Assemble and have it painted and ready to go by the day that you put bees in your hive.

8. Start with two hives. This was a great piece of advise that I got. It allows you to compare and contrast the two hives with each other and lookout for disease and pests. Also, if one fails for any reason, you have not lost all of your beekeeping for the whole season.

9. Don't be discouraged by what happens. When I found out I had mites I was devastated. Then I realized that everyone has them. Bees are natural creatures in an unnatural environment. There will be mishaps, missteps, accidents, defeats, and discouragements. The joy in beekeeping in being successful despite these setbacks. Beekeeping is a very old and time-honored tradition. Only a very special few partake in it. That's what makes it special.

10. Keep a journal, blog, or some type of record of your beekeeping activities. I decided early on to photograph and blog about my experience as a record to refer back to, share with friends and family, and encourage others to become beekeepers.

These are just the main points that I wanted to stress to anyone who is looking at becoming a beekeeper. If you are interested, let me encourage you to e-mail me and tell me about your interest. I'd love to hear from you.

Just Delighted

2008-08-21T19:57:00.000-04:00

Today I checked both hives and the progress that the bees had made on the honey supers. I also took a reporter from the Boone County Recorder with me. She interviewed and photographed me along with the hives for an upcoming article.

Well, after looking under the cover of Genesis, I think 2008 will be a great year for me as a first-year beekeeper. The top honey super was nearly completely capped. I rearranged a few frames and checked the second super. I must have put them back in the wrong order last time because the second (lower) super was pretty much devoid of any activity or progress.

Exodus had all ten frames capped and nearly every space was filled. I added a second super to the top of it and closed it up.

I'm estimating that each frame was 3-5 lbs, that could mean nearly 100 lbs of honey (gross)?

Is Fall Here?

2008-08-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

Over the past few days I've been looking around my garden and noticing that things seem to be signaling the end of summer. We've also had very little rain in the past few weeks and that too could be having an affect on the trees, plants, and flowers. Perhaps the most poignant example are my grapes seem to have stopped growing completely and are not hardening up for the winter.

The bees and insects are busy and every morning, I've watched the bumblebees working my raspberries and potted flowers. There seem to be quite a few wasps out lately too.

I have not checked my hives recently, but will be in the next few days.

Thinking About Winter Plans

2008-08-06T03:23:00.000-04:00

Based on some information I got at the Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Club meeting, I need to make a few notes here about my plans for the upcoming next few months.

Pulling Supers - Sometime around Labor Day, I'll be pulling my honey supers. I have been advised that for this area they should go back on April 1st. Pull non-completed supers and freeze to kill wax moths.

Closing up the hive - After 1st frost. Use mouse guard. No wrapping up hives. Make sure and tilt hive for water discharge.

Feeding - May change my current method of feeding to top drip-down mason jars for winter. Also, I may want to consider pollen paddy around the 1st warm day of winter.

Requeening - Not annually, unless a lot of drone brood is spotted.

Deep hive inspections - Not necessary this time of year.

Hive Reversal - Reverse hive bodies in spring to discourage swarming.

Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Club Meeting

2008-08-06T03:15:00.000-04:00

This evening I attended the bi-monthly meeting of the Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Club. As is always the case, we had a great discussion about the current state of the honey crop here in Northern Kentucky. The consensus is that 2008 is shaping up to be a great year, even for us beginners.

One of the great things about being a member of the local club is the ability to ask questions and get information from seasoned beekeepers. As a beginner, I've found the more information the better. I was encouraged to see several other 1st year beekeepers at the meeting and look forward to getting to know each one.

If you're a beginner or are just interested in learning more about bees and are in the Northern Kentucky area, we meet the first Tuesday of every other month at the Boone County and Campbell County Extension offices. Our next official meeting will be in November at the Boone County office.

By the way, I absolutely love the fact that we say the "Pledge of Allegiance" to our American Flag before each meeting.

Taking A Peek

2008-07-30T03:33:00.000-04:00

I decided to check on the progress of my honey supers and see how the bees were coming along.

It's been pretty hot and dry here lately, although the month of July finished up only less than 1/3" less than normal for precipitation. Both hives had a fair amount of activity on the outside of the hives and plenty of 'first flights' could be seen.

Genesis: Looking underneath the lid on this hive I was a little disappointed to see that the bees hadn't really touched the second super yet. The first super was still about 80% complete. I was really excited to see the amount of propolis that the bees had managed to set into this hive. Amazingly, the new woodenware I had for the past few months now has a beautiful reddish tint to it. I managed to scrape some off and actually tried eating it. Tasteless!

A look deeper into the hive revealed massive amounts of honey and capped brood. Fewer eggs, but I did see them. I'd estimate that each frame weighs at least 8 lbs. I didn't explore down into the lower brood chamber and I'm told, it's not necessary.

Exodus: The bees are just now working on this honey super. As has been the case for the entire season, this hive seems to be about a week behind Genesis. As usual, the Exodus bees were a little more aggressive and were bumping my veil during my inspection. The reddish propolis stain was everywhere and the top brood chamber was filled with honey, capped brood, eggs, and bees. I saw a bee emerging from its cell and watched as it chewed its way out, that was a first for me.

I did have to pull some weeds and grass that were obstructing the hives a bit, but other than that, no other maintenance issues.

