tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50408681718380985152024-03-16T03:08:01.100-04:00DC HoneybeesA Beekeeper's Journal of Urban Beekeeping in Washington, DCDCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-75449218371687301772015-11-26T12:32:00.001-05:002015-11-26T12:33:26.982-05:00Bottling Honey in Test Tubes - VIDEO<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNkCX5BUcT5plxPyiOwpQH_wJtmy2dN7QiWaDCT1UI7Wjgpd_wWr-y42L3dEe6ZJe7RZrfBpZME8KSWnCrNhQvalfuq7yw8W6OKjOSWPPVkyw9a7CUuLTFA27mbtP1WEYPHafRWh56SVP/s1600/IMG_2918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNkCX5BUcT5plxPyiOwpQH_wJtmy2dN7QiWaDCT1UI7Wjgpd_wWr-y42L3dEe6ZJe7RZrfBpZME8KSWnCrNhQvalfuq7yw8W6OKjOSWPPVkyw9a7CUuLTFA27mbtP1WEYPHafRWh56SVP/s400/IMG_2918.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I received a call from a client who was getting married and wanted to provide party favors for her guests, which numbered 100 individuals. I could not provide her with 100 bottles of honey as that would be both expensive and eat substantially into my inventory. I suggested that we put together 100 test tubes of honey as fun favors, with each tube holding about 3/4 of an ounce of honey.<br />
<br />
We bought the test tubes on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O49X7Y?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage" target="_blank">Amazon here</a>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>After filling each (a bit of a learning curve here, but watch the video to see how we were able to accomplish this, in bulk, with little hassle). Here is what they looked like corked and washed of sticky honey residue:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogfY85jRaZAz74MRCBoCzUA60mBJ_HdSJw8_8jPx9rxhTHr_9wPxfrjzRqr4fs83HzvLy-rauANkhl6eiRd39kkry8Hvlm9wugZYdkT_35BUQHjiOuryxuqcOTdixNw15gQcBX5biNx_e/s1600/IMG_2901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogfY85jRaZAz74MRCBoCzUA60mBJ_HdSJw8_8jPx9rxhTHr_9wPxfrjzRqr4fs83HzvLy-rauANkhl6eiRd39kkry8Hvlm9wugZYdkT_35BUQHjiOuryxuqcOTdixNw15gQcBX5biNx_e/s400/IMG_2901.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dMFbbcOuVlENN9ufCvhCVy7tAiEeULQgB_aqd09WKsccX6YFxts5Ht3GFJmry40l7NxHDFAqtOZv9zX7aKlwIUqvotYd3_MOTUhqZUqC2n5bqPxfzDz9Jt6ZSSsUUo2joOYXRL7ieScY/s1600/IMG_2904+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dMFbbcOuVlENN9ufCvhCVy7tAiEeULQgB_aqd09WKsccX6YFxts5Ht3GFJmry40l7NxHDFAqtOZv9zX7aKlwIUqvotYd3_MOTUhqZUqC2n5bqPxfzDz9Jt6ZSSsUUo2joOYXRL7ieScY/s400/IMG_2904+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We then dipped the ends in melted wax to seal the corks and create an artistic drip line, much like a Maker's Mark bottle, from the seal.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSP_gxwzpUHCudIJCrvIZDL_vl5klcY6qWm1X_fylum1vCoQE0V8EJWCJxlUlV7KvbOijIkuEoj48hupJZULUruuSztE9CiedzIelHEyqiRBhKjGkNqNqa44xcLF_7joLp-ABVvHoSed9/s1600/IMG_2907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSP_gxwzpUHCudIJCrvIZDL_vl5klcY6qWm1X_fylum1vCoQE0V8EJWCJxlUlV7KvbOijIkuEoj48hupJZULUruuSztE9CiedzIelHEyqiRBhKjGkNqNqa44xcLF_7joLp-ABVvHoSed9/s400/IMG_2907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We designed and ordered labels at <a href="https://www.evermine.com/" target="_blank">Evermine</a> (formerly MyOwnLabels). These are 1.25 x 3.75 inch labels. They fit the test tubes beautifully.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40-h6hvWi0TaeuXHBoaIBTibJpn4LR_qGMtybb24Y8wg8qR2VR2jh3_KbpLApiulVvd_kDzLfPu8ExWUW4KtPdeeqpXEDW9ROXeyNBEjmpcDxkT-rS_LInrDbzl7VgSjR3hXeVzYEX0Om/s1600/IMG_2917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40-h6hvWi0TaeuXHBoaIBTibJpn4LR_qGMtybb24Y8wg8qR2VR2jh3_KbpLApiulVvd_kDzLfPu8ExWUW4KtPdeeqpXEDW9ROXeyNBEjmpcDxkT-rS_LInrDbzl7VgSjR3hXeVzYEX0Om/s640/IMG_2917.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
<br />
Check out the whole video here:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lMcyAwgkWqA" width="560"></iframe>
DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-24301907364071684482015-05-02T12:43:00.001-04:002015-05-02T12:43:04.049-04:00Our Latest Trip To Georgia<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz6oPRNha5b_BCfoZoHzeZlHsvjm3C-caKqcHx5s21W2upRX6i6LyqGWto9eLT0-WBb1vfiET5pYU3iD2XSh8gSGsn7hiCOBnVdNe-HWyUTB5LIWzZCKFrJVwB3zaUmkhHiSgvfVvI-Rn/s1600/IMG_2773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVz6oPRNha5b_BCfoZoHzeZlHsvjm3C-caKqcHx5s21W2upRX6i6LyqGWto9eLT0-WBb1vfiET5pYU3iD2XSh8gSGsn7hiCOBnVdNe-HWyUTB5LIWzZCKFrJVwB3zaUmkhHiSgvfVvI-Rn/s1600/IMG_2773.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Last week we drove the 600+ miles to Patterson, Georgia to pick up bees from JJ Honey. This year we only made one trip south, while last year we did three. This was a load of 100 packages.<br />
<a name='more'></a>We can fit about 60 packages in the rear of our Explorer, but we needed to rent a trailer for the balance. The weather was cooler luckily and there were no broken screens that let bees fly in the cabin, so while loud and warm, the trip back was uneventful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8SDnjDsDO_tN7wfb1umsdvVQJJFFotNzJoqFW_Jpq0xFQqnPYm14nS96ZGKp3lMAveCv2vzVWQHo-kFhrWGduTHmCGS8XSRv9nyS4eBv4flrRHzUeZb9tv9_uPVncVKxG6c2fkaBYIEL/s1600/IMG_2779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8SDnjDsDO_tN7wfb1umsdvVQJJFFotNzJoqFW_Jpq0xFQqnPYm14nS96ZGKp3lMAveCv2vzVWQHo-kFhrWGduTHmCGS8XSRv9nyS4eBv4flrRHzUeZb9tv9_uPVncVKxG6c2fkaBYIEL/s1600/IMG_2779.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This was a particularly great load. Jerome had packaged the bees that morning and we've had no calls of dead queens in the packages.<br />
<br />
Here is the video of Jerome packaging the bees:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OaYNniomBls" width="560"></iframe>DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-29311729868058507342015-02-04T14:34:00.002-05:002015-02-04T14:43:40.765-05:00Bee-Friendly Gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMf68aXcdAa1K0oHsKUPVON1lXjpQJo3v4MyJ4y-Vng-E_lo6oXzAOGs4OcmGtzElg54SfnnyCEcLPOKoPcr0fNxUoLneMArOYk_iF3K7JoJbZB7BaUqNOlf-hKUt-7QneKWfFrArjGXm/s1600/bee-friendly-garden-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMf68aXcdAa1K0oHsKUPVON1lXjpQJo3v4MyJ4y-Vng-E_lo6oXzAOGs4OcmGtzElg54SfnnyCEcLPOKoPcr0fNxUoLneMArOYk_iF3K7JoJbZB7BaUqNOlf-hKUt-7QneKWfFrArjGXm/s1600/bee-friendly-garden-01.png" height="640" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We all know that bees get more sustenance and forage from some plants more than others. More importantly, if you are a grower of certain veggies, fruits, and berries, then bees can considerably increase your crop yield. Check out this article below (click on the link) for some great ideas to attract bees and improve your garden:<br />
<a href="http://www.fix.com/blog/creating-a-bee-friendly-garden/">http://www.fix.com/blog/creating-a-bee-friendly-garden/</a><br />
<br />DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-65401512155752484562014-09-18T06:35:00.000-04:002014-09-18T06:35:00.526-04:00We Move the Bees From Ohio to Tampa, Fla. , Day 1- VIDEO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnbWJQ8qKu0yuCjRhH7S6qvtVasK0_KdNfRH8uKtsSKwfIs8h95I1Be2fL7u_Pq4lCMhJNU3s8IQmXDiZSfJEBpiqck-LHhjlejq9RFMPa7ZAdx4nQKCvl0agRElkw1jWSGflpIy_TESG/s1600/IMG_2124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnbWJQ8qKu0yuCjRhH7S6qvtVasK0_KdNfRH8uKtsSKwfIs8h95I1Be2fL7u_Pq4lCMhJNU3s8IQmXDiZSfJEBpiqck-LHhjlejq9RFMPa7ZAdx4nQKCvl0agRElkw1jWSGflpIy_TESG/s1600/IMG_2124.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
It has been a year since we did this move from north the south to allow the bees to build up on the Brazilian pepper that is so abundant in south Florida, and which blooms in early October. I have built my little apiary up to about 30 colonies, and Jerry from <a href="http://www.rockhillhoneybeefarms.com/" target="_blank">Rock Hill Honeybee Farms </a>has made a major investment in expansion by purchasing 100+ two-story hives coming out of spring almonds from <a href="http://beeinformed.org/team/david-mendes/" target="_blank">David Mendes</a> in Maine for the blueberry pollination. Then Jerry truck his bees to Maine and Ohio for more contracts, did several splits as the bees were doing beautifully, and his apiary is now north of 400 colonies.<br />
<a name='more'></a>This season we had the good sense to keep to the northern geography of the State, cutting about five hours off the drive and keeping the work a little cooler.<br />
<br />
