beginner beekeeping – week 1
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Beginner Beekeeping – Week 1. Getting ready to start. S pring. What do I need? Where do I get it? How do I start? And what’s it all about?. Bees build comb from wax. The use the comb for storage of brood (babies) and food. smoke?. The Challenge of Spring. Like many animals - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Beginner Beekeeping – Week 1Getting ready to start
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Spring What do I need? Where do I get it? How do I start?
And what’s it all about?
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Bees build comb from wax
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The use the comb for storage of brood (babies) and food
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smoke?
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The Challenge of SpringLike many animalsin the springthe hive wants to make a new hive They make queen cells and prepare for swarming. Allowing them to do this tends to
freak out the neighbors!
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A more controlled method:
A package is an imitation swarm 3 pounds of bees and a
caged queen
A nucleus colony (“nuc”) is a miniature hive 4 or 5 frames with brood,
resources, and a laying queen
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Summer
Inspections for queen and brood health, pest management, always thinking about winter
• What am I doing here?
• How often should I get in?
• What can go wrong?
• Am I going to get stung?• Am I going to get any honey?
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Fall
• Pulling honey supers• Treating for Varroa
mites*• Preparing for winter
*If you learn only one thing from this class, learn about Varroa mites!
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For the coming spring
Learning . . . and waiting . . .
Winter
When the cycle begins again
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Equipment – Necessary and nice[here is where you need to make some choices]
Necessary Parts Bottom board
◦ Use a screened one
◦ With an entrance reducer Hive Bodies
◦ 2 Deeps vs. 3 Mediums Honey Supers
◦ medium, or shallow Inner Cover
◦ Two sided, with a dado Telescoping Outer Cover
◦ “English Garden” Style, or galvanized
Frames
◦ 8 vs. 10 Foundation
◦ Beeswax vs. Plastic
Recommended Parts Hive stand with landing board
◦ with legs, or other support Slatted Bottom Board
◦ Helps with swarm prevention and overwintering
Some kind of feeder
* We strongly recommend you start with two hives
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Tools – Necessary and niceNecessary Tools Smoker
◦ And fuel Hive Tool
◦ Good, better, or best Protective Gear
◦ Veil (with or without jacket)
◦ Gloves
◦ Leg Straps
◦ Or a full suit (not really necessary)
Spray bottle (for packages, or swarms)
Recommended Tools Smoker box
◦ Ammo box from the Army store Queen Catcher
◦ Metal vs. plastic Bee Brush Reading Glasses Queen marking kit Wintergreen Alcohol (a really good
idea)
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Sources of SupplyLocal vs. catalog
◦ The Honey Exchange
◦ Brown’s Bee Farm◦ Humble Abodes◦ Bee Pride◦ Brushy Mountain◦ Betterbee
We’re not fans of all-inclusive “Beginner Kits”
◦ Bees
Packages vs Nucleus Buzz Cooper 232-3807
Swan’s 437-2251
Merrimack (978) 667-5380
Bob Egan 474-2945
Check out the Maine State Beekeeper’s website
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Join the Club!Register with the state June 1st
◦Bookmark Tony Jadczak, save his e-mail
Maine State Beekeepers Association◦The best $15 you can spend
The Bee Line
Cumberland County (or York Co.) Beekeepers Association◦The best $4 you can spend◦Get a mentor
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Neighbor ManagementLike it or not, you will become a
Bee AmbassadorCamouflage, vs. visibility
◦Put your name and number on your hives
Site selection◦Flyway barriers◦Water sourceRead the South Portland Beekeeping
Ordinance, even if you don’t live in South Portland