29 Sunday Jul 2018
Posted in beekeeping
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Beekeepers have some amazing qualities. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get our politicians to be more like beekeepers?
Read full article here: Could Beekeeping Save the US Political System? — Married with Bees
26 Tuesday Jun 2018
Posted in beekeeping, beekeeping chores
They say death and taxes are unavoidable. There is a third item that can be added to this list; physical changes whether due to aging or disability.
This article is written for any beekeeper who is encountering physical barriers that affect their ability to continue keeping bees. These barriers can come in the form of mobility issues, arthritis, diminishing strength, back problems, eyesight or other unexpected challenges.
Beekeepers are resourceful and find creative solutions to continue keeping bees. Aging or other obstacles can be addressed on multiple fronts: lifestyle, equipment and management changes. Some of the solutions can be put into practice now and some will take planning and time to implement. The objective of this article is to provide practical information to help beekeepers adapt to changing physical conditions thus allowing them to continue doing what they love.
Read full article here: Barriers — BEEKeeping: Your First Three Years
20 Friday Apr 2018
Posted in beekeeping
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Ted is an organization that posts talks online, their YouTube channel is full of great short talks about many unique topics.
TED is a media organization which posts talks online for free distribution, under the slogan “ideas worth spreading”. TED was founded in February 1984 as a conference, which has been held annually since 1990.
We sat down on rainy afternoon in the Waitakere ranges, and watched loads of Ted Talks about bees here are our top twelve.
Do you love learning about Bees? Here is our top twelve favorite Ted Talks about bees. Grab a coffee, Sit down and watch these quick talks. The post 12 Must See Ted Talks for Beekeepers appeared first on kiwimana.
Read full blog post with introductions to these videos here: 12 Must See Ted Talks for Beekeepers — kiwimana
10 Friday Nov 2017
Posted in beekeeper education, beekeeping, beekeeping equipment, book review, equipment
Tis the season. My inbox is flush with “amazing” deals. Unfortunately, many of the hard-sell marketers are heading straight for the wallet of the soon-to-be new beekeeper. I’ve watched wannabees, still unable to tell a honey bee from a cockroach, buying specialty hives, extractors, and vaporizers so they will be ready when their bees arrive.
The marketers are slick, many offering “free” courses with anywhere from a dozen to 150 lessons to help get you started. Of course, this is nothing new. I first complained about the “lesson plan” back in 2010 when I saw poorly structured tutorials, each designed to sell you one more thing.
How much stuff do you really need?
Okay, I’m not a minimalist. I find that tinkering with hive design, equipment, gadgets, and technology is enormously fun and educational. On the other hand, you can be a first-rate beekeeper without breaking the bank. No one should be guilted into buying something he can’t afford or doesn’t need. Your need for equipment will evolve as your hobby expands, but purchasing should not be rushed or haphazard.
And all those lessons? How discouraging! A hundred lessons on any subject would make me run. Instead, I recommend that beginners read two good books: one that covers basic beekeeping practices and one dedicated to honey bee biology. My recommendation for the basics is either Simple, Smart Beekeeping by Kirsten and Michael Traynor or The Beekeeper’s Handbook by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile. If you are a visual learner, the full-color photos in the Traynor book could not be better. For honey bee biology, nothing comes close to Honey-Maker by Rosanna Mattingly. I refer to it constantly.
Read full article here: How should we train the newbees? — Honey Bee Suite
Beekeeping365 