15 Minutes of Fame

2008-07-29T14:48:00.001-04:00

Well, it happened. Finally...

I've been waiting for the Cincinnati Magazine article to come out. It finally did. Larry Nager, the author, contacted me about two months ago and inquired about my beekeeping website and asked to interview me about my beekeeping experience.

He wrote a great article on local beekeeping, complete with a cast of characters that I personally know from around here.

As the article states, it's been a good year here and I'm off to do a check of the hives. I may even have the supers filled by now.

Here's a link to the article:

Honeybee hobbyists provide a sweet boost to an important insect.

An On a Personal Note

2008-07-25T22:26:00.000-04:00

Today we welcome our baby boy and baby girl into the world. Both babies are doing well and so is mama.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! (Psalm 100)

A New Solar Wax Melter

2008-07-23T21:37:00.000-04:00

Over the past few months, my bees have built comb in unusual shapes and in spaces where I don't want them to build. During each inspection, I've made it a habit to remove this 'burr comb' and keep it. Initially, I didn't know what I was going to do with it. I kept it in a sealed, plastic container. Keep in mind, some of this comb has eggs, larvae, and pupae in it, so it can get quite rank after a few days.

So, after researching my options on what to do with all of this stuff, which I did not want to waste, I decided to build a solar wax melter. I found some very simple plans for a small, cheap, and easy to use wax melter. Materials include a cooler, a piece of glass, a container with water, a paper towel, and a rubber band.

The premise of this contraption is that the sun will heat the air and comb, the wax will drain through the paper towel, and the water will keep the wax from sticking to the bottom container.

I also consulted two trusted advisors (one my dad, a chemist, and the other my boss, an engineer). I believe that the thermal value is most efficient with one simple piece of glass. I did have doubts about the paper towel holding up, as did the engineer I consulted, but after three successful melts, it does not tear and holds up fine.

Bees wax melts at about 145' F and so at the end of the day you end up with burnt, nasty blobs of bee goo and in the bottom container, there floating on the water is beautiful filtered bees wax.

You can find plans to make your own here. Total cost was under $6.00. They retail for over $300. Of course, these are wooden and have metal drip pans. Mine works just as well, just on a smaller scale.

Tracking Bees

2008-07-23T17:07:00.001-04:00

This evening, while sitting outside on the back patio, I saw some honeybees giving my hummingbird feeder a good workover. Several bees were lapping up the sweet red sugar water and returning to their hive (somewhere east) via flying in between my and my neighbors house.

I decided to try a little experiment and doused the bees with powdered sugar. I wanted to see if the same bees were returning to the feeder. Sure enough, I saw the same bees coming back, time and time again.

The kids thought this was pretty cool. So did I.

Adding Second Super

2008-07-11T18:38:00.000-04:00

Date: July 10, 2008
Time: 2:30 PM
Weather: Mid 80's, No Wind

I added the second super to Genesis today. Not much else is happening. I'm still working on finding a way to build my own hives.

Trying to Build a Nuc

2008-06-29T22:24:00.000-04:00

Ok, so for the last week or so, I've been trying to build a nuc hive. I have a lot of tools, but my table saw, which I'm using to cut box joints, doesn't want to cooperate.

First, i tried to build a jig to make my box joint cuts easier and more accurate. Then, after realizing that things could go easier with a dado blade, I decided to check into that. The arbor on my saw blade is too short, so no dado blade can be used.

Next, I tried using my router with a 3/4" bit, but the wood likes to chip out. So, that seems to be out.

Next, I'll look at buying the aluminum box jig and trying that with my saw. If that doesn't work, I may have to look at stepping up in saw. Well, funny how it works because it's still cheaper than buying hives. I'd still rather build them myself and I'm not giving up just yet.

It's just frustrating...but as I told my older son, if it was easy, it wouldn't be worthwhile.

Next Year's Plans

2008-06-23T10:33:00.000-04:00

I'm already thinking about next year and if I want to increase the number of hives I manage. Realistically, I'd like to add at least one more hive, possibly two, but as other beekeepers know, equipment is expensive. I'm just hoping that I can break even this year with a little honey from my two existing hives. That's why this weekend I stated building a nuc hive. I thought I'd give it a try. The cost is exponentially cheaper and with the help of my woodworking neighbor, I think I just may be able to build them myself.

Another question is where to put any new hives. I'm sure I'd have no trouble adding them to my existing beeyard plot, but a little closer to home would also be nice. I'll have to think on that one for awhile.

I'm just hoping that I can break even this year with a little honey from my two existing hives.

'Exodus' Videos

2008-06-19T20:50:00.000-04:00

Here are two short videos I shot of 'Exodus'. I really like the idea of taking video of the hives and will have to think about developing this further.

Orientation Flights and Entrance:

Top of the Brood Frames:

Hive Check

2008-06-19T17:14:00.000-04:00

Date: Thursday, June 19, 2008

Time: 1:30 PM

Weather: 77', Slight Wind

I stopped by the hives today to pick up the bottom boards, feeders, and completely remove the entrance reducers. The colonies should now be strong enough to defend themselves as well as utilize the larger entrance for better ventilation.

Both hives had great activity outside the hives with lots of bees taking orientation flights and foragers returning from gathering nectar and pollen. I saw several bees with full pollen sacks in each hive.

