Bee Keeping Clases

[Cliff Timmons]

There will be a Beekeeping class at the The Library Center Room A & B 4653 South Campbell, Springfield, Missouri 65810-1723 Phone: (417) 874-8110 Fax: (417) 874-8121 tonight 1/23/2007 at 6:30 PM. to 8:30 PM.
there is no reservation or fee.

I haven't been to one but I'm planning on attending some or all of them.
Other dates are
1/30
2/20
2/27


I think the organization putting this on is the Ozark Beekeepers Asoc.
But, I'm not sure.

[LaRae]

There will be a Beekeeping class at the The Library Center Room A & B 4653 South Campbell, Springfield, Missouri 65810-1723 Phone: (417) 874-8110 Fax: (417) 874-8121 tonight 1/23/2007 at 6:30 PM. to 8:30 PM.
there is no reservation or fee.

I haven't been to one but I'm planning on attending some or all of them.
Other dates are
1/30
2/20
2/27


I think the organization putting this on is the Ozark Beekeepers Asoc.
But, I'm not sure.


One of my neighbors (15 min from me) is getting into bees so I went to the meeting with her last night. They covered parts of the hive and an overview of the strains of bees. Next week is assembling the hive and I forget what else.

They are having a free raffle for the new people, giving away some nice supplies (to include a hive I think).

I got bees 2 years ago and belong to the club you mentioned!

Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks and here is their website: http://ozarkbees.org/wb/ I think it's undergoing a rennovation so bear with them.


LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

I was there too.
Where were you guys sitting?

I was the fat guy in the uniform on the right rear of the room by the "Free" stuff. <grin>

It was late when I got home, but I think I'll be there next week as well.

It sounds like the time is begins is at 7:00 pm and not 6:30.
I messed up. Imagine that!

[LaRae]

I was there too.
Where were you guys sitting?

I was the fat guy in the uniform on the right rear of the room by the "Free" stuff. <grin>

It was late when I got home, but I think I'll be there next week as well.

It sounds like the time is begins is at 7:00 pm and not 6:30.
I messed up. Imagine that!

Hmmm well we were sitting on the next to last row, right side of the room (myself, my neighbor and her young son I think he's 10). You musta been sitting behind me? I don't remember seeing a uniform but there were alot of people there! We won't talk about weight LOL

I spoke up a couple times during the meeting (imagine that <G>) but I didn't have a nametag on.

Yep the rest of the meetings are at 7pm, last night was early due to the registration stuff.

Do you have bees now or are you just getting into them?

LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

Just getting into them.
I have a hive but no bees.

I think I was just in front of you to your right. I sat on the end. I kept my black leather jacket on to try to hide my uniform. I was supposed to get off work at 2:30 but a van full of Honduran roofers changed all that. No time to drive north of Pleasant Hope and change. <grin>

I think I overheard you talking about chickens eating your bees? Was that you? I have chickens and I'd hate to have to put chicken wire around the hive.

[LaRae]

Just getting into them.
I have a hive but no bees.

I think I was just in front of you to your right. I sat on the end. I kept my black leather jacket on to try to hide my uniform. I was supposed to get off work at 2:30 but a van full of Honduran roofers changed all that. No time to drive north of Pleasant Hope and change. <grin>

I think I overheard you talking about chickens eating your bees? Was that you? I have chickens and I'd hate to have to put chicken wire around the hive.

Hmmm yep someone asked me about turkey's eating bees....which I've seen people over on the bee forums have conversations about that but I don't think anyone really agreed how common it was.

Actually I was saying my chickens have never eaten my bees unless they eat dead ones...my chickens don't even mess around my hives much so I wouldn't worry about that.

Funny how those job things interfere with our leisure time, I trust the Honduran roofers were legal! <G>

Are you going to get another hive and what strain of bees are you thinking about getting?

I wish they had gotten more in depth about the different races of bees and I disagree with some of the comments made by the speaker about them....of course as was said earlier in the meeting, it's hard to get agreement among beekeepers <G>

I strongly disagreed with his comments about Africanized bees, everything I've read and heard from people who live in Africanized areas contradicts what was said. The speaker was trying to use adaptions made by Africans to prove they have hybridized and are loosing some of their traits...I've seen and been involved in conversations with bee scientists/geneticists about that and they wouldn't agree with him either. It really concerns me that he was downplaying real and serious issues and I discussed it with him after the meeting.

Ok off the soapbox!


LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

OK< that was you guys. The 10 year old had like a scratch on his nose or something.