I got off easy on this trip. Starting on Sunday Jerry was driving to Ohio to with a crew of four to consolidate his hives, and then load them on the flatbed truck. Because of the health of the colonies, the load coud only handle about 400 of what should be 460 hives due to their heavy weight. The hives are on four-way pallets and stacked three pallets high (double deeps). The temperature in Ohio was in the 40's, making for uncomfortable work. Then it was into the truck for the 16 hour trip to Tampa while the load followed about 8 hours behind. Transport costs for the trucker were significant, north of $2,500, so this exercise was not considered lightly.<br />
<br />
I, however, could not afford to take off an entire week of work for this run, and while I like a good drive like the rest of us, I've done these torturous runs with Jerry too often to find a way to avoid one. And USAir had a ticket to Tampa out of Reagan National for about $150, so with that and a rental car I was well-rested and fresh for their arrival on Wednesday morning.<br />
<br />
The truck rolled in around 6pm that evening (close to dusk), and that is when the fireworks started. So if you figure about 30,000 bees per colony, and 400 colonies, that's 12,000,000 bees. This trucker was very familiar with the hauling process, had all the bee netting, straps, boards, and know-how required to secure the load. When we removed the netting, that was when the bees went a little crazy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrKU58pT_S5OTyNTDNi4oo4MXeCQWH8W3n57gcf8imCI0Zv8V7ARM5nk3ZDf4p54B6HcPnrSQ6mwYN92aYfgChT9nTwu38O4bf5cMLT0NJbE-AOH-_b4e3xoa3GtX8-kcFahelI__kV75/s1600/IMG_2128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrKU58pT_S5OTyNTDNi4oo4MXeCQWH8W3n57gcf8imCI0Zv8V7ARM5nk3ZDf4p54B6HcPnrSQ6mwYN92aYfgChT9nTwu38O4bf5cMLT0NJbE-AOH-_b4e3xoa3GtX8-kcFahelI__kV75/s1600/IMG_2128.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Thank God for bee suits. The air was thick with bees, unhappy bees.<br />
<br />
The trailer could not pull into the driveway of the lot upon which we were setting the pallets, so we had to leave it in the street and use a loader to drive the bees down the driveway and into the field. Total round trip, five minutes. Thankfully we had three loaders so we were able to unload the truck in 2 1/2 hours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdCAnSvcY7geNPA_b48YqjA98joCed5AyL8UDSG7ahpAAN-oU7lt_mQcC2hgcodw5dpS6Xo-W36RcirmgIoyO1adwb0ZgqVNRC2vsoJ-IrtGbVBob5MZ7PVR4v0UeKacDySL4AIN-BEHB/s1600/IMG_2130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdCAnSvcY7geNPA_b48YqjA98joCed5AyL8UDSG7ahpAAN-oU7lt_mQcC2hgcodw5dpS6Xo-W36RcirmgIoyO1adwb0ZgqVNRC2vsoJ-IrtGbVBob5MZ7PVR4v0UeKacDySL4AIN-BEHB/s1600/IMG_2130.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
That's Jerry on the left in his impeccably clean ventilated bee suit.<br />
<br />
Here is the video of our day:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cSIw9PLmkW0?list=UU-jMc8Y0uVcb3Py-2bbY19A" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-61149001720011258382014-06-05T19:54:00.000-04:002014-06-05T19:54:00.893-04:00Spring is Bee Article Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDn7kA96hUAzPTf_FeiJgLgDjt1bOlko4vlQVvg93LPylAsKXJZ9VaWJmbTFEEDu0BCqtxwkCCsPj6XRgEIVuLj9-3rybEBjhbZ3x54qyIi3_I31XN27z_Vubn-7QTzx3y_K1WQwlykJH/s1600/DSC_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDn7kA96hUAzPTf_FeiJgLgDjt1bOlko4vlQVvg93LPylAsKXJZ9VaWJmbTFEEDu0BCqtxwkCCsPj6XRgEIVuLj9-3rybEBjhbZ3x54qyIi3_I31XN27z_Vubn-7QTzx3y_K1WQwlykJH/s1600/DSC_0513.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We received a nice mention in a magazine out of Charleston, SC, <a href="http://www.localpalatemag.com/" target="_blank">The Local Palate</a>.<br />
<br />
Check out the link here:<br />
<a href="http://www.localpalatemag.com/blog/item/d-c-s-champion-of-bees-the-urban-apiarist.html" target="_blank">http://www.localpalatemag.com/blog/item/d-c-s-champion-of-bees-the-urban-apiarist.html</a><br />
<br />
DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-1524233000087356692014-05-28T13:20:00.002-04:002014-05-29T15:25:22.402-04:00Study Links Neonicotinoids to CCD<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhzM5DrcjjV-HhyphenhyphenKQjkAuhAfHuqKZTN9tPuULwKRAq7I9pIoAKIdcCcDCjdJlxZxB-M1O2x4tkYny-qOVVjQIuJefvCN31erbgbh0YG2qHZGJP9iFmZjDJKEj_FXvPp8-i39WGL6B_tqnYf_ZnKiB-AxQIdKzF5RVFOdDu0MuAZAnYO_syK0mX584I1tlLtGg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://www.scienzeagrarie.unibo.it/it/risorse/immagini/bullettin-of-insectology" height="320" width="240" /></a>It's getting harder and harder for Bayer to continue to deny the link between neonicotinoids and bee decline, especially with <a href="http://www.bulletinofinsectology.org/pdfarticles/vol67-2014-125-130lu.pdf" target="_blank">this new study from Harvard</a>. Unlike the "facts" from Bayer -- <a href="http://beecare.bayer.com/agriculture/neonicotinoids" target="_blank">which claims insecticides are perfectly harmless when it comes to bees</a> -- Harvard has used actual field studies to come to their conclusions. <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2014/05/smoking-gun-bee-collapse" target="_blank">Mother Jones called the report a "smoking gun"</a> that targets the neonics imidacloprid and clothianidin as causes of Colony Collapse Disorder.<br />
<br />
The study tracked the progress of 18 hives beginning in July 2012. Twelve hives were fed sublethal amounts of pesticides via sugar syrup over 13 weeks, and the other six hives were kept as controls. According to the report, all 18 hives exhibited similar behavior throughout the summer months, but during the winter, bees from six of the 12 contaminated colonies failed to return to their hives, demonstrating classic behavior of CCD. On the other hand, none of the control hives displayed signs of CCD, but one showed symptoms of nosema. </div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
What's exciting about this study is scientists were able to replicate Colony Collapse Disorder through the experiment. Previous tests -- like the ones cited by Bayer -- have just occurred in laboratories and often only focused on bees in one stage of life. The Harvard study actually administered the insecticide to full colonies from July through September and monitored their response.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<br />
However, it could be said that the sample size in this latest study was too small. Jeff Pettis from the USDA said <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2014/05/smoking-gun-bee-collapse" target="_blank">an 18-colony study was too small to confirm the link between neonicotinoids and CCD.</a><br />
<br />
Bayer, interestingly, did not take issue with the sample size, but instead claimed <a href="http://www.agprofessional.com/news/Harvard-research-and-Bayer-at-odds-about-bee-deaths-259073661.html" target="_blank">the amount of neonics fed to the hives was "10 times" what honey bees would normally encounter in nature</a>. The experiment used 0.74 micrograms of insecticide per bee per day over the 13 weeks. This was calculated by estimating the summer colonies to contain 50,000 bees on any given day. To put this in perspective, the Mother Jones article adds that a grain of table salt weighs in at 64,800 micrograms.<br />
<br />
The study aimed to mimic how honey bees used for commercial pollination are thought to encounter neonicotinoids -- via high fructose corn syrup that sustains the bees as they're trucked around the country. According to Chensheng Lu, the lead author of the Harvard study, because the neonics are systemic pesticides, they are absorbed into the plant tissue and remain in the kernels that are processed to make syrup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ceh.org/news-events/podcasts/content/the-buzz-about-bees/" target="_blank">The Center for Environmental Health interviewed Lu last year about his initial look into the effects of neonics</a>. In the <a href="http://www.ceh.org/news-events/podcasts/content/the-buzz-about-bees/" target="_blank">interview</a>, Lu also points out that CCD does not appear to be caused by a perfect storm of factors -- such as additional pesticides, disease and pests -- as the EPA and Bayer are citing. Instead, he says the proof that neonics cause CCD can be found in the timeline of when neonicotinoids were first intorduced, and when the first incident of CCD occurred -- both around 2005.