I only checked the honey supers and the top brood boxes, of which neither hive had any evidence of drawing out comb. Each hive had strong brood patterns, eggs, and lots of activity in the honey portion of the frames. In the Genesis hive, I switched the end frames to encourage more building on the remaining portions that had not been built upon.

I'm not sure how the cooler weather we've been having (low 50's and high 70's) will affect the honey flow, but I'm pleased with the health and progress of each hive.

Great News, Varroa Analysis

2008-06-15T09:21:00.000-04:00

I received word back from Dr. Tom Webster from Kentucky State University. Here is his e-mail:

Darcy,

These sticky board counts look pretty good. They come to 26 per day and 10 per day. If the counts come to 50 per day or higher be aware that they are getting in the danger zone.

The fall of mites is higher during very hot weather (above 90, as we have had recently). If your sticky boards were in the hives during this hot spell, the numbers will give you over-estimates. In other words, the mite populations are not as high as they appear to be.

Are you using screened bottom boards? If not, I recommend that you get some and swap them for the solid bottom boards. This is a good way to get rid of live mites that fall from the bees. And they are especially useful during hot spells when the mites tend to lose their grip on the bees.

Also, you do not need to feed syrup now. The bees have had plenty of time to find flowers and there is a good honey flow on in most parts of the state.

Tom

So, I'm in good shape. I'll continue to monitor the Varroa Counts. I'm thrilled that my supers are on and the bees are now busy collecting my honey.

Varroa Sticky Board Test Results

2008-06-13T21:32:00.000-04:00

I stopped by the hives after work today. Both hives had bees busily milling about at the entrances. I simply slid out the screened bottom board from the back of each hive and headed home to check the results. Using my fly-fishing magnifying glass my oldest son and I counted each sticky board.

Here are the 48 hour test results: Genesis: 52 Exodus: 20

Here's another close up of the mites. They are the oval dark buggers.

Installation of Screened Bottom Boards

2008-06-11T20:07:00.000-04:00

Temperature: Mid 80's

Weather: Sunny, Slight Wind

Time: 2:00pm

Today was the first day in quite a while that my schedule and the weather synced up and allowed me to install the screened bottom board as a defense against Varroa.

Genesis and Exodus were both abuzz with activity. Bees were busy flying to and fro. The syrup feeders were both completely empty and lots of burr comb was built up in between the screen and the frames. The bees didn't even seem to notice me while I was doing the inspection. Eight out of the ten frames in the new chambers either had honey or capped brood in it. Some of the frames were very heavy, laden with honey for the bees. I checked out all twenty frames, never seeing the queen, but plenty of eggs, larva, and signs of a strong queen. The brood pattern looked good. Most of the frames in the bottom brood chambers were empty and the bees seemed to be cleaning them out or repacking them with...pollen?

The only thing that got the bees stirred up was me taking apart their whole hive to install the screened bottom boards. It only took a few minutes, but the bees were flying all around and surely would have stung if I was not in my full bee suit.

Since the second brood chambers were full, I removed the syrup feeders and added queen excluders and a honey super (this will be be where the honey that I take is stored by the bees).

I installed a 'sticky-board' to conduct the 48hr test and will send the results to the state apiarist, Phil Craft.

It's just my observation, but Exodus now seems just as strong in temperament, building levels, and population as Genesis. Perhaps the funk they were in is over, perhaps not. Whatever it is, it looks like it just may shape up to be a good honey year.

Here's a short clip of Genesis I took with the Flip-Video camera.

I'm in the Local Paper

2008-06-09T21:27:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, June 8, 2008 I made it on the front page of the local section of the Cincinnati Enquirer. I'm quite proud of that. My mother-in-law gets the credit for taking the picture.

Northern Kentucky Beekeepers Meeting

2008-06-03T08:02:00.000-04:00

Tonight I attended the Northern Kentucky Beekeepers meeting at the local extension office. There were about 25 people there, although not all of them beekeepers.

It was great meeting all of the local beekeepers and I was encouraged by the willingness to assist new beekeepers such as myself.

It was a coincidence because Phil Craft, the Kentucky State Aparist, was there to discuss Varroa and treatment options. Wow! I could not have planned it better. Phil went through a great presentation and discussion about Varroa. It was just what I needed. He also answered some basic questions I had about inspecting the hive and how to best accomplish it.

I highly recommend getting to know other beekeepers in the area. I think building those relationships will prove invaluable in the future.

Letter to the Editor of Bee Culture Magazine

2008-06-01T21:36:00.000-04:00

Bee Culture magazine is a great resource for beginners. I've had my subscription since early this year and always look forward to reading each issue cover-to-cover. Once and a while, I feel compelled to comment on an article(s) I read. Tonight was just such a time. So, I sent the following e-mail to the editor;

In Defense of Chemicals

I’ll preface this by saying that I am a first-year beekeeper, and quite possibly, very naive when it comes to the long-term issues regarding the use of chemical treatments. I’m also a hobby beekeeper which means that my two hives aren’t going to break me financially if things go bad. That being said, I’m simply astonished by the overwhelming ‘hysteria’ and negative stigma that chemical treatments get. Those who decry treating with anything less that a full ‘organic’ or mechanical means must surely must know that hiving bees in wooden boxes is just as ‘unnatural’. Has the global warming fervor of ‘natural at all costs’ despite proof spilled over into beekeeping as well? Or perhaps a better analogy would be those who don’t believe in inoculating humans against diseases such as smallpox, measles, etc. because it too is unnatural. As a beginning beekeeper with numerous questions about how to keep healthy bees, I implore those who truly know the science to step forward and raise up the knowledge base of the next generation of beekeepers.