Anyway, I want to have at least 2 hives incase I really screw up. I'm thinking about getting the Russian Bees even though they said for a beginner not to. "Hard headed." If they resist the mites better than others, and go like crazy, I'd kinda like to mess with them. As far as aggression, bahhh. A bee sting feels like,.... well, a little sting.<grin>

That's another thing. He said that beginners need a full suit. You know how much that is? Gee whiz. I'm thinking a pair of white coveralls and a veil will do me. I used to go with my dad to rob and move wild hives and we never wore anything like that. Not even a hat or gloves.

And no, the Hondurans were not legal. They spent the night in Ozark. I'm in Exporting, not importing. <grin>

[Jeannine]

Ah! It sounds so wonderful to be you guys right now! I would just love to have a hive or two...love that honey! But, my stuborn DH refuses to even consider it. Says he's allergic cause he got a swelling from a sting once, oh brother. Anyway, good luck with your venture Cliff looks like ya got a good beekeeping buddy to help ya along!

[LaRae]

OK< that was you guys. The 10 year old had like a scratch on his nose or something.

Anyway, I want to have at least 2 hives incase I really screw up. I'm thinking about getting the Russian Bees even though they said for a beginner not to. "Hard headed." If they resist the mites better than others, and go like crazy, I'd kinda like to mess with them. As far as aggression, bahhh. A bee sting feels like,.... well, a little sting.<grin>

That's another thing. He said that beginners need a full suit. You know how much that is? Gee whiz. I'm thinking a pair of white coveralls and a veil will do me. I used to go with my dad to rob and move wild hives and we never wore anything like that. Not even a hat or gloves.

And no, the Hondurans were not legal. They spent the night in Ozark. I'm in Exporting, not importing. <grin>

Definately a good idea to have 2 hives! I started with 2 hives, one Buckfast and the other was a Russian.

Russian bees have been here (in the US) long enough now that they are getting much more gentle. It also matters WHO you get your Russians from. I got a nuc with Russians last year from Don Kuchenmeister and he has a site here:
http://www.geocities.com/fatbeeman/ a 3 frame nuc ran me around 100.00 (that includes shipping)...and it was full of bees, not much drone either.

However he runs out of bees fast so if you want bees from him, contact him ASAP via email or call him.

The lady I was with last night, she saw me work the Russians I got from Don...her son stood right over the hive with me (veiled and gloved) and those bees barely looked at us. Carolina Family Farms that posts here, he can verify the gentleness of Don's bees....you'll see him in pics on Don's website too <G> I've not been stung by them yet.

I also am working with New World Carniolians and I really love them as well..extremely gentle and productive.

I try to avoid buying from areas with known African activity. I haven't bought bees from a business yet...just private individuals.

We don't use chemicals in our hives. I'm trying to approach it from multiple angles: Fogging with essential oils (or Thymol) and hygenic bees, mite drop counts and some small cell foundation.

As far as needing a full beesuit, I don't have one. I wear a veil and sometimes a jacket (not a official bee jacket either) if I need too. Most of the time I only wear a veil.

I can see where having a full suit would be handy if you are out after a swarm and they are hot...or your hive suddenly turns hot hot ..but otherwise I wouldn't wear one.

Have you bee over on the Beesource forums? Tons of great info there: http://www.beesource.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi

We live over here by Dadeville so you are only about 45 min to an hour from us. There are two good beekeepers in Bolivar...Bob Wade (the white headed guy at the start of the class that did the intro part) and Harry (he'll be teaching a upcoming class)...very nice and willing to help.

Ah so you are in the export part...I know a guy in west TX that works in that business also. Keep shipping them back!

LaRae

[LaRae]

Ah! It sounds so wonderful to be you guys right now! I would just love to have a hive or two...love that honey! But, my stuborn DH refuses to even consider it. Says he's allergic cause he got a swelling from a sting once, oh brother. Anyway, good luck with your venture Cliff looks like ya got a good beekeeping buddy to help ya along!


Jeannine don't give up! You don't have to have bees at your house where your husband would have to worry about them....if you have friends/family close enough you can always put your hives there!

Swelling from a sting is a normal reaction <G> Unless he's talking about anaphylactic shock?


LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

I'm lucky I guess. I don't even swell. Sometimes it may look like a skeeter bite but that's all.

When Dad would rob wild hives or get a swarm he'd get stung 3 to a half dozen times. But that's just part of doing business. He says he can't feel the mood of the hive with a suit or gloves. "Whatever that means." After he saw a man in Oklahoma who lost an eye due to a sting, he said is he got back into it, he'd wear a veil.

