Main Topic includes:
What are the important local plants for our pollinators and why we should care and how we can help increase habitat --"bee pasture".
The public is cordially invited--hope to see you there.
I will be doing a presentation March 31st Tuesday evening at 6:00 in the NMU West Science Building rm. #2906. The EEGS Garden Club is sponsoring a "Sustainability Series" this coming week.
Main Topic includes: What are the important local plants for our pollinators and why we should care and how we can help increase habitat --"bee pasture". The public is cordially invited--hope to see you there.
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Just returned from the 150th Michigan Beekeepers Association anniversary celebration. Featured speakers Michael Bush (author of "The Practical Beekeeper") and Roger Hoopingarner (MSU faculty& past MBA president" ) set the tone for a great conference. Many interesting sessions for all of the varied interests. With a record 800 plus attendees, it was crowded, interesting and inspiring. Inspiring that over 800 people in Michigan showed up to support the world of beekeeping.
On Friday evening at the "Birthday Bash", I auctioned off 8 beekeepers to serve in a variety of mentoring activities. As a result, about $900 was raised to establish and maintain elementary school bee programs. I auctioned myself off to a couple, Chris and Jenny Bradshaw - they will be visiting us from downstate this summer. David and Susan Payant of Marquette will help with the UP education and hospitality of these folks. Many thanks go to MBA officers - Pres. Terry Toland, V.P. Ann Leonard, Treas. Steve Tilmann, and Secretary Don Schram. These dedicated individuals put in endless hours to put on this conference - THANK YOU!! Tuesday March 10th looks to be the first 40+ day since last November 20th.Time to check the bees before I go to the MBA convention. I am trying to be optimistic about their winter survival but with all of the cold??? I did leave sugar boards on most of the hives, so that might help.
I am going to experiment with what I"ll call a sugar frame - one of them is the size of two frames and the other 1 frame. I'll let the pictures talk. Assuming a live hive and the need for food, I will remove a frame (or 2) that is directly beside the cluster and put the "sugar frame" in its place. My theory is this will allow access without breaking the cluster and allow them to stay down in the hive instead of going up for a sugar board. In early cold spring weather, this may be an advantage. Who knows! That's why it's an experiment. * No days to check bees in Feb.--not one day above freezing. Avg. temp. 2.6 degrees according to the National Weather Service. 6 days of -10 or lower. I don't have a good feeling about my survival rate. This graph might help visualize it--click to enlarge. ** The second Beekeeping 101 class at the Marquette Food Co-op had 25-30 prospective beekeepers. Nice to have Tom Nebel come to share his knowledge. *** Back to school again at Gwinn Middle School. Mr. Matthew Barbercheck's 7th grade shop class is making bee woodenware. A nice session with a great group of students. **** Next week(March 13&14) the Michigan Beekeepers Association will celebrate 150 years of service to beekeepers. Check out all the "doins" at-- http://www.michiganbees.org/2015-spring-conference/ ***** THINK SPRING!! Longtime beekeeper Les McBean will be giving a beginning beekeeping class on Saturday March 14th from 10:00-4:30. Cost is $25.00 and lunch is provided. The class will be held at the Ewen- Trout Creek school . This class is sponsored by the MSU Extension Service in Ontonagon. Pre-register by calling MSU Extension at 906-884-4386. A second session for more experienced beekeepers will be held same place and time on March 28th. More info follows: |
Joel LantzKeeper of bees. Archives
February 2022
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