Darcy Pach
Burlington, KY
www.nkybeekeeper.com

Preparing to Attack

2008-05-29T19:56:00.000-04:00

After getting my response from Phil Craft, the Kentucky State Apiarist about my Varroa problem, I have formulated my plan of attack against the little mites that would, if left alone, be a death sentence to my hive(s).

Phil suggested that I conduct a 'stick board' test to count the mites. I'll use Apigaurd, a chemical treatment that is safe for the bees and humans. This will knock out some of the mites and allow me to count the dead ones to give a rough estimate of the level of infestation.

After that, my plan of attack is as follows;

First, I'll be installing a screened bottom board to help keep mites that are groomed off the bees from crawling back up into the hive. The mites fall down through a screen and cannot physically crawl back into the brood chamber where the bees live.

Second, based on the test results and mite count, I will either dust them with powdered sugar (this encourages grooming and the loosening of mites), or I'll go ahead with a full chemical treatment.

Third, I'll continue to test and count mites to monitor levels.

After about four days of research, I've realized that mites are a factor that most beekeepers have to deal with. Levels can be controlled through various chemical and mechanical methods. It seems that the key is early detection and monitoring. So far, I feel a little ahead of the curve and feel like I caught it early enough.

I can't stress enough the importance of having good resources to lean on. Thank you Phil for your prompt response (even on a holiday).

Varroa Update

2008-05-25T21:20:00.000-04:00

This evening, my sons and I got out the microscope their nana had given them (thanks nana). We poked around in several of the chunks of burr comb containing larvae and confirmed the Varroa mite infestation. Here are a few pictures that I sent to Phil Craft, the Kentucky State Apiarist asking for his advice.

Varroa Destructor

2008-05-25T08:50:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, while examining a few of the odd pieces of burr comb, I came across a section that was full of larvae. Being a little curious I tore the front cover off and out oozed an immature bee. Along with the bee I spotted a Varroa mite! As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what it was and I completely forgot to write about finding it.

Now, here is where I'll begin my research on treating this. My first thought is that it's not too bad since I'm not taking any honey yet and it's early in the season. But, I'll have to check on that.

This picture is from the Wikipedia.

Lots to Report

2008-05-24T17:17:00.000-04:00

Date: Saturday, May 24, 2008, Time: 1:30pm

Temperature: Mid 70's,

Weather: Sunny, slight breeze

We just returned back from checking on the hives. It's the first time looking 'under the hood' since installing the second brood box. My oldest son came with me today. He was just too excited that I didn't have a chance to adjust his helmet, oh well. He looks great anyway!

Genesis - This hive was a true buzz of activity. Just look at the picture. Bees were everywhere, flying to and fro. Plenty of activity and the bees were full of pollen upon their return. Very little, if any syrup has been taken. The bees appear to be well fed elsewhere. They had build out about three frames of the second box and started on several other frames in the second box. The first box was about 70% full. Newly hatched bees had left their abodes and were part of the explosive population growth that appears to have taken place.

The only problem with this hive is the burr comb that the bees had built between the middle frames linking box one and box two. It's a sticky, nasty mess, that when I scrape it off, I kill and anger bees. Here are two pictures of what I'm dealing with. There were plenty of larvae, eggs, and evidence of an otherwise strong hive. Adjusted entrance reducer to larger, 4", setting.

Exodus - On the other hand, and in stark contrast to Genesis, the bees in Exodus were barely visible. There were bees flying in and out of the hive, but none hanging around like on Genesis. I should have snapped a picture so you could see the difference. Similarly, the bees had build out the same amount of comb on the second box, and again, had build a fair bit of burr comb between the first and second box frames. The bees had not taken any syrup. Again, plenty of evidence of eggs, larvae, and recently hatched baby bees. One interesting observation in this hive was the 'sawdust' looking powder on the rear (from the entrance) bottom board. I wonder what that is. Pollen? I'll have to read up on that and inquire with some of my beekeeper friends. Adjusted entrance reducer to larger, 4" setting".

I've said from the start that this hive is radically different from Genesis. The bees build comb different and have a different temperament, yet seem to be at the same place as Genesis, despite their outward behavior. I'm really glad that I went with two hives this year, despite being a little more work, it is beneficial to see the differences in the two.

Lessons Learned: Keep removing burr comb, no matter how much of a task it is.

Fill'er Up

2008-05-19T07:10:00.000-04:00

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2008
Temperature: Mid 60's
Weather: Sunny, windy
Time: 3:30pm

After the week of cool weather and rain, I decided to stop by the hives and check on the syrup levels. Neither looked like they had really been touched, but I ended up adding one gallon to each hive anyway.

Both hives had good activity. Genesis had some bees hanging out on the outside between the brood chambers. One strange thing, outside of Genesis, there were hundreds of pollen packings dropped on the ground. I'm not sure what's up, but it seems like a waste to me. Perhaps I should invest in a pollen trap next year.

