Kalamazoo Bee Club

Spring Build-Up and Inspections

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spring inspections

Wednesday night Anne Marie Fauvel, beekeeper and educator from Grand Valley State University, spoke to the bee club about spring her spring to-do list. Below is an overview of the information covered.

This time of year new beekeepers are always anxious to get into their hives, but aren’t entirely sure what they should be doing or looking for. Anne’s presentation covered two important components for this time of year: why a spring build-up in important and what to look for during spring hive inspections.Continue Reading

A Beekeeper’s Spring To-Do List

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beekeepers spring to do list

When should I uncover my hives?

More and more beekeepers in the north are experimenting with different overwintering protections: insulation, foam, wind blocks, heating elements, etc. As the weather begins to warm up, beekeepers begin to wonder when they should take this winter protection down.Continue Reading

Varroa Mites: Your 2016 Action Plan

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managing varroa mites

Photo Credit

February in the midwest is rough. I’m a school teacher, so I’m now quite removed from Christmas break, but still far from spring break. The weather is dark, cold and (usually) snowy. By March it feels like spring is on the horizon, but February feels like a cavernous hole of cold that will never let up.  It’s especially hard on beekeepers for a few reasons: (1) by now you might be mourning the loss of a hive or two, (2) if you’re not, you’re hoping they’re still alive, (3) if they ARE still alive, there’s nothing you can really do, but just think about them.

This is why I was so excited to attend (and present at) the Kalamazoo Bee School last Saturday. It was a great chance to learn, think, and talk about bees with other local keepers. I especially love to connect with new beekeepers because their excitement and anxiety is kind of exhilarating!

I went to two sessions about varroa mites (one by Ali Leist and one by Meghan Milbrath) and decided to outline some of the new recommendations regarding varroa management. This will give you something to think and read about until you can actually get outside and check on those bees!Continue Reading

On Mentoring

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mentoring titleRecently I attended the bee school planning meeting. As we wove on and off task (as meetings tend to do), the topic of mentors came up.  The members in the room represented a variety of age- and experience-levels, but we all agreed that finding a good mentor is crucial to beekeeping success.

We wondered why it’s been so difficult to start a mentor group. Is it because newer beekeepers (keepers for 3-5 years-ish) are afraid to offer advice? Is it because new beekeepers are afraid to ask? Is there a perception that mentoring is time-consuming? Continue Reading

It’s *Almost* Time to Start Reflecting on Your Summer

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Well it’s the third week of August which, in beekeeping time, is kind of the beginning of a wind down. Sure we have several months before snow and cold (thank goodness), but as a beekeeper, it’s never too early to start thinking ahead; that’s one thing I wish we would have done more often as novice keepers. Our first two years we were so stuck in the now and pretty focused on honey collection as a gauge of success. The reality is, bees will make honey. Yes, some will make more than others and yes, there are things you can do to affect this, but it’s similar to how chickens will lay eggs. No matter what, a chicken is going to lay an egg most days. Sure you can feed superior food and run a light when the days shorten, but much of the egg-laying business is really just nature. Another analogy I’m fond of is two-year-olds and tantrums: they’ll have one, almost everyday, it’s just nature. But back to beekeeping….

Bee on Knapweed2 w name

This time of year I find a lot of beekeepers bragging on forums and Facebook groups. A lot pictures of tall hives and admissions of “8, 12, 16, 18 frames of honey!” as if you’ve worked all summer for only that: honey.  Now don’t get me wrong, if you’ve ever worked a hive in 90 degree heat and humidity (which most of you have), then you’ve earned that honey, but let’s hold ourselves to higher standards and, more importantly, keep in mind that there is more to beekeeping than honey.Continue Reading

A Backyard Keeper’s Q & A about Honey Collection

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What follows is a backyard beekeeper’s Q & A about honey collection. My family likes to raise bees because we like bees. The honey is a great byproduct of the hobby, but it is not the reason we do it. If you are interested in selling honey or comb products, I am not the person to talk to. If, however, you keep a few hives and/or are new to beekeeping and want a few jars for yourself and maybe a few for some friends and family, then you might find this helpful.

Why do bees make honey?

Quite simply, bees make honey to eat. Honey is their food source when they are hunkered down during the cold winter months. It’s full of sugar and nutrients so it provides plenty of energy and substance to keep warm and stay satisfied when there is no nectar available.

Bees love honey! (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Hubbard)

Bees love honey! (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Hubbard)

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A Look Inside the Hive

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Inside the Beehive

Last week I was out in the apiary giving a future beekeeper a “hive tour” when I thought I saw the beginnings of queen cells in Mega Hive. During that trip to the hives I was really just showing this new person some basics, so I couldn’t really explore any further at the time. For two days I stewed and worried about these cells. We had seen eggs in this hive, but had never actually found the queen, so I wondered if she maybe died. Then I thought about how enormous that hive is and, despite our constant efforts to stay ahead of it, the bees are building like crazy, so I started to worry about a swarm. We had two days of rain, so I was just twiddling my thumbs, convincing myself that by the time we got out there again, the hive would be empty (dramatic, I know). We finally had a chance to get out to Mega Hive today and really take the time to look through each box. Here are some things we found…. Continue Reading

Are Your Nucs Normal?

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I recently joined an online group for SE Beekeepers. (They were kind enough to let me join, despite my “west side” zip code).  I’ve noticed a trend these last few weeks in comments from new beekeepers. They take different forms, but post after post I see, “Is this normal?” So whether you installed a nuc or a package this spring, here are some questions other newbies are asking:

  • “I couldn’t wait 9 days and I opened the hive after 5, is this ok?”
  • “Is it normal for queens to die in the first week?”
  • “Is it normal for nucs/packages to swarm right away?”
  • “My bees have only filled 3-4 frames, is this normal?”
  • “Is it normal to see evidence of supersedure already?“

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Breeding Better Bees

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Of all the things potentially killing honeybees (pesticides, poor nutrition, colony collapse), disease is one of the areas where the individual beekeeper may have some impact. Most commonly, hives are plagued with varroa mites. Varroa mites are external parasites that attack both adult honeybees and brood. They attach and suck the blood of the bee. In cases of brood infestation, bees often hatch with deformities and/or weaknesses. Left untreated, mites can ultimately kill a colony.  I recently watched a video on youtube and the man said, “Are you in denial about your mite problem? Repeat after me: I HAVE A MITE PROBLEM.” If you aren’t sure if you have mites in your bee yard, you probably do.  I think they are more responsible for weakened colonies than we perhaps give them credit for.

varroa

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Why I Hope to Raise Beekeepers

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raising keepers

I have two sons and it’s important to me to raise beekeepers. I mean this both literally and figuratively. Sure I’d love for the boys to grow up learning about and loving honey bees the way their father and I do, but more importantly, I’m interested in beekeepers of the figurative variety.Continue Reading