Spring is Here...Take a Beekeeping Class in Eden Prairie

I know that it does not feel and look like spring ...yet...But I promise you warmth is on its way!

              Listed below is what the Eden Prairie Community Education Center is offering in 2015

                                                      All classes will take place at:

                                      EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY EDUCATION

                                                    8040 Mitchell Road

                                                   Eden Prairie, MN 55344

                                      To register call:  952-975-6940

              OR visit the website: https://edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com

                              Here are the classes FOR APRIL & MAY 2015

Exploring Beekeeping  

Tuesday, April 7  2015  From 6:30-8:30 pm

Education Center in E.P. Room # 319

Cost: $ 15

This two-hour course offers an introduction and brief overview of beekeeping. It will cover: city ordinances, equipment, time and financial requirements, races of honey bees, beehives location, obtaining and installing your new bees, honey plants and bee food needs, pollination, pesticides, as well as helping your honey bees to stay healthy. If you are interested in keeping honey bees, but not yet sure how to start, this class is for you. After taking this course, you will be able to make a well-informed decision about keeping bees in your backyard. And, if you would like to pursue beekeeping, Eden Prairie Community Education will offer other beekeeping courses as part of their spring course offerings.

Backyard Beekeeping I

Wednesdays April 15, 22 & 29  2015  From 6:30-8:30pm
Education Center in E.P. Room # 319
Cost: $35

What's the Buzz? Join Part 1 of our backyard beekeeping class! It is an introduction to keeping bees by learning the basic beekeeping skills: history, honeybee society and biology, equipment, hive products and more! Learn much of what you need to know to start a new hobby--caring for and enjoying your own honey bees.


Backyard Beekeeping II
Wednesdays  May 6, 13 & 20 2015 From 6:30-8:30pm
Education Center in E.P. Room # 319
Cost: $35

Looking to take your backyard beekeeping skills to the next level? Part 2 of our Backyard Beekeeping series, you will learn all about seasonal colony management like fall harvest and processing. We will also discuss bee health and what you can do to keep your hive healthy. At the end of this class series, you will have the knowledge necessary to create, cultivate and grow a thriving beehive!

Early Pollen in Minnesota!

Bee entering the hive with pollen on her legs

Sunday March 15, 2015 was a spectacular day...warm and sunny. The bees were taking advantage of the beautiful day and were collecting a lot of pollen for this early in the season.

Honey bees bringing back the beautiful yellow pollen.

Close up of the packed legs. I also saw some white, and darker yellow pollen.

It is great to see the bees foraging, and be healthy.

Monday, I visited my Russian bees... I saw the original queen (she is painted!) and saw some eggs. Cleaned up the bottom board, and gave them a couple of frames of honey and a bit of pollen patty. I guess spring is here.
 Love it!

I used a long stick to clean the bottom board,
it is less disruptive than
taking each box off.

Early Warmth & Bees in Bird Feeder!

Honey bees visiting bird feeder

It has been very nice in the past few days, with temperatures well above normal for this time of year in Minnesota....in the 50's and 60's, too quick and too warm too soon! I am not complaining, I enjoy the warmth; but the honey bees are a bit confused.

My friend Gayle noticed some bees in her bird feeder coming in  and thinking it was odd. She is right! Bees don't eat seeds... but right now there is no fresh pollen available. Of course I have put some pollen patties in their hives, but I guess Gayle's fresh seeds are way better! Especially she is so good to birds, she replenish her feeder daily....the bees took notice!

It is a good sign for our bees, it means that they are starting to rear brood in their hives, and some foragers are actively looking and searching for food. This phenomenon happens when the temperature is above 50 degree F, and when the flowers are not available. The ingenious bees then turn to other sources of pollen. They are attracted to seeds that have been ground into feed for farm animal, for instance or even saw dust. Obviously bees are not able to carry seeds back to their hive, but they will carry small broken pieces of seeds and dust pollen which are rich in protein.  It can be dangerous for the bees because sometimes they get caught inside the feeder and cannot escape, and soon die.

Bees on top of seeds

Liz took those pictures, and she told me that she took some bees out of the feeder and placed them on the ground, so they would not die in the feeder. This is the first time that this behavior has been observed at the farm! I am glad Gayle noticed! It is unbelievable how the honey bees are resourceful. This should stop when the first flowers bloom....hopefully soon.

Happy beekeeping!

New Tool to Combat Varroa Mites! OXALIC ACID!!!

Varroa mites sucking bee blood (hemolymph) passing on viruses

March 12, 2015

It is a great day today in the fight against Varroa mites! The EPA announced its decision to register the new active ingredient oxalic acid for use against the Varroa mites, a parasite of the honey bees.

The use of this compound is inside the beehives when the supers are not present.
The maximum application for oxalic acid in those hives is 50 ml of 2.8% oxalic acid sugar solution.
Oxalic acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin and highly irritating to the respiratory system if inhaled by applicator. Toxicity Category 1, product label "Danger"
In addition to bee suit, veil, and gloves, a respirator and goggles are required.