Exodus had a little less activity and I had to pull the entrance reducer back out. It looks like it had been blown in by some wind, creating a larger space for the bees to enter.

Currently Blooming: Black Locust Trees, Honeysuckle, Lavender, Strawberries, Rasberries, and blackberries.

Week 3.5 - Fourth Hive Check

2008-05-11T06:28:00.000-04:00

Today I got to visit the hives for the fourth time.

Temperature: Mid 60's
Weather: Sunny, slight wind
Time: 5:30pm

#1 - 'Genesis' - Some minor activity outside the hive . Bees returning to hive with full pollen sacks. No Activity on frames 1,2, 9, 10. Minor activity on frames 3, 7. Capped brood, pollen, and honey on 4,5,6. Frames continue getting heavier. Continued nice larvae and egg development. Did not see the queen (is she really there?). Feeder has not been being fed on. Added one gallon of syrup. Added second brood chamber.

#2 - 'Exodus' - Half the activity of hive # 1 outside upon arrival. After working with 'Genesis' I noticed no activity on the outside of this hive and had a slight moment of panic (CCD?), then realized it was getting late in the day. As compared to 'Genesis' this hive has considerably less activity inside hive. Not so much in numbers, but overall. Bees also seem a little smaller than other hive. After several trips to the hive, I am now convinced of this. No more droppings on hive enterance or on top of frames. Still no activity on frames 1,2, 9,10. Lots of burr comb throughout hive, especially leading up to feeder from top frames, what a mess. Emptied feeder, scraped burr comb out, and added fresh gallon of syrup. Feeder has not been being fed on. Comb being drawn out nicely on 4,5,6. Capping of honey on top and outside edges of hive. Several flying in my face to investigate me, similar to last week. Seemed slightly more aggressive than #1. Added second brood chamber.

I believe that this hive is suffering from something. Either it's due to me originally installing 9 frames or something biological. These bees just seem slower, smaller, more aggressive, and slower builders, except for burr comb.

I did manage to get my smoker going much better with a little newspaper, smaller twigs, and a little patience.

Lessons Learned:
Don't visit the hives late in the day.

Three Weeks of Beekeeping

2008-05-09T08:11:00.001-04:00

After three weeks of beekeeping I feel like I’m getting the hang of it. Not that there’s a lot to do, it’s just knowing what to do and when to do it that seems to be the biggest issue for a beginner.

For example, in the first three week period I’ve had to ‘redo’ two things on my hives. The first was reconfiguring the entrance reducer to its proper setting for a new colony. The second was remove the nine frame spacers and change from a nine frame brood chamber to the standard ten frame. The entrance reducer was an easy fix and simple to fix. I don’t think that there were any ill effects from this simple mistake. The second, confusing a nine frame brood box with a nine frame super was the result of me confusing a statement made at the recent beekeeping school I attended. Right off the bat, I noticed that this hive had a lot of burr comb, was more aggressive, and its population seemed to be lower than the ten frame hive. It too was an easy fix, but I think it may have been a little more traumatic to the bees. I had to remove the frames, remove the spacer, and then add back the frames. All the while, bees were flying everywhere, and hopefully, I didn’t smash the queen in the process. I did add the tenth frame and quickly shut up the hive. I believe all will be well.

Another important lesson I’m learning is just how many opinions (as there are in most things) about the ‘right’ way to do things. There are lots of opinions about this and that, but I’ve found that sticking to the mainstream methods for the first year is probably best. Again, the nine vs. ten frame issue comes to mind. Having a plan, before going out to the hives, preparing for what I may find, preparing equipment, and taking care of issues when they arise seems to be the best method.

I’ve also found that having a few other beekeepers as resources is a good idea. I am planning on meeting up with the members of the local beekeeping club in the next few weeks. I talked with the head of the club and her few probing questions made me realize what a valuable resource she will be in the future when I do have questions or problems. I’ve also made it a point to follow a few beekeeping bloggers on the internet. Again, more opinions, but I’m also not limiting myself to the ‘local’ knowledge base either.

In summary, I’m finding out that patience and knowledge go hand-in-hand and when caring for bees and that decisive action, attention to details, and simple observation are key to ‘managing’ hives. It’s a lot easier that I thought and I’m a lot more confident in my abilities to read the signs. I’d recommend that a new beekeeper become familiar with some of the basic techniques of doing this, either by learning from others, or by reading, all the while keeping in mind that there are as many opinions out there are there are beekeepers.

Week Three - 3rd Hive Check

2008-05-07T05:32:00.001-04:00

Today I got to visit the hives for the third time.

Temperature: Low 70's
Weather: Sunny, slight wind

#1 - 10 Frame Hive -Lots of activity outside the hive. Bees returning to hive with full pollen sacks (yellow and red). Minor activity on frames 1,2,3,8,9,10. Comb being drawn out nicely on 4,5,6. Frames getting much heavier. Good brood and honey capping. Good brood pattern. Nice larvae and egg development. Did not see the queen. Bees bubbling out of the top of hive. Feeder has been being fed on. Need to add syrup next week.

