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Apr 29, 2011 10:24 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
For those of you interested in learning more about beekeeping please ask your questions here. If you just want to share your knowledge, pictures, stories or whatever about honey bees this is the place to do it.
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Apr 29, 2011 10:32 AM CST
Name: Arejay aka Robin Brann
Maine (Zone 5a)
The Irises are up!!
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Thank you Mindy!! When you say enough pollen and no diseases for instance what diseases and what do you do if they do contract a disease and how would they get it? Not enough pollen ...how can that be?
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Apr 29, 2011 11:49 AM CST
Name: Cheryl White
Butler, Texas
Charter ATP Member Cat Lover Seller of Garden Stuff Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Region: Texas
Hummingbirder Garden Art Farmer Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Hi Mindy , no rush I know your busy.
I have heard there is something killing off a lot of honey bees.
Are they hard to keep alive/
check out my new store Metamorphosis Upcycled/Recycled Glass
http://www.facebook.com/Metamo... , http://cubits.org/diycomforthe...
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Apr 29, 2011 1:06 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
Robin I'll answer you on the diseases later I have to get the book to list them all.

Cheryl the disease you are hearing about in the news is called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) They don't know yet what's causing that or why some hives don't suffer from it and others do in the same bee yard.

Honey bees are pretty easy to keep alive if the enviroment if favorable. Sometimes they need help to make it through a drought for instance or need treating for disease. We are lucky to live in a rural area where very little pesticide is used within their range. And we have alot of their plants growing all around us. We do have to feed them sometimes like during the hot months of summer when it may be too hot for them to forage. Or when they need help bulding up their winter supply of food. We also feed them sugar water when we first put them in a hive until they get settled in.

Robin some places don't have enough plants to keep them going throughout the whole season. Their range is 6 miles in diameter from the hive. In a city they may get good nectar and pollen only at certain times of the year. Or the beekeeper may be in an area where only one crop is grown like almonds. When the almonds are finished blooming that may be all there is for them because most commercial growers tend to clear the native vegetation completely in order to use all the ground possible for their money crop.

Pests include, birds, skunks, bears, raccoons and humans. Some birds eat honey bees, skunks, bears and raccoons love honey.
Some people kill every bee they see regardless of what kind it is. Some kill them because they are allergic to them. Some may destroy a bee yard out of meanace. Humans are also responsible for the use of pesticides.

More later on diseases.
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Apr 29, 2011 1:40 PM CST
Name: Arejay aka Robin Brann
Maine (Zone 5a)
The Irises are up!!
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
The sugar water spurs my curiosity. I read once that sugar feeding to bees s one of the causes of disease are you finding that not to be true? I guessed it had to do with the way the sugar and the water was refined? For instance one of the herbal remedies I make for one of my kids calls for pure honey from bees that have not been treated with antibiotics or fed sugar. Why do you suppose?
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Apr 29, 2011 2:00 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
When bees are kept going on sugar water they aren't as healthy. Ours only eat it until they start foraging then they ignore it in favor of natural sweetness.

Antibiotics of course isn't good. The sugar water doesn't have the pollen which provides protein and vitamins and minerals (honey has some pollen mixed in it which is why it's good for allergies). It's just pure carbohydrates. It's like us eating candy instead of veggies and meat. Sugar water doesn't provide bees with good nutrition and if they are kept going on it instead of their natural food sources they are more likely to get disease and be invaded by mites and such.
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Apr 29, 2011 2:07 PM CST
Name: Arejay aka Robin Brann
Maine (Zone 5a)
The Irises are up!!
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Ahh I see thank you
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Apr 29, 2011 6:48 PM CST
Name: Cheryl White
Butler, Texas
Charter ATP Member Cat Lover Seller of Garden Stuff Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Region: Texas
Hummingbirder Garden Art Farmer Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
beekeeping for dummies .. hmm maybe I should find that book ...
check out my new store Metamorphosis Upcycled/Recycled Glass
http://www.facebook.com/Metamo... , http://cubits.org/diycomforthe...
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Apr 29, 2011 7:19 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
Very good book. I got mine from the library after asking them if they had any books on beekeeping. Mine also got The Backyard Beekeeper which is also a good book for newbees.

I'll post more tomorrow, got to reading and forgot the time
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Apr 30, 2011 9:39 AM CST
Name: Christine
North East Texas (Zone 7b)
Shine Your Light!
Heirlooms Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Bee Lover Herbs
Butterflies Dragonflies Birds Cat Lover Dog Lover Garden Photography
This is wonderful! Thank you for starting this Big Grin

I saw a documentary on TV about beekeepers. These beekeepers are in the business of pollination and are hired by say almond orchard farmers. They truck the bees and hives from place to place as needed.