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scienzeagrarie.unibo.it%2Fit%2Frisorse%2Fimmagini%2Fbullettin-of-insectology&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhzM5DrcjjV-HhyphenhyphenKQjkAuhAfHuqKZTN9tPuULwKRAq7I9pIoAKIdcCcDCjdJlxZxB-M1O2x4tkYny-qOVVjQIuJefvCN31erbgbh0YG2qHZGJP9iFmZjDJKEj_FXvPp8-i39WGL6B_tqnYf_ZnKiB-AxQIdKzF5RVFOdDu0MuAZAnYO_syK0mX584I1tlLtGg" -->Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467791107420929685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-80809703975626661392014-01-13T20:01:00.003-05:002014-01-13T20:01:59.286-05:00February Weekend Bee Class ScheduledAs the days are getting longer the thoughts are leading to new spring hives. Come join us at our home in Georgetown for beekeeping instruction, beekeeping fellowship, and some new techniques. The class runs from 1:00 to 4:00 February first and second. We provide instruction, food and adult beverages, as well as a basic hive, veil, and instructional manual. If the weather cooperated we will also play with the bees on my roof. We've successfully introduced countless folks to the joy of beekeeping with this weekend. The cost is $300 and includes the equipment described.<br />
<br />
We only have room for six. Please email me at jeff@dchoneybees.com if you are interested.<br />
<br />
Jeff. DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-14300425728327529472014-01-11T18:18:00.003-05:002014-01-11T18:18:40.823-05:00Making Swarm Lure At Home, An Experiment - VIDEO<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHdBBzQY7cJIue5NppMAuZ2OoxKUli62QvqhKTYvds5TGd5KMTp2azP5dlZDKKJhvqjToF74-fcaWCWlPHQAgKug7quJLUYojLZyQZufwL_vJS5xLFDPbTB2NuZrvRMSOZaLwBn8nnQe1/s1600/swarm+lure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHdBBzQY7cJIue5NppMAuZ2OoxKUli62QvqhKTYvds5TGd5KMTp2azP5dlZDKKJhvqjToF74-fcaWCWlPHQAgKug7quJLUYojLZyQZufwL_vJS5xLFDPbTB2NuZrvRMSOZaLwBn8nnQe1/s1600/swarm+lure.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Juice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jerry and I are headed down to Florida tomorrow to check on, and potentially move our bees from Davie to Vero Beach into the citrus groves.<br />
<br />
Our luck in Davie has been mixed. The fire ants and wax moths have been a continued problem, and several of the hives have succumbed to these pests. The build-up we had hoped to capture during the brazilian pepper flow in September/October failed to materialize in a meaningful way, meaning back-filling with corn syrup, an adventure on its own with Dadant in High Springs, Florida (a six hour drive each way for us) the only supplier. Jerry has been down since (without his Tonto) and saw modest improvement after the syrup feeding and substantial pollen patty supplementation, but Tuesday will prove out where we are after these last four months.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
One bright spot for me (and boy did I need one) was the accidental capture of a swarm in one of my vacant hives, sorely needed to get my numbers up. The opportunity to capture a few more swarms, coupled with a considerable number of dead queens I had in cages in the house, has stimulated my desire to capture a few more, especially as we bring the hives to the citrus.<br />
<br />
Don the FatBeeMan is a considerable and important figure in our business, and I like to tap his wisdom when possible. One bit of intelligence he has imparted is his technique for turning lemons into lemonade. Don shared an story about a customer who was complaining that the queen Don supplied had died. Undeterred, Don said, "bring me back the dead queen, and I'll replace it with a new one." And what did he do with the dead queen? Made swarm lure out of her which <a href="http://www.dixiebeesupply.com/Dixiebeesupply/Sales__Beekeeping_Supplies.html" target="_blank">he sells for even more than his live queens</a>!<br />
<br />
This is an experiment to see if we can replicate the results Don has had with his lure concoction. Due to poor planning, poor shipping, and distraction, I found myself this winter staring at five queen cages full of nurse bees and a queen each. How did this happen? Either I got ahead of myself (as we beekeepers sometimes do) and ordered queens for nucs I could not split before their demise, or could not unload locally before they died. Lemonade, here I come, I hope.<br />
<br />
We took the contents of each of the cages, including the nurse bees, emptied these carcasses and trash into the blender (don't tell Cath), added some premium vodka as a solvent and medium, and took the mix for a spin. We then transferred the brew to a squeeze bottle which we will take to Florida. Our plan? We will hit a couple of cotton balls with a small squeeze of the lure and place them in an empty hive with foundation and one frame of draw comb.<br />
<br />
I'll report back in about 90 days with the results. If I get just two swarms to take root it will more than pay for my losses on the queens.<br />
<br />
Here is the video:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/O0AA24lP-og" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Jeff.<br />
<br />
<div class="b0x27CBAF" id="ch-bubble" style="width: 300px;">
</div>
DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-5833822931165798832013-12-24T10:51:00.002-05:002013-12-24T10:51:42.051-05:00We Made the Cover Of the Washington City Paper<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8e5560JI6TE-e6J4aNTzqh1F5_r7YQvizwp0IF2Xu5MX-qXJhumY8D8u_Uvo12Aa-x2cuCVxfM_6O3qksBkKhs892Ti1Hpy3vc-QGOC8ysIyrS53jm1T6k7vEs2mqMCTyACm3V8hBNIvP/s1600/20131219_PublicRadio_Bees-1_257x257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8e5560JI6TE-e6J4aNTzqh1F5_r7YQvizwp0IF2Xu5MX-qXJhumY8D8u_Uvo12Aa-x2cuCVxfM_6O3qksBkKhs892Ti1Hpy3vc-QGOC8ysIyrS53jm1T6k7vEs2mqMCTyACm3V8hBNIvP/s1600/20131219_PublicRadio_Bees-1_257x257.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
In this year's edition of the <b>City Paper</b>'s "Encyclopedia of DC 2013", the NPR bees were profiled, the hives we introduced earlier this year (I hope they survive this winter!!). Yours truly made the cover:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnsGVIbm4Jwx3Y6-_Ras-xdqPvEnn0xIs0ivXp6hm-tSWIBoPuhY_QvjYpkq7hd-jAZBmPnwOKcSSJuf9uVjIqgavGu0ZI4Ehle95bVWW1HzoKdr7juDHz_Z-IZiVqrYm_cpi8Aur8Sch/s1600/City+Paper+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnsGVIbm4Jwx3Y6-_Ras-xdqPvEnn0xIs0ivXp6hm-tSWIBoPuhY_QvjYpkq7hd-jAZBmPnwOKcSSJuf9uVjIqgavGu0ZI4Ehle95bVWW1HzoKdr7juDHz_Z-IZiVqrYm_cpi8Aur8Sch/s640/City+Paper+Cover.jpg" width="572" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is a link to the accompanying article:<br />
<a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/45216/public-radio-bees-insects-are-the-new-pledge-drives/">http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/45216/public-radio-bees-insects-are-the-new-pledge-drives/</a><br />
<br />
More shameless self-promotion.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas!<br />
<br />
Jeff.DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-26899702737671543022013-12-02T13:39:00.002-05:002013-12-02T13:39:28.338-05:00Look At This Ad The Washington Post Ran Today<br />
This was a full page ad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yy1bz9DXEiq3PN8OdpBw_uM7VXwMh-n5LLM26WrxDLrhsuQvHF6MMLaBh84URyMEZAHa5sIt0u3ULPi9Z4gOXnlI-A70XNNdJ0NVltzwA5iV94hrR_HnhxBA7ltGCQJqAj6BPoVlb8Qy/s1600/pollinator-ad-color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yy1bz9DXEiq3PN8OdpBw_uM7VXwMh-n5LLM26WrxDLrhsuQvHF6MMLaBh84URyMEZAHa5sIt0u3ULPi9Z4gOXnlI-A70XNNdJ0NVltzwA5iV94hrR_HnhxBA7ltGCQJqAj6BPoVlb8Qy/s640/pollinator-ad-color.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