So the Russians wern't as bad as they made out huh?

[LaRae]

I'm lucky I guess. I don't even swell. Sometimes it may look like a skeeter bite but that's all.

When Dad would rob wild hives or get a swarm he'd get stung 3 to a half dozen times. But that's just part of doing business. He says he can't feel the mood of the hive with a suit or gloves. "Whatever that means." After he saw a man in Oklahoma who lost an eye due to a sting, he said is he got back into it, he'd wear a veil.

So the Russians wern't as bad as they made out huh?


I think there are some agressive Russians out there, I've seen people comment on Beesource and heard others experiences....I just think it's something a person has to try for themselves (we don't live in the show-me state for nothing) I just figure I'll requeen if I ever end up with a hot hive...simple way to fix things.

My experience with two different Russian queens (two different strains unreleated and from two different breeders) has been good. I got stung once by them in 05 and zero times in 06. They do seem to be more defensive and quicker to come out and see what you are doing but they just buzz around they don't attack. My son ran the weedeater right in front of the hives last summer and they ignored him. I routinely stand right outside their entrance (no gear) and watch them and they ignore me, now and then one will fly around me 'looking' at me but that's it.

I keep top hive feeders on year round and I take the top on and off (telescoping cover) often to refill the sugar water and they don't bother me. But anytime I open the hive (below the feeder) I wear a veil and use military boot blousing bands to seal the bottom of my pants.

I think you can get a good feel to a hive by how they sound and act. One day I made the mistake of trying to work the bees on a muggy July day....it didn't take me long to decide to close them up. They sounded agitated and they acted edgy or restless, flew around and bumped my face veil, not the usual calm walking around type thing.

I do carry a smoker with me lit up but part of the time I don't need to use it.


LaRae

[Carolina-Family-Farm]

LaRae is right about Don Kuchenmeister’s bees. I had heard all kinds of stories about Russian bees but Don sure changed my mind about them.

On his web page http://www.geocities.com/fatbeeman/ me and my buddy Little John were they’re picking up Nucs he had purchased. I was just tagging along for the ride but I ended up going to school in Don’s bee yard. We really had a good time.

I have a number of Don’s Russian queens that I bred from last year that produced very good quality queens, all very easy to work with and also very productive.

If you ever get a chance to run over to Lula; Georgia to see Don it’s well worth the trip to get to spend a day with 50+ years of beekeeping experience.

[redbrick]

If I can chime in, here, I never quite divorced myself of the gloves and veil, though I did finally get out of the suit (too hot). Cliff, just like your Dad could "feel" the hive's mood, they can "feel" yours. If you're cool and collected, so are they. I seem to remember reading somewhere that they can smell adrenaline, which is what sets them off.

All this being said, I haven't kept bees in years, and don't see the likelihood anytime soon. I live in Suburbia with three kids and a mother-in-law who's seen too many documentaries about Africanized bees. Never mind that I live in PA, she just won't go for it! Really, it's not a big enough issue for me to bother pushing, anyway. I've got plenty more projects as it is!

[Carolina-Family-Farm]

About 60-75% of the time I'll use the veil (depending on the time of year) but I never wear the gloves. I work bees in a T-shirt and jeans most of the time and I always use a smoker but I limit the use of it as much as I can get by with.

I always try to start and finish slow and deliberate and if the girls get aggressive even after a little smoke I just back out and walk away slowly. You can always add more protective gear or try them at a later date.

Weather and season both have an affect on the mood of the bees, sometimes during a summer dearth there a little more aggressive and the same can be true if varmints such as skunks or mites are placing a lot of stress on the health of the bees; all in all it's a fun (almost addictive) hobby with sweet benefits :)

[Cliff Timmons]

Wow, great advice guys.
Thanks.

[bluelacedredhead]

Just got an e-newsletter from McMurray's on Beekeeping equipment. Thought I would pass it along in case anyone needs a few supplies that they can't get locally?
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/category/beekeeping_supplies.html


And can I ask what Russian Bees look like? I got stung last summer by a swarm of something very mean that was after my corn? Smaller than a bumble bee but definitely a lot larger and more aggressive than a honey bee..

Any idea??

[LaRae]

Just got an e-newsletter from McMurray's on Beekeeping equipment. Thought I would pass it along in case anyone needs a few supplies that they can't get locally?
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/category/beekeeping_supplies.html


And can I ask what Russian Bees look like? I got stung last summer by a swarm of something very mean that was after my corn? Smaller than a bumble bee but definitely a lot larger and more aggressive than a honey bee..

Any idea??