#2 - 9 Frame Hive (Now 10 frame hive) - Half the activity of hive # 1 outside. Bees returning to hive with full pollen sacks (multi-color). Less activity inside hive. Seemed a little lethargic. Still no activity on frames 1,2,3,8,9,10. Lots of burr comb throughout hive. Comb being drawn out nicely on 4,5,6. Capping of honey on top and outside edges of hive. Several flying in my face to investigate me. Seemed more aggressive than #1. Removed frames, removed 9 space divider, added tenth frame. Feeder has been being fed on. Need to add syrup next week. Similar to last week, attempted sting on gloves.

Lessons Learned
Brood Box - Never use nine frames in brood box.

Week Two - 2nd Hive Check

2008-04-30T14:51:00.001-04:00

Today I got to visit the hives for the second time.

10 Frame Hive - Plenty of activity outside the hive (as expected with temps in the mid-50's). Bees returning to hive with full pollen sacks. Still no activity on frames 1,2,3,8,9,10. Comb being drawn out nicely on 4,5,6. Some capping of honey in corners and on top of frames. I could not find the queen, but did see eggs and that is evidence enough. It doesn't appear that the bees are touching the syrup feeder. Bees were very disinterested in me. Lots of bees packed in to three of four middle frames.

9 Frame Hive - Plenty of activity outside the hive (as expected with temps in the mid-50's). Bees returning to hive with full pollen sacks. Still no activity on frames 1,2,3,8,9,10. Comb being drawn out nicely on 4,5,6. Capping of honey on top and outside edges of hive. Bees more lively that nine frame hive. Several flying in my face to investigate me. Saw first pupae (I'm going to be a daddy!). It doesn't appear that the bees are touching the syrup feeder.

Lessons Learned

Smoker - Get it lit right the first time, then I won't have to worry about it going out. Don't rest smoker on hive, place it on the ground. Bees seemed better when smoke was not constantly blowing on them.

Camera - Take lots of pictures! The ones I did take, turned out nice (see below).

Warmer Weather - May not want to visit hives when temps are less than 60'.

Cracking Open the Hives

2008-04-24T21:34:00.001-04:00

Today was the day I'd been waiting for. I cracked open both hives. I lit my smoker, dawned my suit, and grabbed my tools and went to work. Here is what I found...

First, both hives had considerable less activity on the outside than two days ago. I think this was due to the weather clouding up a bit and being a little gray outside. I did notice that both hives did have bees coming and going, just not as many as before.

The 10 frame hive had a good bit of syrup missing. I'd estimate that about half of the original two gallons was gone. The bees were quite pleasant. I got really nervous when I confirmed that I had installed the queen cage incorrectly. Despite that, i was pleased that she had been released. I immediately noticed that the bees had been busy building up on the fifth, sixth, and seventh frame. There were lots of bees in the hive, and I could not find the queen. I think this was due to the weather and many bees just stayed inside today. I did see that the bees had been bringing in pollen due to the dark brown, red, and yellow filled comb. Also, I noticed clear, built up comb with what looked like clear syrup inside. I think this is where the eggs will be/are deposited, but I cannot confirm that I saw eggs. In the middle of inspecting this hive, my smoker went out. Note to self: pack the smoker full of fuel next time! I moved the hive off of the lousy milk carton stand and put four cinder blocks underneath it instead. I also switched the entrance reducer to the smallest opening and confirmed that the bees could enter and exit. I added a gallon of sugar syrup to the feeder. I'll recheck this hive in a few days.

Hive number two, the nine frame hive looked pretty much the same. Again, about half of the two gallons of syrup was gone. These bees seemed a little more active with me around. I noticed the queen had been released and I found her almost immediately. I'm glad I had them marked. I also saw the same pollen and build up on framed five, six, and seven. I this hive, I can confirm eggs(?). I think I saw them anyway. I have to get better at spotting them. The bees had built up some burr comb around the queen cage which I removed. One of the bees didn't care to much for that and I watched her attempt to sting me through my leather gloves. It was fascinating as she pointed he body almost straight up, then pushed down and shook violently. I watched the stinger come out and take her venom sack and part of her guts out with her.

One thing that I've noticed about this hive is a few bee poops (for lack of a better term) at the front entrance of the hive. I noticed one on top of the one of the brood frames as well. They are long, yellow, and look like long, narrow spatters. I know that this can be a sign of Nosema, so I'll watch this. I am treating for this already, but will continue to monitor for other signs. I fixed the entrance reducer and added another gallon of syrup.

All in all, it was a great day. I did learn a few lessons and realize that with time, I'll get better and more confident.

I did install my queen cage incorrectly. Why then do they make them that way?

I Just Had To Look

2008-04-22T11:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I did a drive-by. I went by to collect the shipping cages. Both hives were a flurry of activity. Just outside of each hive was a pile of dead bees. I even saw one being drug out by the 'undertakers', the bees responsible for removing dead bees from the inside of the hive.

I also observed, what I believe to be the bees taking orientation flights. From what I have read, the younger bees will fly out of the hive and then hover in front of the hives to 'orient' themselves to the geography surrounding their hive. I did see a few darting here and there, obviously going somewhere else, perhaps to the pond for water or to search for food.

I also noticed a few yellow droppings outside the hive which is bee feces (they go outside).

Thursday, I'll head over and crack open each hive and check out the queens and make sure they are released and laying eggs.