<br />DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-30864729483445485892013-10-26T17:13:00.001-04:002013-10-26T17:13:22.253-04:00Junior Beekeepers<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I like to think I helped create some future beekeepers today. After boiling another sugar-water mix and walking out of the house carrying our masks, gloves and syrup, the same secondary school boys from last week immediately perked up. They actually remembered, and were excited about helping me feed the bees!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But, I only had one mask, so the group of six could only sacrifice one. Luis was the lucky winner, and donned the green beekeeping getup and radioactive gloves to help me open the hives and pour some more sugar syrup on the sheet of plastic that’s laid over the 10 frames in the bottom super. Fortunately the hives are still relatively calm because they were only installed a few weeks ago, so Luis was perfectly comfortable.</div>
Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467791107420929685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-72697676787645712162013-10-08T10:42:00.001-04:002013-10-08T10:42:23.543-04:00Late Season Hive Check in NoMa - VideoWe have a client with a unique culinary use in an industrial area of the neighborhood known as NoMa. We had originally placed a couple of hives in an alley behind their use, an alley that was essentially only accessible to them although it is technically in public space.<br />
<br />
Their first load of bees were literally sucked away by a giant fan that we did not know about that ventilated an adjacent garage.<br />
<br />
So with a ladder, some rope, and some sweat we relocated the bees to the rooftop. The nice thing about this location, in spite of the access, is the large area for the hives, putting them regulation distance from the property line for conformance with our new law.<br />
<br />
Here is the video we took that day with more details.<br />
Jeff.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PjUn_tt4I-o" width="420"></iframe>DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-32326389116791786312013-10-06T22:45:00.002-04:002013-10-07T14:24:32.982-04:00Tenemos Abejas!They're finally here! All 20,000 are snuggly tucked into their new hives at Almeria, on a eucalyptus table right next to our newly-planted potatoes and largest lagunita. It was somewhat of a struggle to get to this point -- and it only happened today through sheer coersion -- but it happened! We have bees!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
See Jossua, our bee guy, is a bit slippery when it comes to nailing down important details like times and places and how much things cost. Like an ugly date he stood us up last weekend for our Sunday installation. But, having been the fourth time he pulled this trick, at least we knew enough not to believe him and didn't bother making the schlep from Cusco to get there early Sunday morning. Yesterday, however, we stopped at his tienda and asked him when he planned to come by. Telling us manana, we told him we'd meet him at his shop that morning and "help" him out by coming along for the ride to Almeria. That seemed to do the trick. Finally.<br />
<br />
This morning, Jossua, Madeline and I, all piled into a taxi and drove from Cusco to Almeria with two nuc colonies and two hives in the trunk, ready to be installed. Not really sure how Africanized bees would handle the bumpy ride, Mads and I decide it couldn't hurt to put our masks on while inside the beat-up taxi.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbVVkV1vq1pEpU67SyQgmacorf-u2QxqSVPZGamORZgVThv8RsWN13k3VeVuUNMVniP7sXT4F9HFHt12C6Lpz6GqArSU-tdXD2k9fnxC_H-n0i_JHXuBOUvdIZx1fsIR5M77bdAnIbr-/s1600/DSCN1527.JPG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFbVVkV1vq1pEpU67SyQgmacorf-u2QxqSVPZGamORZgVThv8RsWN13k3VeVuUNMVniP7sXT4F9HFHt12C6Lpz6GqArSU-tdXD2k9fnxC_H-n0i_JHXuBOUvdIZx1fsIR5M77bdAnIbr-/s400/DSCN1527.JPG.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After the hour drive, Baltezar met us at the gates and helped us unload the boxes and bees. All in all the installation went smoothly. It was my first time in a bee suit, and I can't tell if the get-up made me more or less uncomfortable. The Africanized bees certainly are more aggressive and continued to ping my mask even at 20 feet away. But other than that, we had no problems and no stings. Even after Baltezar got two stuck in his hair, somehow he managed to shake them off and walk away unscathed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwosutUD3XyBvabvBV2DltI0ykzIm7jA3MhzzFKD6uZrVgMYgjkOgndyL7QSJuwQINFTRfQ1lELVFCTjGJ-iPtHG1KvHvJVf_9w0TlCOLuDis1QjRO1DPkU3oM6EAUqkyVM3gONxcGpeE/s1600/DSCN1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwosutUD3XyBvabvBV2DltI0ykzIm7jA3MhzzFKD6uZrVgMYgjkOgndyL7QSJuwQINFTRfQ1lELVFCTjGJ-iPtHG1KvHvJVf_9w0TlCOLuDis1QjRO1DPkU3oM6EAUqkyVM3gONxcGpeE/s400/DSCN1534.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There was one snag though, when Jossua pulled a frame from his nuc colony that had grown a little skewed because it didn't have starter wax. Like a surgeon he asked for a small saw to cut the excess, and after that he was able to slip it in as number 10.<br />
<br />
Now it's up to us to feed them for at least the first three days to one week. Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467791107420929685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-54281200330677919102013-09-27T12:45:00.000-04:002013-09-27T12:45:01.323-04:00For Those Of You Wondering About The Bees at NPR....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6wupn4drSop0L0ZQDBqYe4t1jexSz9_EF1mTb0bMTfNObJmAUGGt80OPW7nqdMeikwPCQ2V4PX57AWNL3o3BJQJMY-Y1Ba_HbqUi6WbcBKH39sEJEYesYH8sdXoy3uCMmORGci6FUMV4/s1600/bees01_low_becky-lettenberger_custom-2df56a08c6022d121a8a728b0031bbf9d609076d-s4-c85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6wupn4drSop0L0ZQDBqYe4t1jexSz9_EF1mTb0bMTfNObJmAUGGt80OPW7nqdMeikwPCQ2V4PX57AWNL3o3BJQJMY-Y1Ba_HbqUi6WbcBKH39sEJEYesYH8sdXoy3uCMmORGci6FUMV4/s320/bees01_low_becky-lettenberger_custom-2df56a08c6022d121a8a728b0031bbf9d609076d-s4-c85.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Check out their new blog entry<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thisisnpr/2013/09/26/220790498/its-easy-bee-in-green" target="_blank">http://www.npr.org/blogs/thisisnpr/2013/09/26/220790498/its-easy-bee-in-green</a>DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-18066677572269196052013-09-23T10:26:00.001-04:002013-09-23T10:26:35.321-04:00Making Simple Small Hive Beetle Traps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5MrD6euruzkFNZ2hnCmzJl7mfq3n-mNkDnArDIhQ97ryI77Wmik9GprQ64Zkl01CyXC_-7tMBiZ2Mc8RRTTi3W2tD33lz2J2l2vDtPQyN9ULp9HPkqxS2bu8vIGIkTP6jKgYxPLH6LZc/s1600/IMG_1097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5MrD6euruzkFNZ2hnCmzJl7mfq3n-mNkDnArDIhQ97ryI77Wmik9GprQ64Zkl01CyXC_-7tMBiZ2Mc8RRTTi3W2tD33lz2J2l2vDtPQyN9ULp9HPkqxS2bu8vIGIkTP6jKgYxPLH6LZc/s400/IMG_1097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
My friend Jerry showed me how to do this. Cheap, easy, and effective. We use two of these on the top of each brood chamber (on the frame top bars), set close to the edge of the box where the beetles like to congregate.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
This is a piece of plastic sign board, typically used for political signs. This one happens to be a mite count board off a screened bottom board. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRYUptjnLGA6034-dk57J8CRFACEeBhhGhVHsZe3xkwkudblTHXrpgKnoWIy39PH9XszAq7dmsnPwC58LvreibA_Dk9HdmOtJocfdKaXUS4O1yCIIylk9z2vEb3TYu8H0K55WYGVJmA_l/s1600/IMG_1091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRYUptjnLGA6034-dk57J8CRFACEeBhhGhVHsZe3xkwkudblTHXrpgKnoWIy39PH9XszAq7dmsnPwC58LvreibA_Dk9HdmOtJocfdKaXUS4O1yCIIylk9z2vEb3TYu8H0K55WYGVJmA_l/s640/IMG_1091.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I don't know if the picture captures this well, but the sign board is corregated for strength, with continuous cells running through it. The SHB's will use these tubes for protection from the bees in the hive. And we will bait these passages with yummy poison.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CcIREsxuoyRMI7n5ZsKZqDc5aBt63180Go-WimlkFGfyEN5wSiBjoXJahPq_p1ouopPREifU728KlHHuZKHwjjNapQhjzF1KzWttjDTI1ylK4iIE3RADjHE95x0w_nzW-dy9cyl0OXkW/s1600/IMG_1092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CcIREsxuoyRMI7n5ZsKZqDc5aBt63180Go-WimlkFGfyEN5wSiBjoXJahPq_p1ouopPREifU728KlHHuZKHwjjNapQhjzF1KzWttjDTI1ylK4iIE3RADjHE95x0w_nzW-dy9cyl0OXkW/s640/IMG_1092.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We cut the board up into strips and then squares, roughly four inches per side...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJa_jX_4viY2OAfcWAxCxm0UbqIfKn-Lg74WBlGHrBzn3elE12g_VDGTEPnwsoDOIq_Co0bYJNETdxfZ3RYztXGVoPUq9T6MMjyDgAxQejjKJIv8OcjCw-M0FfoHQZ1Mny8kTKZ-jYMWV/s1600/IMG_1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJa_jX_4viY2OAfcWAxCxm0UbqIfKn-Lg74WBlGHrBzn3elE12g_VDGTEPnwsoDOIq_Co0bYJNETdxfZ3RYztXGVoPUq9T6MMjyDgAxQejjKJIv8OcjCw-M0FfoHQZ1Mny8kTKZ-jYMWV/s640/IMG_1093.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