Application Methods:

Solution to package bees, as spray .
Solution ti beehives, sugar solution trickled between frames and other spaces.
Vapor treatment inside beehives, heated and vapor sublimates in the hive.

Both methods can be use in the early spring and late fall, when little brood is present.
Oxalic acid can provide 90-99% control of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies with either methods.

On this day: EPA concludes that oxalic acid meets the regulatory standard under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( FIFRA).
EPA is granting the unconditional registration of oxalic under Section 3(c)(5) of FIFRA.

oxalic acid dribble with sugar water

oxalic acid vaporized inside hive

Neonicotinoids....not Politically Correct?

Planting time!

I feel that I am going to get a lot of heat for this post but I wanted to stick to the facts and science and not fiction.

Neonicotinoids must be classified as highly toxic to honey bees. However, studies on toxicity exposure indicate that it is very unlikely that honeybees will die when the product is applied to seeds. Honeybees also rarely forage on seedling corn or soybeans. Also, it is very unlikely that commercial beehives will be negatively affected. (Marlin Rice, Professor Entomology Iowa State University, IPM.iastate.edu)

Neonicotinoids are widespread seed treatments derived from nicotine which was one of the first pesticides applied in modern agriculture. They are powerful and though on honey bees when sprayed on plants but as seed treatments, it is thought to help beneficial organisms by keeping the potent chemical on the seed.
This is how it works: A tiny amount of neonics goes all over the plants through the vascular system to nectar and pollen; generally less than 10 parts per billion. (Amount thought to be far below a dose that would kill a bee outright.)
This is how this furiously debated issue happened: In 1994, some French beekeepers were alarmed by the decline and death of many of their colonies that had been placed near fields of flowering sunflowers treated with the first neonic pesticides, Imidacloprid (Gaucho).
At the same time, miticides had been applied for many years to control the Varroa mites population in colonies. Then  the mites became resistant (non-responsive) to the miticides employed at the time and Varroa became an epidemic in France that same year. This confused the issue regarding what was really killing the bees. The quick and easy answer was: but of course the pesticide applied by the sunflower grower! And it took hold in many people's mind.

To be clear, the direct impact of nicotinoids on bees is still today highly disputed among many scientist around the world, despite more than 2 decades of research.
So far this is were we are " research has not established a conclusive link between CCD and neonicotinoid seed treatments." p.67 Bee Time Lessons from the Hive , Mark L. Winston

What is absolutely CLEAR: Neonics can have sublethal effects at low dosages bee encounter while foraging on nectar and pollen like trembling motions, or memory loss; the honey bees may not be able to find their way home to their nests, decreasing the overall effectiveness of their immune system as a whole, colony level, not individual bee.
It is not known, or has yet to be definitively established that these effects (memory loss, trembling, passivity...) alone are enough to cause an entire colony to dwindle rapidly to its death.

The overall picture that seem to emerge from studies around the world:
" one of small effects on individual bees that are amplified as they accumulates in the thousands of workers that make up a colony. Each worker bees function is reduced only slightly by anyone exposure (virus, neonics) but synergistic interaction from multiple exposures to diseases, the miticides and antibiotics applied by beekeepers and agricultural pesticides collected by foraging bees lead to considerably worse outcomes than from any one factor alone." p.71 Bee Time Lessons from the Hive , Mark L. Winston

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation retiring the same thought : " No link between neonics and CCD. But may have non lethal effects on bees." 

All AGREE that it is a combination of factors that cause our colonies to dwindle and later die: Parasites, pathogens, poor nutrition and pesticides.

Bee experts  Dr. Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota; Dr.Zachary Huang, Michigan State University, and Randy Oliver, beekeeper and biologist think that a lack of good nutrition may be a major factor in declining bee health. (Honeybee suite.com) 
Maybe the pathogens are not worst than before but the availability of good foraging plants has decreased in the last 20 years.

I hope that this topic will inspire and encourage  you to read and be more knowledgeable,  making your own conclusion based on facts.

Backyard Beekeeping II starts Tonight in Eden Prairie!

                                         EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY EDUCATION

                                                             8040 Mitchell Road

                                                         Eden Prairie, MN 55344

                                      To register call:  952-975-6940

              OR visit the website: https://edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com

Backyard Beekeeping II

Tuesdays, March 10,17, and 24 2015 From 6:30-8:30pm

Education Center in E.P. Room # 319

Cost: $35

Looking to take your backyard beekeeping skills to the next level? Part 2 of our Backyard Beekeeping series, you will learn all about seasonal colony management like fall harvest and processing. We will also discuss bee health and what you can do to keep your hive healthy. At the end of this class series, you will have the knowledge necessary to create, cultivate and grow a thriving beehive!

