July 21, 2007 - Discovery: A Wild Swarm Here on the Farm

With the uncertainty that has accompanied the outbreak of Colony Collapse Disorder ("CCD") this year, along with the March 1st tornado that zipped through the rear of our farm downing a 100+ huge hardwoods, I decided to put my beekeeping plans on hold until Spring 2008.  Our timetable of projects for the farm have continued to be pushed back and pushed back - further supporting my decision.  In April, after attending a cutflower workshop hosted by Georgia Organics that revealed that even the local instructor had lost ten out of a dozen colonies to CCD - the decision was sealed.

Funny how things happen.

As fate would have it, guess what turned up on the fringe of our rear wood line and right in the middle of tornado debris clearing?

A wild swarm that has taken up residence in a dead tree:

 

Here's a video I made while standing right at the tree - the bees could have cared less that I was standing right there photographing them!  They were so busy going back and forth - flying in and out - I was just a bystander while they were working so hard. 

Our dilemma?

This tree sits right in the middle of clean up work being done.  I have been unsuccessful in contacting beekeepers who capture swarms and move or set them up in a box hive.  Anyone close by in East Central Georgia who could drop by and help us out?  It is my understanding that wild swarms like this one do not survive well in the wild here in Georgia due to disease and pests - I would love to capture this one and move to one my own hives - however, I have NO experience with live bees whatsoever and while I have purchased some used hive equipment, my hive is no where near ready for bee installation.

My Dad suggested that tomorrow just at dark, we stuff a good-sized rag in the hole to block the bees from exiting, then the bull dozier man can finish up what he's doing on Monday and we could unstop the hole that evening.........I'm not sure about this idea; sounds like wishful thinking.

Any suggestions out there?

Can you believe it?

4:30 p.m. UPDATE:  I finally was able to contact a beekeeper in Middle Georgia and after explaining and describing the situation, he advised that once a colony of bees has taken resdience (whether in a tree or the eaves of a house), they will not leave the hive - thus there is no capturing to relocate.

Bummer - I really wish we were able to just leave them be.  Ideas anyone?

 Harriette

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May 2, 2007 - From USA Today

I'm glad to see that CCD is getting more and more national attention.  Here is the latest from USA Today.

Would you be surprised to know that just two weeks ago, significant insiders at the USDA (in Washington DC) had not even heard of Colony Collapse Disorder?  I was happy to foward several articles to bring them up to speed.

Scary.

hkj

 

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April 23, 2007 - How About Bees in the Living Room?

You MUST check out this little write up (albeit from May of 2006) about a couple in Paris who have bee hives in their living room!

Is that not amazing?

I wonder if they still "hive" them there?

 

 

Harriette

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April 23, 2007 - Want to Make Your Own Skep?

Here's a place to get you started.

 

Then here is some interesting history on the skep as well as here.

 

 

Harriette

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April 19, 2007 - Beekeeper's Calendar

From Rossman Apiaries, here is a great tool for beekeepers - a concise monthly guide of "to do's".

 

hkj

 

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April 18, 2007 - Bee Propolis and Rejuvenating Stem Cells

We all could use a little help these days in the memory department (can I get extras...?!).  But scientists have found a promising  link between bee propolis and the possible increase in natural stem cell production.  "What is propolis?" you ask.  It's the honey bee's own self produced version of super glue.

 

Check out the article here.

 

hkj

 

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April 16, 2007 - Are Cell Phones Affecting Honey Bee Futures?

Before you make that next call on your cell phone, realize you may be taking the life of a honey bee.

It's no joke.

Scientists have been baffled over the escalating outbreak of Colony Collapse Disorder nationwide (also referred to as "CCD").  Here is the latest article now citing cell phones as a potential component to the phenomenon.

"Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, 'man would have only four years of life left'."

Here are links below for more articles about the outbreak and impact of CCD:

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Environment_380/The_Sting_of_Disappearing_Bees.shtml

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/110207/mobile-phones-blamed-for-declining-bee-populations.html

http://www.celsias.com/blog/2007/03/15/bee-colony-collapse-disorder-where-is-it-heading/

http://www.newstarget.com/021724.html

This past Saturday I attended a workshop hosted by a local Georgia farmer through Georgia Organics.  The workshop host reported a recent loss of nine out of their ten honey bee hives.

I'm happy to give up my cell phone.  I'll even go back to using a regular phone with a cord.  We spend too much time on modern conveniences and it is catching up with us this very day.

hkj

 

 

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March 5, 2007 - Thoughts About the Honey Bee's Future

 

My last post received a comment that included a question about my thoughts and opinion about the current situation concerning the future of the honey bee.

Truthfully, I am not surprised about the evolving dilemma.  Like everything else that man touches with his attempts to make things easier for greater profits, there always seems to develop a major setback.  From what I am reading in the AJC article, the immune systems of the honey bees are developing lack of resistance to any new pests or other viral type bacteria that comes along and the entire colony dies.  In the event of multiple colonies, clearly it is contagious or spreads quickly as all of the colonies are usually impacted in one geographic location.

The question we need to ask is: what the heck have these bees been being treated with all these years in what we thought was supposed to be helpful?

First, we know that the honey bee was never native to North America.  But neither were cows, chickens and a variety of other animals that have been brought to this continent over the centuries.  Look at how American livestock is raised for mass food consumption.......see anything that connects the dots?  How about "chemicals"?  Next, let us not forget the constant bombarding of pesticides and fertilizers that have pounded plant life and entered the plant kingdom that also impact the insect and animal worlds as well.  With the threat of the specific parasites that have been discovered and a treatment designed for the honey bee industry, I can only deduct that what is being witnessed is a result of these treatments over the years as well as exposure to chemical compounds that have been applied to agricultural crops at best.

Am I concerned?

Absolutely.

Does this make me want to give up?

No.

We have to continue to try.  We have to maintain hope and persevere.  We have to return to natural ways of maintaining our livestock - even honey bees - as well as how we grow our food in order to return "order" to the natural world around us.

God designed this natural world in a perfect order.  All things in nature have existed in perfect balance for thousands and thousands of years until whose hands came along and got all in the mix of matters?

Man.

I will continue to move forward and start with one colony of bees.  I've already slated its name:  Genesis.

As the time approaches, I will keep posting about the launching of the Genesis colony with great and prayerful hopes.

hkj

 

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February 25, 2007 - What Does the Future Hold for our Honey Bees?

 

And for that matter, what does the future hold for our fruit and vegetable crops produced here in the U.S.?

 

The Atlanta Journal & Constitution has an alarming article that reveals the significant risk of the future of the honey bee and thus our food supply.  CLICK HERE to read it.

 

hkj

 

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January 6, 2007 - Hopeful News ~

 

I've recently run an ad in our State's Ag. bulletin about the need for beekeeping equipment.

Bingo - great phone call this evening (after an assorted others) from someone actually w/in our geographic rural region - (shocker!) and we will be going Monday to check out the equipment this beekeeper wants to sell since he will no longer: bee keeping.   (I couldn't help myself)

Will let you know how it goes.

Happy New Year!

 

Honey Bee Blessings,

Harriette

 

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