tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091794270907110191.post2026138662457210120..comments2023-06-28T06:13:50.901-06:00Comments on A posse ad esse: Beekeeping class finalePaul Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13420342085380365248noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091794270907110191.post-52873822747543846582010-02-06T14:15:21.905-07:002010-02-06T14:15:21.905-07:00Excellent. I start a beekeeping class in a few wee...Excellent. I start a beekeeping class in a few weeks. I'm trying to find a local beekeeper willing to sell me a hive.Sandyhttp://10yearchallenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091794270907110191.post-10782074030363072692010-02-03T12:58:37.517-07:002010-02-03T12:58:37.517-07:00I am looking to Bee keep in the near future amongs...I am looking to Bee keep in the near future amongst all the other skills I intend to learn but I am far more holistic in my approach. <br />I favour the Warre hive as it is closer to the natural instinct of the Bees, but I fully agree with having the Bees breed stronger resistance rather than weakening them further through medication.<br /><br />A perfect example for my rationale at the weekend when talking to a beekeeper in a walled garden about all the care needed she pointed out a swarm in a hole in the wall to which my only response was 'and who cares for them?'<br /><br />The Bees have been getting it right for millennia without us so I reckon they'll carry on okay without to much fuss. <br /><br />The definition of an expert is essentially someone who is convinced their opinion is right, this being borne out by the conflicting info given to you. By all means read the books but let the Bees have a say, after all they significantly out number you!<br /><br />Best of luck with it though, I look forward to reading more about them.Damn The Broccolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783563585674686848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091794270907110191.post-26523513118550663832010-02-03T07:02:36.686-07:002010-02-03T07:02:36.686-07:00I know just what you mean about needing to make so...I know just what you mean about needing to make some decisions very soon. We're also attending Tuesday night bee classes, and we have a couple of one-day seminars coming up as well. <br /><br />We're going with Langstroths too. I'll start with two colonies, one Italian, one Russian. Both in painted pine boxes, probably with screened bottom boards to be used year-round. Two deeps, and two shallow supers per colony, and possibly a spare set up in reserve in case of swarms. I'm almost certainly going to go with no foundation, starter strips only, and an early feeding for each colony via frame feeder. I will use the recipe for feeding recommended by the Demeter biodynamic beekeeping standards followed in the EU. (Diluted honey with a small quantity of chamomile tea and a smidgen of salt. Look up the exact recipe if you wish to follow this.)<br /><br />My approach will be low-intervention treatments only for varroa and other diseases. No chemical treatments, only some sugar dust baths and possibly thymol or other essential oil/non-toxic treatments. I realize I may lose one or both colonies with this method, but I can't rationalize propping up a weak colony with too many toxic treatments. Ultimately I believe we need to breed for better varroa resistance while providing the bees with a less toxic environment and plenty of clean forage sources. So I will not push my colonies for production, but rather try to maximize their health. Dead bees produce no honey.<br /><br />I am considering placing an order for a nuc (or two) right now with Kirk Webster for delivery in 2011. He's been working on varroa resistance (almost to the exclusion of all other trait considerations) in his colonies for about 8 years now.<br /><br />-All of this is my take, from someone with zero beekeeping experience, and a moderate amount of reading under my belt.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.com