Russian honeybees are the same size as other honey bees. Some of them are darker and some of them are lighter. Russian just refers to the strain of honeybee...it's not a different species.

There are many species of bees flying around out there, if you do a websearch you'll be amazed.

You can see Russian honeybees on the link I p osted on page 1 (dixie bees).



LaRae

[LaRae]

http://www.gabees.com/

http://www.dadant.com/catalog/index.php?osCsid=cb3910c9bee45d4f88b90175da6a81cc

http://www.kelleybees.com/

https://secure.brushymountainbeefarm.com/

http://www.mannlakeltd.com/catalog/index.html

Those are some of the more popular beekeeping supply websites...my favorite are the first two links.

http://members.aol.com/queenb95/index.html This website shows some great pics of different strains of honeybees and they have a graph showing various traits of each one. I've never used their bees but I like the descriptions on their site.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059&page=6 This is a USDA map showing the progression of Africanized honeybees in the US...it's a little out of date since they have confirmed Africans in Ft Smith Ark but it's not on the map yet.

http://www.honeysupercell.com/sblog/ This link shows some really new technology when it comes to bee frames/foundation.

http://www.kohala.net/bees/healthybrood.html This is what healthy brood looks like...also on this site a link to examples of diseased brood.


http://www.beesource.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi This is the best bee related message board forum around. Lots of info here!


LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

I'd like to have a couple hives of the African bees.
What great watchdogs!!

Sic'um Girls!! <grin>

[LaRae]

I'd like to have a couple hives of the African bees.
What great watchdogs!!

Sic'um Girls!! <grin>

Heh...remember that sword goes both ways! :D


LaRae

[Carolina-Family-Farm]

Someplace in this pile are some of them Russian bees :)

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g158/CFF1111/Picture090.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g158/CFF1111/Picture091.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g158/CFF1111/Picture089.jpg

[Cliff Timmons]

So you have Russians?
Any problems with them?

[Carolina-Family-Farm]

Russians are a little different than the Italian type bees I have been use to but most of it is in a good way. The Russians work in cooler weather, I often see them working like gang busters when none of the Italians are flying.

Russians have a smaller winter cluster of bees (about the size of a cantaloupe) and manage winter stores very well.

The Italians cluster in a ball the size of a basketball and always have to have spring feed to keep them from starving to death before the spring flow starts.

The only real drawback I've seen with the Russians is stronger tenancies to swarm, but if you keep check on them this is easily preventable, if your wanted to grow the number of hives you have this can actually be an advantage.

There as easy to work with as any bees I've had and very productive. I can see the day coming when Russians will be the only race I have here.

Cliff drop me an email if I can help in anyway.

[Cliff Timmons]

Thanks for the info.
I'm thinking of going with them
This helps.

I may email you when I get in over my head.

[LaRae]

Cliff do you subscribe to American Bee Journal? I got my copy yesterday and there is an interesting trial they did between Italian and Russian bees.


LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

I have about 30 to 50 old magizines about bees at home. I don't know if it's the same.

Of course they wouldn't have this month's article in them, would they? <grin>

[bluelacedredhead]

Cliff I did a google to find the magazine website for you, but they don't have articles on the site any newer than October 2006..It was worth a try though. :p

[Cliff Timmons]

Oh well thanks.
I won a beekeeping book last night during the class. It's supposed to be a real good read so, I may never have to read another article again. <grin>

Yeah right.

[LaRae]

Oh well thanks.
I won a beekeeping book last night during the class. It's supposed to be a real good read so, I may never have to read another article again. <grin>

Yeah right.


Were you there? I guess I should of gone around and read name tags :D



LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

Yeah.
I won a hive tool and a book.

[LaRae]

Yeah.
I won a hive tool and a book.

Lucky you! I haven't won anything yet! I'm taking some stuff to the next class that I'm going to donate to the raffle (new stuff I've never and will never use)...with my luck I'll end up winning some of it.

The next class should be really good, Harry does a good job explaining bees. They hold a 'field day' at his house every May.

LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

We're you guys sitting by the door?
I thought that was you and I was going to say something, but, you guys came in late, left during the break and left before I got to leave. <grin>

Don't worry, I get that a lot. <grin>

[LaRae]

We're you guys sitting by the door?
I thought that was you and I was going to say something, but, you guys came in late, left during the break and left before I got to leave. <grin>

Don't worry, I get that a lot. <grin>


Yep we came in late...but I didn't get up during the break....and we were actually some of the last to leave, we went out when the lights did <L>.

We stood out front talking with Bob and Harry about 10 min or so.




LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

Oh, maybe that was me that left early. <grin>
Oh well there is always the 20th and 27th of February.

[LaRae]

Yes I think we are planning on the next two unless something comes up unexpected....

LaRae

[GeorgeSims]

Cliff,

What book did you win? I rely on my old, tried-and-true "ABC and XYZ of Beekeeping" by Root.

[Cliff Timmons]

This is a book by Walt Kelly something like Raising bees and selling Honey.

I remember the name because of the cartoonist.

[Cliff Timmons]

I don't need a Beekeeping Buddy, I need a Beekeeping Nazi.

I know I'm gonna screw this up. <grin>
But that's never stopped me before!

Hey, and I met LaRae last night at the calss along with her friends. Great folks!

And Johno, she wasn't mean at all like you said. <grin>

[LaRae]

I don't need a Beekeeping Buddy, I need a Beekeeping Nazi.

I know I'm gonna screw this up. <grin>
But that's never stopped me before!

Hey, and I met LaRae last night at the calss along with her friends. Great folks!

And Johno, she wasn't mean at all like you said. <grin>


ROFL!! Well that's part of it, screwing things up and sorting them out...it'll pinch the pocketbook though.

It was great to meet you too! But you know...even though there are lefties at the bee meetings there's no need to wear a gun! :p

Harry has a bee field day at his house in Bolivar about every year. We should be going over there in May on a Saturday, if you can go it's a great idea.

Mean me? I'm too nice to be mean :D


LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

That would be great.
If anyone can go, I'd like to.
Everyone said Harry was nervous, but I really enjoyed his class.
Bolivar would be close for me since I live between Plest. Hope and Half Way.

[LaRae]

That would be great.
If anyone can go, I'd like to.
Everyone said Harry was nervous, but I really enjoyed his class.
Bolivar would be close for me since I live between Plest. Hope and Half Way.


Harry and Bob are both on your end of Bolivar so not far for you at all.

He was really nervous and he said to me that it was really hard to put 45 years of beekeeping into 2 hours. There's lots of ways to do things and you can't cover them all. At his house he's in his element, very relaxed and calm. I went two years ago and it was a really good meeting.

It's for the whole family too...the club buys the meat and everyone brings side dishes...you should of seen how loaded down the table was last time.


LaRae

[Cliff Timmons]

Are there BBQed Pork Products there? <grin>

Well great, now I'm getting all jazzed up. And, I could wear normal clothes to that one. <grin>

[GeorgeSims]

Cliff,

Now that you're a bee expert, how about coming over and helping me with the spring roundup. I need someone to hogtie them while I brand 'em.

[LaRae]

Are there BBQed Pork Products there? <grin>

Well great, now I'm getting all jazzed up. And, I could wear normal clothes to that one. <grin>

Put in a request early <G> Last time they had fried chicken!

Yeah you won't need the accessories that day!

I'm bringing homemade cinammon rolls to next weeks final meeting, they are really good too so leave room for a snack. Don't forget your dollar bills either for the 'dollar auction'. They are going to auction off a complete nuc and a brand new wire embedder.


LaRae

[LaRae]

George make sure you get footage of that.


LaRae

[GeorgeSims]

I just can't WAIT to finalize this move to Missouri!!!

[LaRae]

It's one of the best states to live in George!

[Cliff Timmons]

Expert? HA!
I don't own one bee yet!!

Better talk to LaRae.

[LaRae]

Don't look at me....far from expert but willing to share my own view and experiences :)


LaRae

[GeorgeSims]

Trust me, even AFTER you get your hives, you won't OWN even one bee.

[Cliff Timmons]

If I brand them and tag them and implant them with those chips I will. <grin>

[GeorgeSims]

Cliff,

Is the final beekeeping class still scheduled for next Tuesday night at 6:30?

No fee? What will they be covering?

[LaRae]

I'm not Cliff obviously <G> but the last class is Tuesday, starts at 7pm. No fee. They are having the dollar auction for a complete nuc (including bees/queen) and raffle for other items.

I forgot what the topic was though.


LaRae

[GeorgeSims]

I'll try to be there.

[Cliff Timmons]

I'm not Cliff obviously <G> but the last class is Tuesday, starts at 7pm. No fee. They are having the dollar auction for a complete nuc (including bees/queen) and raffle for other items.

I forgot what the topic was though.


LaRae

I think harvesting the honey, but I'm not sure.

60 Hwy West to the Cambell exit.
South on Campbell two light.
Turn right on little road and right immeadiatly again to the library.

[GeorgeSims]

Guess I better be sure to have my green card!