....And arm ourselves with roach paste. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWV99H19ZOmNIvxS4u0dWAMrmHB4Ix7ZvSeJpYFZpwPeR-csgYQj2E6ivBEJ2H_DJPdMEu-PSy2WOZ845lM74lfO0AU8FedE4OA6ocdQXeCfLQTsZ3lG_55VnGsf60HNnURENc8XkVu52/s1600/IMG_1094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWV99H19ZOmNIvxS4u0dWAMrmHB4Ix7ZvSeJpYFZpwPeR-csgYQj2E6ivBEJ2H_DJPdMEu-PSy2WOZ845lM74lfO0AU8FedE4OA6ocdQXeCfLQTsZ3lG_55VnGsf60HNnURENc8XkVu52/s640/IMG_1094.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We like this syringe applicator as it allows for easy introduction of the poison to the tubes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEIcngRxiwyLFcldLABdYvxSVa4SyKLUGaT6yO3ikdxMFA09JYCu9LmvCUd65q9f4Nr_qIGVcLOP4KfgDyYKxZ259xrHNiPdtfteY9dlRvqftF49FZ6U4OrIEMbYxLWv7CbrH2RTKGDIi/s1600/IMG_1095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEIcngRxiwyLFcldLABdYvxSVa4SyKLUGaT6yO3ikdxMFA09JYCu9LmvCUd65q9f4Nr_qIGVcLOP4KfgDyYKxZ259xrHNiPdtfteY9dlRvqftF49FZ6U4OrIEMbYxLWv7CbrH2RTKGDIi/s640/IMG_1095.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We make a partial cut through one side of the board piece, and bend to expose the tubes. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4YAYF22y-OtQSC_9c6qfZ5PPs9F7Hh6AzumhZIGnRJrfccbbeR7T5sKyko1jR89RDEs5EE3HO-Ekkiy6bV4mT6I1mY2JnqlTzUkoWPYzNNgcZD4XQdFBW8jdy4lkixbcItDfHIu2XjOm/s1600/IMG_1096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4YAYF22y-OtQSC_9c6qfZ5PPs9F7Hh6AzumhZIGnRJrfccbbeR7T5sKyko1jR89RDEs5EE3HO-Ekkiy6bV4mT6I1mY2JnqlTzUkoWPYzNNgcZD4XQdFBW8jdy4lkixbcItDfHIu2XjOm/s640/IMG_1096.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Add some paste to the tubes...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u6GXhzN_cIHxFnrSkTkuqB47fDucHGihzp1bBEvmH98IElB4J9e_qgR7kFiwVkN9lfGA7eNyajd7N-gpYtTVIgYzAF9hkcNmUmSWGwfRl_n6WXIviubxMFyA6Fc-1w33jafR3JWodloz/s1600/IMG_1098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u6GXhzN_cIHxFnrSkTkuqB47fDucHGihzp1bBEvmH98IElB4J9e_qgR7kFiwVkN9lfGA7eNyajd7N-gpYtTVIgYzAF9hkcNmUmSWGwfRl_n6WXIviubxMFyA6Fc-1w33jafR3JWodloz/s640/IMG_1098.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
And close the crack back up. You can see, sort of, how we now have a series of tunnels, accessible from both ends, with a treat of roach paste in the middle. Simply cover the cut portion with a strip of duct tape, and you are done.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw9MsjtQ32fkuXD1JlbNXRY_CBtuyiDxgcxl5u21gCQD6puXs1wrN0JfnKloSNB63Zdnx1T6rMA5UJfzC1wNj1pD402Dtp7MwbBoEzyreQazA3Y4bQsbG-fLkIopnAn3ClMFc8WjqlbtY/s1600/IMG_1097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw9MsjtQ32fkuXD1JlbNXRY_CBtuyiDxgcxl5u21gCQD6puXs1wrN0JfnKloSNB63Zdnx1T6rMA5UJfzC1wNj1pD402Dtp7MwbBoEzyreQazA3Y4bQsbG-fLkIopnAn3ClMFc8WjqlbtY/s640/IMG_1097.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-51149656592371190312013-08-31T17:40:00.000-04:002013-08-31T17:40:00.101-04:00Harvesting a Ton of Rhode Island Honey<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmM8Fd527vJVEwEoI37znDz0oZkm4XPBxhnUxSxV-PFqUnx85dCsGRoAig622w__0SZqo1L7MwVxhQq55W4WCvqVlszAHcMr1rlVbstvcLMHgTNkGQOdhizTUsssBPA2dQkGJfvDFU84E/s1600/DSC_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmM8Fd527vJVEwEoI37znDz0oZkm4XPBxhnUxSxV-PFqUnx85dCsGRoAig622w__0SZqo1L7MwVxhQq55W4WCvqVlszAHcMr1rlVbstvcLMHgTNkGQOdhizTUsssBPA2dQkGJfvDFU84E/s640/DSC_0513.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You may remember that we have a place in RI where we have two hives on the roof. When we returned this spring I had expected both to be dead, based upon the national stats on dead-outs after this winter. And these bees had to deal with both Sandy and a cold and long winter and high mite infestations.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
However, I was pleased to find one of those hives still kicking when we went up to open the house in May. I threw an extra honey super on it, and let them do there thing. In July we harvested their bounty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_ETl-Kh1oJUnVWQHoH5DLTuH9cc-QypXeeeV5mJfpUui_F4DhD__7qrWksHO-qAukmqo7ZA6ClugDV7DsH5DFEqxoXT9NpyCyeZ0IGRaNSKWnhEfRosHEfpSXT7VIvcP6J1lrzagyGBN/s1600/IMG_1005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_ETl-Kh1oJUnVWQHoH5DLTuH9cc-QypXeeeV5mJfpUui_F4DhD__7qrWksHO-qAukmqo7ZA6ClugDV7DsH5DFEqxoXT9NpyCyeZ0IGRaNSKWnhEfRosHEfpSXT7VIvcP6J1lrzagyGBN/s640/IMG_1005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We did the <a href="http://dchoneybees.blogspot.com/2011/08/crush-and-strain-honey-extraction-video.html" target="_blank">crush and strain method</a> on the honey harvest, essentially scraping all the honey and wax off the plastic foundation, into a 5-gallon bucket.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcylBsxodMcvBmwJSKtZRVG2Oa8BY7nG9WNwRUTnyf5O_hzBJiX8nu3vzpFoEt278xPO5ZeyFgA0s1OxKHym7xpHsLPm-e5LxnKgXczpwMEs0OodZFQaPGjq2JvuoZUfheHKXho2RJX6W/s1600/IMG_1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcylBsxodMcvBmwJSKtZRVG2Oa8BY7nG9WNwRUTnyf5O_hzBJiX8nu3vzpFoEt278xPO5ZeyFgA0s1OxKHym7xpHsLPm-e5LxnKgXczpwMEs0OodZFQaPGjq2JvuoZUfheHKXho2RJX6W/s640/IMG_1009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After bringing this bucket through the bathroom window, we weighed it, just for fun:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV04CFp9pDf7CiZHbG2u5_HVRfrzlagrDbo-NbCKS7YBuUFDXoh-DYq_fgt2VecaegkpKpQHjhKD7dKiCaybePQz1jJYvEI9mzNuB-tUn26kc5OsEA2w-TQFd9atAwuyDNRwKqjy9C67L/s1600/IMG_1010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV04CFp9pDf7CiZHbG2u5_HVRfrzlagrDbo-NbCKS7YBuUFDXoh-DYq_fgt2VecaegkpKpQHjhKD7dKiCaybePQz1jJYvEI9mzNuB-tUn26kc5OsEA2w-TQFd9atAwuyDNRwKqjy9C67L/s400/IMG_1010.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
That is consistent with our baseline understanding of honey economics: 60 lbs equal gallons.<br />
<br />
Here was the rig we used to initially strain the wax from the honey. It is a second 5-gallon bucket with 1/4 inch holes drilled in it....about 100 holes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk_pIJbwZR3roy2ztZU9CX451QzHdODiN5PGnC_j1UAzwOpaz8-ffgxgAsKOAhJTK99eNkCVLS7oP1ZdNpC6xrBQRs740M6SwtoCQ9BvUUiVtmMhjb9MAoYrglhbVaGkwiMpPsH41VBkb/s1600/IMG_1011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk_pIJbwZR3roy2ztZU9CX451QzHdODiN5PGnC_j1UAzwOpaz8-ffgxgAsKOAhJTK99eNkCVLS7oP1ZdNpC6xrBQRs740M6SwtoCQ9BvUUiVtmMhjb9MAoYrglhbVaGkwiMpPsH41VBkb/s400/IMG_1011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And it strained into a larger vessel with most of the wax left behind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydtk-8z1SzijzV9q3z9Op9AimX_M6l3UuxlPd6gaJGq1tYNuF0D85_QIq8CXbZTyJXGG2OqQaumVdwyjfhRULTqd8aKOM_n4bBL3xWsFxeMfEGd51-3t31ARRGdzfh1SMd44NObG7f7hm/s1600/IMG_1020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydtk-8z1SzijzV9q3z9Op9AimX_M6l3UuxlPd6gaJGq1tYNuF0D85_QIq8CXbZTyJXGG2OqQaumVdwyjfhRULTqd8aKOM_n4bBL3xWsFxeMfEGd51-3t31ARRGdzfh1SMd44NObG7f7hm/s400/IMG_1020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2uRb3RD-iPi6mMpLESGehize9GkX5fHEfilpY_TATD8u_9tver8NJ6uzHeLRgNtSCi2cQSMZ2s7F8zTgb0VnpSY2MbXqJcAlebzWSFKGIgQX0rIT2RRYDa7d-kVwon_LxRq_a3H40VMG/s1600/IMG_1015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2uRb3RD-iPi6mMpLESGehize9GkX5fHEfilpY_TATD8u_9tver8NJ6uzHeLRgNtSCi2cQSMZ2s7F8zTgb0VnpSY2MbXqJcAlebzWSFKGIgQX0rIT2RRYDa7d-kVwon_LxRq_a3H40VMG/s400/IMG_1015.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