It was a very sad story to watch as many of the bee colonies died from the mysterious CCD. While interviewing them they were discussing what they thought the causes of the CCD were and the main culpret seems to be thoughts that chemicals such as Round-up and weed killers are contaminating the pollen and nectar. They also discussed the idea that possibly these GMO's that are being used as crops are killing the honeybees because it is an un-natural food source.

I think I told you that we have plans to raise some honeybees too. I look forward to learning from you.
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb

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Apr 30, 2011 12:41 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
CCD is believed to be caused by several factors.
Pesticide use
Nosema which is believed to be trigged by stress on the bees and moving bees to pollinate crops stresses them
Lack of a variety of food sources. Like us, bees get their nutrition from several different types of plants and if they don't have access to some plants they may be lacking in vital nutrients.
Environment is also being looked at.

CCD is affecting commercial beekeepers the most, which is understandable when you consider those hives are stressed from being moved, the fields they are taken too probably had pesticides used, and lack of other food sources in the area they are taken to. Backyard beekeepers aren't reporting it as often.
Sometimes a colony will abandon a hive because of other factors like not enough food in the area, too many incidences of pests bothering them or too many instances of disease occurring in their area.
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Apr 30, 2011 1:11 PM CST
Name: Christine
North East Texas (Zone 7b)
Shine Your Light!
Heirlooms Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Bee Lover Herbs
Butterflies Dragonflies Birds Cat Lover Dog Lover Garden Photography
ya know Mindy, while I watched the show I was thinking that the bees were probably stressed moving them around like that!

thank you for your imput because it makes the most sense! Thumbs up
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb

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Apr 30, 2011 1:16 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
Here's a site that will interest those of you growing herbs.

http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/h...

It has a list of herbs that benefit honey bees
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Apr 30, 2011 1:21 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
You would be stressed too if your home was moved during the night and you came out to find everything changed. You would have to learn new landmarks to find your way home, find food sources and water.

A backyard beekeeper will spend 35-40 hours a year checking and tending his hives. That armount of time increases according to the number of hives and if it's a business venture. And that's after the first season because of course you're going to spend more time checking them your first year in order to learn what's normal and what's not.
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Apr 30, 2011 1:25 PM CST
Name: Christine
North East Texas (Zone 7b)
Shine Your Light!
Heirlooms Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Bee Lover Herbs
Butterflies Dragonflies Birds Cat Lover Dog Lover Garden Photography
Thumbs up

nice herb info too!
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb

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May 5, 2011 6:15 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
HI everyone. Another swarm caught today. I was outside weeding the strawberry bed when he caught that one and a honey bee decided to buzz me, Not sure which hive it came from but I can tell you right now that one little bitty honey bee buzzing in your hair near your hearing aid sounds like a whole swarm. Poor thing got caught in my hair and I liked to never got her out of there. Don't know how she fared but no sting for me.
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Jun 4, 2011 4:47 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
Charleen can you give us an update on your honey bee feeder?
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Jun 4, 2011 6:08 PM CST
Name: Charleen
Alford, Florida (Zone 8a)
Walk in Peace / I'm Timber's Mom.
Miniature Gardening Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! I sent a postcard to Randy! Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Mules Garden Ideas: Level 2 Sempervivums Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America Beekeeper
They are buzzin back and forth from the bee sugar water to the hummingbird cups. As long as we keep sugar water in there they don't bother the hummingbird juice. I still see them out in the white clover that is growing in the yard too. We have honeybees, a bumblebee once in awhile, a wasp and then we have large black "picnic" ants...
It is still going strong..
Last edited by Ridesredmule Jul 9, 2011 12:11 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 4, 2011 6:21 PM CST
Name: Jan - Charleys Girl
NEWBEE CHAT & HELP LINE (Zone 7b)
On FB as Janice Harrod
Coat the stand with vasalene and the ants won't be able to climb up to get the sugar water. You woul;d only have to coat about 4-6 inches from the bottom up all over it.(I didn't spell it right but you get the drift?)
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Jun 5, 2011 6:29 AM CST
Name: Charleen
Alford, Florida (Zone 8a)
Walk in Peace / I'm Timber's Mom.
Miniature Gardening Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! I sent a postcard to Randy! Tip Photographer I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Mules Garden Ideas: Level 2 Sempervivums Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America Beekeeper
Thank you, I'll give it a try (close enough) I will use the Vaseline, I used spell check, cause I spelled it wrong too.

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