The world-wide problem with bees in general and the honey bee in particular has been brought to the attention of people all over the world. The complete picture of what is causing the massive loss and disappearance of these creatures is not yet fully known and documented. What IS known though, is the roll the honeybee plays in our food chain and wider the roll in the existence and continuation of plant life globally. I felt that with all this convincing info available, I could not (as a gardener and nature-lover) just sit by and wring my hands and complain. I was determined to actively do SOMETHING. One of the most regrettable factors that face honey bees is the shrinking swathes of natural meadows with their oh, so necessary "meadow plants", which the bees have used for eons. With the necessary urbanization, these natural wildflower concentrations have been disappearing quickly and in great numbers. It would be nice if city councils and other construction organizations could plant bee-friendly trees, shrubs and flowers in parks, on berms, along railways and other open areas that currently have only grass or just gravel. Naturally they would have to stop spraying these areas with chemicals to kill weeds. Well, that is another story... but what could I do as an individual? I began by finding out what my choices were. One of the most simple things was to ensure that I filled my gardens with bee-friendly plants--That is to say, plants that offer lots of pollen and nectar to the bees. It is important to be aware of the "patterns of need" that bees have and ensure that I have something ALWAYS in bloom. I rotate green manures in my veggie plots and let them all bloom-out before pulling them up and incorporating the spent plants into the soil base. Many green manures have quite helpful blooms for pollinators. Another thing was to make "bee hotels" for solitary bees. This was a good idea, but next year I shall have to devise a fool-proof protection against woodpeckers--they regularly decimated the breeding cells. I thought that they were hatching-out, but then I saw the culprit at work. While I was still working I honestly did not have the time to proceed on to the next step--to actually KEEP honey bees. The gardening club prohibited it as well (in the statutes/rules); however, when the understanding of the dire straights that the bees were finally documented, the club had a change of heart. This meant that I could begin on another item in my Master Plan--learn beekeeping and to actually keep bees myself. I looked around and found that courses were offered for the beginning aspirant. I paid the fees and waited until the courses would begin in March. It was a structured course, beginning with the theoretical learning and as the theory proceeded and reached the chapters of bee illnesses and treatments the practical began to overlap, so that there were theoretical and practical courses going on simultaneously. Eventually the theoretical studies concluded and I was then left with only the practical to complete. The theoretical courses were given in the local "Childrens' Farm", where kids can come and see all manner of insects and animals during the day time. Our lessons were given in the evening, when it was quiet...except for the little mice, birds and gerbils that were in the same classroom. The course began with the anatomy of a honey bee and a bit of history, then it went into reproduction and life cycles, necessary equipment and finally the various tasks that an imker (beekeeper) needs to know in order to carryout the hobby. The practical was not quite so dry and one first and foremost gets to handle and work with the bees, carrying out the various techniques, beginning with the technique of inspection. Identifying what the workers, drones and queen looks like were the first things to learn. Here are workers surrounding a queen. We always gathered to have tea and bikkies before beginning the practical and then we headed over to the glass-enclosed hive area. Here you can see the instructor showing us the contents of a styrofoam hive. A better view of the hive area. Students deep in thought. An example of queen cells produced by the worksters. A closer look. The worksters can really produce a lot when they are stressed to come up with a new queen after the "old" queen has absconded or dies. They sort of look like peanut shells, in fact that's what we call them. One thing that they taught us was dealing with queen production. In this small hive there are little cups in which the beekeeper has placed some 1-2 day old larvae. There are few bees in this hive and it will be sent off to an island where the queens, when they hatch-out, will be mated with drones of this specific sort of bee (Buckfast bee). This is a whole process in its self. Of course we have to learn how to handle as well as try and prevent swarms. Sometimes we must split colonies to do that, and sometimes there is a situation where one colony is too weak, and then one tries to combine them with a much stronger one. There are several different methods but the one here shows the method that is playfully referred to as "letting the bees read the newspaper". You place a weaker colony in its hive on top of a stronger one. You place a page of newspaper between them and prick a couple of holes in it, spray it with water and wait a few days. This technique gives the bees time to become accustomed to each other, and usually the transition is smooth. That is the explanation for the piece of newspaper with a huge hole in it. Have a look. The courses were finished and then a period of Mentorship had to be completed. I began this period during the last half of the practical courses. I will say a few things in the next instalment of this Bee posting.
Nice pictures S. That there queen was a very east to see one. All the other bees look amazingly quiet. That is a nice kind of hive to work in.
You are so lucky to have such a great learning course near you! We had to read books and learn by trial and error. Bees are fascinating--when you get your own hives you'll find yourself just standing and watching them come and go. I've gotten less work done in the garden since we got our hives, but I've enjoyed standing around bee-watching.
Well, the world would be a better place with a few more Sjoerd's around. Tackling the bee problem head on, that is wonderful. Very nice pictures, but I did get a shiver when I saw a hive being handled with bare hands! Yikes. Looking forward to hearing more about this helpful and interesting "hobby".
Thanks CAROLYN--Glad that you liked the pics. Those are very calm bees. They are all Buckfast bees. This is why we were able to learn with these bees. We could work with no gloves and they were very "frame-fast", if you know what I mean. During the lessons, we worked with all sizes and sorts of hives for the experience. MARLINGARDNER-- Yes, I was lucky to have the courses so close by. It was far enough away that I had to drive there though. I already have some hives, and have had for a while now, and you are right--when they are flying, I take every opportunity to just go and watch them. (pssssst--sometimes I even talk to them ) I will tell more about my bees in the next two postings. Gosh, 4-G--That is the sweetest thing that I have heard in a while. I can work with those bees with bard handsbecause they are so calm. Sometimes when I lift the frames up, they crawl over my fingers but do not sting. I will tell more in the next posting which will explain a little about the mentorship and what all I did and learned.