To strain out the balance of the wax, we procured from a local paint store a 5-gallon paint strainer, and taped it to the rim of a clean, 5-gallon bucket.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1duwJUGTeWKy77S4vzQB809OUUXYYvmlfP8weGfoi_2AwoEyRFwTwsPFww6tiEQl6ctxCC7hsdboEmy7MeLDDhXfcXqE-LmkIQ7X5VbSsOnJ1EXYhns2tSTEndIul8EIIo8T24I_HYTRn/s1600/IMG_1016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1duwJUGTeWKy77S4vzQB809OUUXYYvmlfP8weGfoi_2AwoEyRFwTwsPFww6tiEQl6ctxCC7hsdboEmy7MeLDDhXfcXqE-LmkIQ7X5VbSsOnJ1EXYhns2tSTEndIul8EIIo8T24I_HYTRn/s400/IMG_1016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x1TrcNViGjQvXPZEvq2Gu3ADaZ2U1RqtFDRpoXc4eBhehhAzf2hcMFwL-Gs-A62oVPLv7SW5tyg1gmR_I-jxHk7RVfWhvqV4cRQstiUsxIWOlt7uQAk6vvJq4DI2h5EDiICpEOugBcQG/s1600/IMG_1018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x1TrcNViGjQvXPZEvq2Gu3ADaZ2U1RqtFDRpoXc4eBhehhAzf2hcMFwL-Gs-A62oVPLv7SW5tyg1gmR_I-jxHk7RVfWhvqV4cRQstiUsxIWOlt7uQAk6vvJq4DI2h5EDiICpEOugBcQG/s320/IMG_1018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And then, run the nearly clean honey through the strainer:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJb9xaVh2XlVXW6nQeZBPqzymhWNoPTbb6VuUCC5dl2IvQ1yweNBlLOdlOSx-upqnDdLcpnKQ6FvK2fRYqVZRiZxP__gGvafnvmYzfKtakY0IXCIZ94eVOzPw1hZDKpH1fYAF6f0gfqAq/s1600/IMG_1021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJb9xaVh2XlVXW6nQeZBPqzymhWNoPTbb6VuUCC5dl2IvQ1yweNBlLOdlOSx-upqnDdLcpnKQ6FvK2fRYqVZRiZxP__gGvafnvmYzfKtakY0IXCIZ94eVOzPw1hZDKpH1fYAF6f0gfqAq/s400/IMG_1021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
....where we are left with a bucket of pure golden heaven:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaRHLcAaGd7q7doNYMvNoij03dG4S5IVwsysLnNwWp6k8cPnOmaxslBRNAgvBpTCwJwe5XKGTB0vPk-KEFPa-4vda0haBEovT2KB_6LgCDR3yqY-CWlw3VrrQUCcEJOE-TvfNmTqrc9bC/s1600/IMG_1028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaRHLcAaGd7q7doNYMvNoij03dG4S5IVwsysLnNwWp6k8cPnOmaxslBRNAgvBpTCwJwe5XKGTB0vPk-KEFPa-4vda0haBEovT2KB_6LgCDR3yqY-CWlw3VrrQUCcEJOE-TvfNmTqrc9bC/s400/IMG_1028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We left the drained wax out for the bees to clean and feast upon. Honey recycling!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJXmtwetNlobcRaN8kyV4uQaKh5xmX7L4GsnaBUeyTvJgKALOCJRbje3IVi6nRTdagyIcUAseGneorZn_1siFQ2BEGl79z1hqWKzEdFHcskgOjWQhcTH_t1J4_3s2nZ6I2xfppqr7YLIn/s1600/IMG_1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJXmtwetNlobcRaN8kyV4uQaKh5xmX7L4GsnaBUeyTvJgKALOCJRbje3IVi6nRTdagyIcUAseGneorZn_1siFQ2BEGl79z1hqWKzEdFHcskgOjWQhcTH_t1J4_3s2nZ6I2xfppqr7YLIn/s400/IMG_1022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
All that is left is to bottle:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZcwusYR-Kwtw6yXn0L-6l3rZgQWDR4SuB70Rev76rPf8aQiPgWwP-ZE59NtF8vn_DqrOOyYKaHSX_eBE3NRV4Sy3lz7JZ9mZedGHA-aNrI_hbh2EY6rxT1p122jJR9OCxxV1XJSFuu4u/s1600/photo.JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZcwusYR-Kwtw6yXn0L-6l3rZgQWDR4SuB70Rev76rPf8aQiPgWwP-ZE59NtF8vn_DqrOOyYKaHSX_eBE3NRV4Sy3lz7JZ9mZedGHA-aNrI_hbh2EY6rxT1p122jJR9OCxxV1XJSFuu4u/s640/photo.JPG.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-25177660742346660602013-08-30T21:28:00.001-04:002013-08-30T21:42:35.896-04:00Got Abejas?*Through a partnership with <a href="http://www.globalbees.org/">Global Bees</a>, DC Honeybees was able to help install two beehives at a <a href="http://almeriasolidaria-peru.org/">primary school in Almeria</a> near Cusco, Peru. Here are our updates and stay tuned for more!*<br />
<br />
WE BOUGHT OUR BEES TODAY! Our director, Oscar, came back from his
business trip, corraled me, Mads and Baltezar into his car, and drove us
to his “bee guy” in Cusco. Well, this was a friend of his former bee
guy who now is apparently a fugitive avoiding law enforcement somewhere
in Argentina. Sounds a little crazy, but apparently todos los apicultors
en Peru son un poco loco, and actually, that’s pretty much the same in
DC too. Anywho, I digress. Once we got to the Mundo de las Abejas de
Jossua (a self-proclaimed Gringo, according to his flyers) the
Quebecoise owner, Jossua, immediately starting falling all over himself
to help us out. We told him about Almeria and our current state of
funding, or better yet, lack thereof, and immeiately he jumped on board,
handing us some sort of cure-all diluted propolis spray por los ninos.<br />
<br />
Over the course of what seemed like five hours, Jossua had — very
thouroughly — gone over the beekeeping basics, rattled off the same bee
statistics that Jeff Miller and I quote for DC Honeybees engagements,
scooped out taste-testers from each of his honey/pollen products, and
last but not least, showed us his nucleus colonies on the rooftop behind
his shop (sound familiar Jeff?)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt-LSJnlLzqGxbZ04jA8PW2KWbLZ0Bu-Q435LSZX8rIi_ffjE6-SpKnSaIH0S3HWoseF_keXD0CulJiFJAwVHIrr_DYIZ-ye9x1P2vGbaO1uhA8C8glboVtOMb6mC1nwW4lM1HJJxfCc/s1600/DSCN1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt-LSJnlLzqGxbZ04jA8PW2KWbLZ0Bu-Q435LSZX8rIi_ffjE6-SpKnSaIH0S3HWoseF_keXD0CulJiFJAwVHIrr_DYIZ-ye9x1P2vGbaO1uhA8C8glboVtOMb6mC1nwW4lM1HJJxfCc/s320/DSCN1335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
An expert salesman, the former Frenchman had no shame in pointing out
which pieces of his equipment were crap, and which were the best. He
positively lit up during our lengthy conversation, bouncing from the
medicinal properties of honey, to explaining how an extractor worked.
Though it was impossible to get a word in, and follow his train of
thought, Jossua was extremely helpful and accommodating. When all was
said and done we walked out with two complete hives (each to be started
with a nucleus colony), two suits, two pairs of gloves, two veils, two
kilos of wax to start the frames and one smoker.<br />
<br />
A huge thanks goes out to Global Bees, which agreed to fund this
installation. As executive director of DC Honeybees, we decided to
partner with Global Bees, a DC-based organization that aims to initiate
small-scale sustainable development projects, in order to expand our
mission of propogating beehives and promoting beekeeping.<br />
<br />
The way Jossua works is this. Today we signed a contract for all our
beekeeping needs, and on Sunday he’ll come out to Almeria to scout a
location — one that’s far enough away that no ninos are tempted to
tamper with the buzzing boxes. After that he’ll come back and set up our
nuc colonies and give us a tutorial on apicultura. With the rainy
season approaching — and accompanying nectar-flow I presume — he said
we’d be ready for our first harvest anywhere between three and six
months.<br />
<br />
So a few things are different between beekeeping here and in the
states. (I’m about to go pretty bee-nerd right now, so if you’re just in
it for the honey, I’d say get out now.) When Jossua set up a model
hive, it only consisted of two standard supers, and your regular inside
and outside covers. I asked about honey supers and he said we wouldn’t
need them. Hmmm, skeptical. I pressed him (with Mads’ help) and he said
pretty confidently that the queen doesn’t move up into the top box. Not
only that, but he also said the bottom box should have ten frames, but
the top only nine, but not to make room for some kind of feeder. Jossua
said the more-than-bee-space would allow for fatter honey frames. At
least this one made more sense to me.<br />
<br />
Also he said the breed of bees we’d be getting is an Italian-African
hybrid — best of both worlds, which, I’ve also heard about
Italian-Russians. And, as I suspected, Jossua warned emphatically about
always wearing your suit when handleing frames, adding that hot smoke
would only make them more aggressive and suggested using cooler smoke.