Pollen Patties Recipes

Homemade Pollen

Here are 2 recipes for pollen patties for honey bees.

Homemade bee pollen substitute patties recipe (no pollen):

1.5 cups (8oz.) fat-free soy flour

1.5 cups (12oz.) granulated sugar 

0.5 cup (1oz.) Brewer’s yeast 

1.5 cups (12oz.) Sugar Syrup (2:1) or your honey 

NOTE: You can also use regular soy flour. Add water as needed to mix. In very warm climates it may be necessary to add an oil to prevent drying.

Mix dry ingredients together.  Then add dry mix slowly to syrup/honey until mixture is like stiff bread dough. Press between wax paper. Place bee patty over cluster with wax paper up.

Homemade bee pollen patties recipe (with pollen)

To make 6 (1 lb.) patties:

 0.8 cup  pollen

 2.6 cups hot water

 5.6 cups sugar

 6.3 cups brewer's yeast

March: Feeding Pollen Patties

Pollen Patties

March 8, 2015

March in Minnesota can be challenging for the bees as well as for the backyard beekeeper. It is a month of transition, winter will be officially over in 12 days! And March 20 will be the start of spring. However, we can still have a last snap of cold temperatures, and some healthy amount of snow.

Honeybees like birds, squirrels and other animals are instinctively aware of the warmer days ahead. Therefore they have already started the process of increasing the size of their colony. The nurse bees have to prepare the cells in order for the Queen to start laying her eggs. The trigger is the consumption of pollen by the nurse bees. They will take the pollen, or pollen patty which they will mix with enzymes, a bit of honey and good gut bacteria and make what is called : bee bread (fermented pollen). This rich protein diet allows them to secrete royal jelly that is fed to very young larvae. When the larvae are 3 days old, they will be fed bee bread and honey! To be clear: eggs don't eat pollen, pupae don't eat pollen, and adult bees don't eat pollen; only very young larvae eat it. This is why natural pollen, or pollen patties are so important. It increases the brood production.

 

I usually feed pollen patties 8-9 weeks before the first nectar flow (around May 10) depending on the weather and store availability in the hive.

Once I start giving them pollen, I cannot stop until there is natural pollen for them to forage. Therefore, I will be checking my colonies about every 10 days to see if I need to add some pollen.

The patty has to be  placed right where the cluster of bees is located in the hive. Right now my bees are all in the top box, and the patty is on the top of the frames under the inner cover and moisture board.

If your bees are somewhere else in the hive, put your patty where your bees are located. This is very important because if there is a cold day/night the bees will cluster, and will cover the brood to protect it from freezing. If the food is too far away, they will not be able to access it.

Pollen patties not only promote strong, healthy bees , and bee development; it builds up the bee population as a whole so in late May I will be able to divide my strongest colonies.

One more thing!

A pollen patty is about one pound.

A colony may need up to 4 patties before natural pollen is available

Purchased pollen substitute patties have no pollen in them

Purchased pollen supplement patties have pollen

Feeding sugar syrup 1:1 will come a little later...Early April!

In my next post, I will give a couple of recipes to make your own pollen patties at home.

Still Winter-land in Minnesota!

This colony is dead...see snow on top

It is March, soon spring will be here!  However, it is a bit discouraging when it snows 3-4 inches and then it is barely above 0F! (-1F, -18F) as I write.

However there is always hope in Minnesota... we should rebound and be in the 40's, and maybe a 50 could manifests itself,  in a few days. The long term forecast calls for a beautiful warming next week...almost like spring! That would be more than welcoming for our honey bees.

The queen will start laying her eggs as the temperatures climb. The workers will be busy warming the brood, and making sure the "left over" food form fall is still available. 

I will check my colonies, probably Monday (it is supposed to be 47F , 8C) and sunny. I will give them a pollen patty.

March is always a difficult month for bees and beekeepers; we have to help the bees just enough to close the gap between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. So, think about this for a minute: calculated feeding is necessary here in our part of the world. Pollen and nectar will be making an appearance, we will then  be able to  breath a big sigh of relieve; we would have done it.

Happy Beekeeping!

Sign up: Backyard Beekeeping II, in Eden Prairie MN

The bees are venturing outside!

                                         EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY EDUCATION

                                                             8040 Mitchell Road

                                                         Eden Prairie, MN 55344

                                      To register call:  952-975-6940

              OR visit the website: https://edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com

Backyard Beekeeping II

Tuesdays, March 10,17, and 24 2015 From 6:30-8:30pm

Education Center in E.P. Room # 319

Cost: $35

Looking to take your backyard beekeeping skills to the next level? Part 2 of our Backyard Beekeeping series, you will learn all about seasonal colony management like fall harvest and processing. We will also discuss bee health and what you can do to keep your hive healthy. At the end of this class series, you will have the knowledge necessary to create, cultivate and grow a thriving beehive!