I'll also fix the entrances, stands, and check the syrup levels.

1st Lessons Learned

2008-04-20T22:26:00.000-04:00

Not knowing what my bees are up to is driving me crazy. I've been replaying the installation over and over in my mind, thinking about all the things that I did, and may not have done right.

Tonight after dinner, I sat down and read through a few of me beekeeping books. Here are a few things that I need to 'correct'.

1. Entrance Reducer - I need to correct the position and change the larger hole for the smaller one. I used the larger one. I'll do this Thursday or Friday

2. Hive Stand - I need to swap out the milk crate and current cinderblock configuration for a new, sturdier one. I'll hold off on this until the first brood chamber is filled in a few weeks.

3. Queen - This is the big unknown. All of the books say not to disturb the hive for at a week, lest the bees kill the queen for 'disturbing the hive'. That puts me into late this week. I'll do a drive by on Tuesday and open check the queens on Thursday or Friday and make sure they have been released.

One other thing that I've thought of is to put a motion sensor wildlife scouting cameras on one of the trees by my hives. That way, I can watch for skunks or other critters that my be disturbing my hives. I can pick one of these up at Wal-Mart for about $75. Just a thought...

Home Sweet Home

2008-04-19T20:38:00.001-04:00

My bees are in their hives. After a trip down south to pick up my bees, I installed them later this afternoon. Installing them was so much easier than I thought it would be. After only a few minutes, they were in their hives. I fed them each two gallons of sugar syrup, one of which is treated with Fumagilin-B which treats for a honeybee disease known as Nosema.

A couple of thoughts:

First, I don't like the hive stand configuration that I have. I need to use a total of 8 cinderblocks, where now I have four. Also, the milk crate idea that I had seen on the net is useless. Tuesday, I'll be fixing these issues.

Second, although I like the full body suit for protection, I can't see using it during the middle of summer. I think I'll either get just a jacket, or just use a veil and long sleeve shirt and jeans. It's a little much, but I have to admit, it did offer a degree of confidence and allowed me to work with the bees without worrying one bit.

Third, I'm not sure how the queen installation went. I think I turned the queen cage the correct way. I'll know more on Tuesday.

Fourth, I need to measure the syrup and record how much they are taking. I found very little about this matter in my research.

Take a good look at the picture with the pond in the background. This is where the bees will get their 'cooling water' from. The landowner/farmers thought this would be a good spot. I agree. He was nice enough to clear a little area amidst some trees for my hives. This should be a nice spot with morning sun, afternoon shade, and some evening sun again. Thanks to him, I've got a beautiful spot, quiet, and peaceful for my bees.

Now ladies, the rest is up to you!

Stormy Weather?

2008-04-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. South wind between 3 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Three days to go and I've got a bit of work to do.

First, I've got to go and pick the final site for my two hives. There's been a little delay in getting that done, but tommorrow, hopefully, I'll be meeting up with the landowner to pick a choice spot. I would have liked to have had this done earlier. I'll be relieved when that's done.

Second, I've got to get me recording and camera equipment set up and ready to go.

Third, I've got to go pick up my bees. Saturday morning, I'll be getting them. The forecast for Saturday is rain, so I may have to hold off on installing them until Sunday.

I have to say that I am a little nervous about the whole process. I'm confident, but still there is a little fear of the unknown and what how my installation will go.

I promise to post pictures and the audio podcast ASAP.

Flight of the Honeybee?

2008-04-04T07:23:00.001-04:00

My wife jokes with me that she “just knows” that the moment I open up my packages of bees that they are going to fly away and never come back. Well, it’s a funny thought, but it’s not going to happen. Let me explain…

On April 19, 2008, I’ll be picking up my two packages of 3lbs honeybees. In the package will be a syrup can for food, and a marked queen in a queen cage along with about 10,000 worker bees. While in the package, she will release her pheromone among the other worker bees where they will essentially become “hers”. When I install the queen, I’ll place her in the hive (in the queen cage) where in a few days the other bees, which I will have dumped inside the hive, will chew through a candy plug to free their queen. Then, if all goes well, she’ll begin laying eggs. Note: She has already mated which is for life. Any bees that may have flown away during installation will return to the hive where the queen is by following her pheromone.

"Flight of the Bumblebee" is a famous orchestral interlude written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, composed in 1899–1900 (Wikipedia).

Pollen Nation, the movie

2008-03-31T23:21:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago, I pre-ordered Pollen Nation, today it arrived.

Here is a brief description and my thoughts:

This film follows the journey of one commercial beekeeper – third generation beekeeper Jeff Anderson -- from the honey harvest on the High Plains to the warm winter-feeding grounds of California. It also explores the history of human interaction with bees, a story that reflects the development of agriculture. In ancient Egypt beekeepers floated their clay hives down the Nile to some of the first irrigated fields; in the 21st century, professional bee brokers help balance the rising costs of maintaining hives with increasing demand from big agriculture.

The Good: Presents a good overview of commercial beekeeping in the U.S., great photography and music, and interviews with known migratory beekeepers.

The Bad: The main film is a little short (25 minutes) and was a broad overview of multiple subjects (if your want in-depth details look elsewhere).

Overall: For $20, it's a nice film that can be show to people generally interested in beekeeping or CCD. I give it 3.5 stars.