The Africanized bees are no cool DC-Italians. They’re “persnickity” at
best, as Jeff likes to say, and they — as their name would suggest —
aren’t the best at over-wintering. Still, they are the most
disease-resistant breed out there.<br />
<br />
And yes, these are the notorious “killer bees,” but Jossua assured he
hasn’t had any sort of issue with the Italian-Africans in the two years
he’s been working in Peru. For the most part these bees operate just
like my sunny Italians, coming to a full population about one month
after dropping in a nuc. Sounds like it’s time to get my nectar-flow on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNdFMpZzIXf_T-0YnGq-0AiJg-6-Ut4v_5BlHv1E7kY84lCLx8rixv7c7ykTxAsLrNFrCFdLdf9jMu6G8KN0J63uLLL6ivcgd2nZIwN7b3q2V9-kegFr-kkdzIhQqrYlbZshMZghg_lQ/s1600/DSCN1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNdFMpZzIXf_T-0YnGq-0AiJg-6-Ut4v_5BlHv1E7kY84lCLx8rixv7c7ykTxAsLrNFrCFdLdf9jMu6G8KN0J63uLLL6ivcgd2nZIwN7b3q2V9-kegFr-kkdzIhQqrYlbZshMZghg_lQ/s320/DSCN1338.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467791107420929685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-21638173364042382342013-08-19T13:41:00.001-04:002013-08-19T13:41:53.182-04:00Australian Broadcasting Corp Piece on Bee Losses in America<br />
<br />
Some of our friends and fellow beekeepers were interviewed about their rooftop hive for this very nice piece<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3824974.htm" target="_blank">. Check it out HERE.</a>DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-9631140870747622102013-07-01T19:19:00.001-04:002013-07-01T19:19:55.165-04:00My new $688 Acquisition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfzY0rgDCKefbICmIO77b7vqJng-HzlsEqRiEObfbryH2h3mFQ53DnnPiXY1KTMZzXijw8_9COcxAJCM2xe2dIWGZ-Od2F_GNC7XpGelUH0_t9WROUsuO1vH-buQq0Ptooou1kf0RDjYN/s1600/IMG_0989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfzY0rgDCKefbICmIO77b7vqJng-HzlsEqRiEObfbryH2h3mFQ53DnnPiXY1KTMZzXijw8_9COcxAJCM2xe2dIWGZ-Od2F_GNC7XpGelUH0_t9WROUsuO1vH-buQq0Ptooou1kf0RDjYN/s640/IMG_0989.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is me getting ready to expand the apiary to do some pollination. We have lots of <a href="http://www.dixiebeesupply.com/Dixiebeesupply/Don_Kuchenmeister,_The_Fat_Bee_Man.html" target="_blank">Don's bees</a>, and lots of equipment. We are <a href="http://dchoneybees.blogspot.com/2013/06/making-pallets.html" target="_blank">building pallets</a>. We are making splits. We are considering <a href="http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/trailer-accessories/1720-lb-capacity-super-duty-48-inch-x-96-inch-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-five-lug-wheels-and-tires-94564.html" target="_blank">purchasing a trailer</a> to drag these things.<br />
<br />
But we need to identify our hives by markers other than our colors (white, and Ballerina Pink, per my kids....those things will stand out!!). We need to properly mark our hives for identification so that they are easily recognized and loaded in the almonds. Ahhhh....the almonds.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
So our latest purchase is a branding iron we purchased at <a href="http://www.brandingirons.com/index.html" target="_blank">Branding Irons Unlimited</a> for the above-referenced amount. This iron measures about 2.5 inches tall and 6 inches wide, and has our name emblazoned, literally, on the fronts of all our boxes. Our hope is that we get enough relief (as in the art term) that the letters read through the paint, and we can fill the recesses with black paint for the name to stand out. Admittedly an expensive experiment, by cool nevertheless.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqTEHG2pF4OXu1YCghRHfS0Cs5yTvpEI5iTzW8u-ljqUlofzzkdaZHMC7r3ioON3p92lnZf6c4tk-vrxUEvQVgwxTkXOX5lQgLBMou89kpoNQIiGB9pRMtKET1MLEHqffY2tW5g7GCkzU/s1600/IMG_0991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqTEHG2pF4OXu1YCghRHfS0Cs5yTvpEI5iTzW8u-ljqUlofzzkdaZHMC7r3ioON3p92lnZf6c4tk-vrxUEvQVgwxTkXOX5lQgLBMou89kpoNQIiGB9pRMtKET1MLEHqffY2tW5g7GCkzU/s640/IMG_0991.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T-aat5eqaDJVYmE5SIjHfxHNpIldSKKNBDAljQ1F89NyhM-AEyDm4TQXMIkTVIKp-GTab40Xs2Jq3Edi766OQvN8zwwxY33Ecup2Ry1U3xV4CyEFtFVc6FtnRGNhbQQrP4Fskihgbf75/s1600/IMG_0992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T-aat5eqaDJVYmE5SIjHfxHNpIldSKKNBDAljQ1F89NyhM-AEyDm4TQXMIkTVIKp-GTab40Xs2Jq3Edi766OQvN8zwwxY33Ecup2Ry1U3xV4CyEFtFVc6FtnRGNhbQQrP4Fskihgbf75/s400/IMG_0992.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhbByWMnPUZzgOHlnPAyOX4vIzVlkTGD3TES_2Ms3JpeQsNIWix_p7wOaLFd6FakoTw8kcQAtstNKXG9SnkvmsVg1dPW4ZW2r_vAVHVCKYukhUpPnOg2eZGg8TwUya1FwqhRaT3cVkYDy/s1600/IMG_0994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhbByWMnPUZzgOHlnPAyOX4vIzVlkTGD3TES_2Ms3JpeQsNIWix_p7wOaLFd6FakoTw8kcQAtstNKXG9SnkvmsVg1dPW4ZW2r_vAVHVCKYukhUpPnOg2eZGg8TwUya1FwqhRaT3cVkYDy/s640/IMG_0994.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Not sure you can see the smoke in this photo, but the thing gets HOT. We will continue to figure out how to best time and heat the iron for the most visible effect. The thing weighs about 8 lbs so you can leave it on the board and its weight will provide enough contact for the four minutes we leave it in place. NOTE that we are doing this with plenty of ventilation and 100% supervision...heat is a bitch and we have already had one fire here.<br />
<br />
Jeff.<br />
<br />
<br />DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-26799742409948943102013-06-19T05:43:00.002-04:002013-06-19T05:43:49.785-04:00We Made the Drudge Report!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kQXDrDFx-oLXRRW1HNLpHsgLzs6-Jcxu0-UVPriMVE4YrrS3YUqb5XvIDO0_E8eHz5EtY-at6hEpAp0F3UKa8v4g323mwFOC_7di11ifU4XlqSNdtfZ1kBxy-W3ygX1-WyI95-Lbzz01/s1600/logo9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kQXDrDFx-oLXRRW1HNLpHsgLzs6-Jcxu0-UVPriMVE4YrrS3YUqb5XvIDO0_E8eHz5EtY-at6hEpAp0F3UKa8v4g323mwFOC_7di11ifU4XlqSNdtfZ1kBxy-W3ygX1-WyI95-Lbzz01/s640/logo9.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, sort of.<br />
<br />
Here is the headline:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: ARIAL,VERDANA,HELVETICA;"><span><tt><b><a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/npr-shows-off-new-facility_b107995">NPR Shows Off New Facility: Wellness center, café, beehives on roof... a gong?</a></b></tt></span></span><br />
<br />
Those are the beehives we installed for them a few weeks back and are managing. We will take what we can get.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/npr-shows-off-new-facility_b107995" target="_blank">Here is the article.</a><br />
<br />
<br />DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-76414885757125416462013-06-17T09:52:00.000-04:002013-06-17T09:52:11.466-04:00Making Pallets<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KJEmNv8EKxcfjbw8hGx_zMgdRirI-UVfoBxrhp9wG_XaT1fAHimJFuqMx6iGRjvBBr4_X-XGJpsD1jWLc0BQ67lze1_jf4p5_ykjLizk3dkb1ZEG1w8RemX79zmUeay8vEHIcb71ktcN/s1600/IMG_0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KJEmNv8EKxcfjbw8hGx_zMgdRirI-UVfoBxrhp9wG_XaT1fAHimJFuqMx6iGRjvBBr4_X-XGJpsD1jWLc0BQ67lze1_jf4p5_ykjLizk3dkb1ZEG1w8RemX79zmUeay8vEHIcb71ktcN/s400/IMG_0730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
With the bee delivery season behind us we are making splits and introducing queens to increase the number of colonies we have to 40 at our off-site apiary. These 40 will make the trek to FLA in September or October to feast on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schinus_terebinthifolius" target="_blank">Brazilian Pepper</a> nectar flow, build up in size, and then be ready for the almonds in February.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Unlike hobbyist beekeepers which use individual bottom boards for each stack of supers, the commercial guys, for speed and efficiency, use custom-built pallets that can hold four or six colonies at a time and which can be handled by a fork lift and stacked for shipping.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGa0q2AMIjzkTNAWZqWLsJd7lxcj-xhp0gv0WG0Zfnf_5Y3-5-TL9DDsc62mMhAbOwS0QJC4MyARCEgSWBiQ5qDWit24ByBdtb-P-Dwr0wOkirpjjqLpCFt0RBY9PsE0YcSkOH_Df-N6mq/s1600/DSC07758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGa0q2AMIjzkTNAWZqWLsJd7lxcj-xhp0gv0WG0Zfnf_5Y3-5-TL9DDsc62mMhAbOwS0QJC4MyARCEgSWBiQ5qDWit24ByBdtb-P-Dwr0wOkirpjjqLpCFt0RBY9PsE0YcSkOH_Df-N6mq/s400/DSC07758.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Our large vehicle, an Explorer, is about to leave the area for the summer, And I need to make at least a few more of these pallets ahead of its departure. So I'll be making a couple of runs to Home Depot this week. <br />
<br />
This weekend I knocked out two. First cutting the wood to size,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrLTBWLL3ULepTyLUIwMk0AmSww5-5tBOdCKwr2OXmi3HJwNo2WUgRV6yZ-0BInWnrLfx6AlsZUo49Y7Lqpu0ouIYoAtGhC8-_TqMX3pWeM3sKireGjiaSKU3dTiib4dh2xlKUZm9sM44/s1600/IMG_0976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrLTBWLL3ULepTyLUIwMk0AmSww5-5tBOdCKwr2OXmi3HJwNo2WUgRV6yZ-0BInWnrLfx6AlsZUo49Y7Lqpu0ouIYoAtGhC8-_TqMX3pWeM3sKireGjiaSKU3dTiib4dh2xlKUZm9sM44/s400/IMG_0976.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Then assembling:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkxdWbM-kfQDaQP8dg8AaIqN5Zs0zspPRg4hwT6a-s7iVRrJltRetT9mZ4bfzcQuIchCQOFXG_ISjnYfXvDbgUf1hf9-yfKUwyAAbhABcJVjWwmkW5rKa32jLZxWVDtTD6Hn04hPBcgI5/s1600/IMG_0981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkxdWbM-kfQDaQP8dg8AaIqN5Zs0zspPRg4hwT6a-s7iVRrJltRetT9mZ4bfzcQuIchCQOFXG_ISjnYfXvDbgUf1hf9-yfKUwyAAbhABcJVjWwmkW5rKa32jLZxWVDtTD6Hn04hPBcgI5/s640/IMG_0981.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3gYf6Nux1hhoLmtjVWxl0iPQRFzmnwYQifj0e9nswWB4UABgA5s1UUC-QyJ2JA82XgfZJEZ-R-KO06DAJVvMk1PZPjkFopYsaKLa6fhR7nR5CstUz65ILgP95lu37eTBgubxw0g6QWqv/s1600/IMG_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3gYf6Nux1hhoLmtjVWxl0iPQRFzmnwYQifj0e9nswWB4UABgA5s1UUC-QyJ2JA82XgfZJEZ-R-KO06DAJVvMk1PZPjkFopYsaKLa6fhR7nR5CstUz65ILgP95lu37eTBgubxw0g6QWqv/s640/IMG_0979.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Yes, that is my living room floor. We are lacking space!<br />
<br />
Stay tuned as we set these up and transfer bees to them.<br />
<br />
Jeff.DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-19827036014045418912013-06-14T16:43:00.001-04:002013-06-14T16:43:12.830-04:00Pollinator Week!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pollinator Week is back! Designated by the United States
Department of Agriculture, <a href="http://pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2013.htm">National Pollinator Week</a> will run from Monday, June
17 through Sunday, June 23. Events will run throughout the week in an effort to
educate people about pollinators and their essential role in maintaining a
healthy ecosystem. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://pollinator.org/npw_events.htm#dc"><b>DC Events</b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday, June 17, 7-9 p.m.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://hillcenterdc.org/home/programs/1390"><b><i>Vanishing of the Bees Film Screening</i></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
921 Pennsylvania Ave., SE</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thursday, June 20, 6:30-9 p.m.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://cityblossoms.org/the-city-blossoms-volunteer-corp-year-two/"><b><i>Cirque D'Insectes</i></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://cityblossoms.org/">City Blossoms</a> Garden at corner of 11th and Harvard NW<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday, June 21, 10-2 p.m.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/06/14/buzz-over-to-the-pollinatorweek-festival/"><b><i>USDA People's Garden Pollinator Festival</i></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2th and Independence, SW</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
June 12 - 26</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.indiancraftshop.com/highlight_of_month/Pollinators_AmericanIndianArt.htm"><b><i>Pollinators Depicted in American Indian Art</i></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
U.S. Dept. of the Interior: 1849 C St., NW </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pollinator.org/Images/NPW/2013//banner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://pollinator.org/Images/NPW/2013//banner2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This celebration will recognize the importance of birds,
butterflies, bats, beetles, and, of course, bees! Honeybees are specifically
designed to carry pollen, which they consume as a source of protein. In flying
from flower to flower, bees drink nectar and collect pollen grains they store in
pollen-baskets on their hind legs known as scopa. In doing so, honeybees help to
transfer pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma,
initiating fertilization.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pollinator Partnership has a <a href="http://pollinator.org/npw_events.htm#dc">full list of events</a>. </div>
Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467791107420929685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-64265073327040007102013-06-07T12:19:00.002-04:002013-06-07T12:20:35.923-04:00Article On Bee Shortages In the Almonds This Past Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLaLRkKhUcaD4hmlyS1U_G0n5MfRUH17e9WPqygjZRP4zOxY9m5VIO3nXJWj6cCk_Zx6lcdXegj6vaM4TRZtMgWye_SalSajXoYui_MLrOObYh6902doa0UXZH6bkbayiAP3H5WdL3SHr/s1600/Bees+on+hand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLaLRkKhUcaD4hmlyS1U_G0n5MfRUH17e9WPqygjZRP4zOxY9m5VIO3nXJWj6cCk_Zx6lcdXegj6vaM4TRZtMgWye_SalSajXoYui_MLrOObYh6902doa0UXZH6bkbayiAP3H5WdL3SHr/s400/Bees+on+hand.png" width="400" /></a></div>
My buddy Jerry from, <a href="http://www.rockhillhoneybeefarms-inc.com/" target="_blank">Rock Hill Bee Farms</a>, sent me the following article. You may remember that Jerry has helped us supply bees to the DC area, and has graciously allowed me to partner with him as we expand our apiary for pollination. I am posting it as a link as it is rather large:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1457763609"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.ilsba.com/uploads/1/0/6/4/10649295/what_happened_to_the_bees_this_spring2013_opt.pdf">http://www.ilsba.com/uploads/1/0/6/4/10649295/what_happened_to_the_bees_this_spring2013_opt.pdf</a><br />
<br />
The article is especially interesting for us hobbyist as it details the commercial beeks' issues with varroa last year, which translated into significant losses coming out of this past prolonged winter. Sound familiar?<br />
<br />
It also tries to put into perspective the science behind the threat of neonics.<br />
<br />
Jeff.DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-76373442600114596542013-06-03T12:29:00.001-04:002013-06-03T12:29:47.943-04:00Our Third and Season Finale Trip to Don the Not-So-Fat FatBeeMan - VIDEO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREm2V-DneSqQHm_PmZROMa9s8IKjoaPIDJxB9A997cwgK9x3bxX_46UAm5MA1dpiG8Oy2b7j4chsO46BJhxkgM3JJoFVZ9DswaP-aVyPnuteOPXBidYAEOLT5NTXFuDOWO1bmE_LNvyKk/s1600/IMG_0961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREm2V-DneSqQHm_PmZROMa9s8IKjoaPIDJxB9A997cwgK9x3bxX_46UAm5MA1dpiG8Oy2b7j4chsO46BJhxkgM3JJoFVZ9DswaP-aVyPnuteOPXBidYAEOLT5NTXFuDOWO1bmE_LNvyKk/s640/IMG_0961.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We had our final visit to Don this season, to bathe in his knowledge and pick up 35 more packages. Most of these packages will go into nucs in our nuc-ery and be used to expand our pollination prospects.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKGenfX2BQg7N7WMvH-owqHozXDWfFBfay-L5P3FP-wVTw9lbRfYGnxHM3hIPKkCL-PczAUMSXFeZtVi-uVthssmCuygsdZH0UNwpY8f7n3cBg8yK3TPonJj_EovFH4E2K7Di5dwn63dR/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKGenfX2BQg7N7WMvH-owqHozXDWfFBfay-L5P3FP-wVTw9lbRfYGnxHM3hIPKkCL-PczAUMSXFeZtVi-uVthssmCuygsdZH0UNwpY8f7n3cBg8yK3TPonJj_EovFH4E2K7Di5dwn63dR/s400/IMG_0154.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our nuc stands</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are trying to grow to 40 hives, on four-way pallets (a custom pallet that holds four colonies). We will bring these hives to Florida in the fall to grow on the Brazilian Pepper flow, then out to California for the almonds. There is huge demand now for bees in CA, due to the continued dwindling of pollination resources. Investing in resistant stock and strong, treatment free colonies is our strategy to deal with this risk, even though it means more expensive start-up costs for bees.<br />
<br />
Here is the video we took while we were down with Don, joining him while he was inspecting his hives.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5pur9JpgO8k" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
Jeff. DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040868171838098515.post-85366230021886658682013-05-30T14:04:00.001-04:002013-05-30T14:04:35.758-04:00Vandal Hits Church of the Pilgrims' Hives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8LMxVKNEbbqHHyu4hDiS8IRe9AG8pCOm6IQbiKOx32dzfYZQFIOwjaLXZA2VAF3E5omjVCne2cv-0CuyPviTMEO028LC_MzTZHUn9vhOoQc1LoWPDuK2XehT9xv-mv6A6Ci28DETpFnI/s1600/IMG_0969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8LMxVKNEbbqHHyu4hDiS8IRe9AG8pCOm6IQbiKOx32dzfYZQFIOwjaLXZA2VAF3E5omjVCne2cv-0CuyPviTMEO028LC_MzTZHUn9vhOoQc1LoWPDuK2XehT9xv-mv6A6Ci28DETpFnI/s640/IMG_0969.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
One of our intern's Kallisa went out to tend these hives this past weekend and was greeted with all the boxes upended and on the ground. She put them all back together, and we assumed it was an isolated incident.<br />
<br />
It wasn't. I received a call from the church's caretaker on Tuesday saying that he had seen a homeless man screwing with the hives again the night before, swatting away bees. He must have come back after the caretaker went to bed, because the hives were in bad shape Wednesday. We came out to witness the carnage.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h3Yw4sC29VM" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
The bees were in good shape, huddled in the deep supers. We did not look for a queen, but rather just put the hive bodies back in place and hoped for the best.<br />
<br />
We are going to ratchet strap these hives down to deter another event, although a determined vandal can get through those. We will see. DCHoneybeeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03368112253592408140noreply@blogger.com0