For more information: Pollen Nation Movie Website

Tough Decisions

2008-03-29T19:39:00.000-04:00

When I first decided to start keeping honeybees and placed my add in the local paper, I was not sure what kind of response I would get. However, after the first few calls, I knew that the demand for my bees was going to be strong.

Here is the ad I placed:

Since I live in a neighborhood, I have to keep my bees elsewhere and making the decision on where to keep them was based on several criteria. Briefly, here's how I made my decision;

1. Distance from Home - My time is limited and I want to be able to check on my bees often, without having to drive a significant distance. Several people who were interested in me keeping my bees on their land were just a little too far away for my first year.

2. Availability of Food and Water Sources - Bees will fly up to 2 or 3 miles to forage for food, but the closer the better. Some candidates had and abundance of food and others had no food or water source nearby.

3. Disposition of Landowner - This is how I viewed the overall interest and personality of the candidate. Some people were just looking to help out the bee population, other farmers, or the environment. Others were looking for a substantial amount of honey or even "rent". I eliminated these candidates right away and anyone else who just didn't seem to be the kind of person I would want to deal with on a long-term basis. I should note here that it is customary for a beekeeper to keep the landowner stocked with honey (within reason).

4. Overall Site Survey - This included factors such as property size, distance to dwellings and other buildings, visibility from roadway, and environmental factors such as chemical spraying of fruit, wind, sunlight, and drainage.

I'm very pleased with the decision I've made and the location on where I will be keeping my bees. I sincerely appreciate all of the interest in those who responded to my ad and I wish I had the time and resources to put hives on more than the locations that I finally decided on.

If you are one of those property owners who I ended up not putting my hives on, please keep in touch and let me know how your garden or orchard is doing for 2008. Perhaps next year we can work something out. Of course, it all depends on how my first year goes.

2008 Bluegrass Beekeeping School

2008-03-17T08:48:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, I attended the 2008 Bluegrass Beekeeping School in Frankfort, KY. I highly recommend that a beginner in beekeeping attend at least one of these conferences or workshops before getting their start in beekeeping. You can gather a lot of relevant information and resources at these events. At this particular event there were several 'tracks' that one could take, including a beginner track and others covering topics like diseases, beekeeping value added products and services, and more academic topics like honeybee biology and anatomy. Vendors attend these conferences where you can get a hands-on look at beekeeping books and equipment. If you purchase your equipment at these events you can save some money on shipping.

If you decide to attend, be prepared to take lots of notes and ask questions. I'd also suggest shaking hands with and introducing yourself to some of the local experts, officials, and other beginners in attendance. You'll end up really excited and ready to get started in beekeeping.

My Beginner Equipment

2008-03-13T12:03:00.001-04:00

With regards to beekeeping equipment there are numerous ways to get started in beekeeping. You can buy new or used hives and can obtain bees naturally from a swarm, buy an existing hive, or order a new package of bees. I chose to buy new equipment and new packages to start off. Most all of the literature I read before getting started suggested that new beekeepers should purchase new equipment to avoid possible disease and contamination from existing colonies. The rationale is that beginners may not be able to spot these problems and may end up with trouble their first year. It makes sense to me. You may end up paying a little more to get started, but if you don’t have much experience, it may be the best way to go.

For my first year I purchased two hives, both with removable top feeders, queen excluders, and propolis screens. There are various opinions of how to feed bees sugar-water during the first few weeks of the spring. I have choosen the top feeder method due to the higher capacity and ease of refilling it. The queen excluders keeps the queen from laying eggs in the honey chambers and the propolis screen encourages bees to build up propolis which is used for first-aid and handcreams.

As far as the bees go, I purchased two three pound packages of Italian honeybees with marked queens from a breeder here in Kentucky. My research has told me that the Italian breed is the most gentle and very quick at building up a popluation in new colonies. The queen in each package is marked with a dot in order for me to make it easier to find and observe her laying eggs. I'll also know if she has been replaced by the worker bees for one reason or another.

At the suggestion of the Kentucky State Aparist, Phil Craft, I will be treating my bees with Fumagilin-B. This drug protects against Nosema, a known honeybee disease.

I also have various beekeeper tools like a bee suit, smoker, hive tools, and brush. I've held off purchasing any honey extraction equipment until the fall when the honey harvest occurs.

For beginners, sifting through the various equipment can be a challenge. I'd recommend talking to various people and doing some simple research with vendors and on the web before spending any money.

Guestbook

2008-03-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

I'm glad that you visited my website. Please sign my guestbook by posting a 'Comment'.

Welcome

2008-03-13T05:59:00.000-04:00

Thank you for stopping by my beekeeping website. As the name implies, I’m a beekeeper here in Northern Kentucky, specifically, Burlington (Boone County) and this is my first year keeping bees. I became fascinated with bees and beekeeping several years while at an agricultural expo with my father-in-law. Over the years, I’ve researched and read about bees and beekeeping and this year finally decided to take the plunge. I’m starting out this year with two hives of Italian honeybees in a rural location just west of town. I’m excited to find out what this first year will bring and glad that you’re interested in following along with the website and podcast.

If you are a beginner beekeeper, I’d love to hear from you. Send an e-mail and tell me about your beekeeping.