About Beekeeping
Beekeeping is a great hobby to help save these wonderful creatures. There are many, many web pages to explain the whole process of managing and becoming a guardian of the bees but I strongly suggest taking a class from Sacramento Beekeeping Association, "SABA". Books, web sites and You Tube are great tools for learning basics but finding a mentor is the key to be successful in this venture.
I got into beekeeping after reading an article about "Colony Collapse Disorder", about 15 years ago. I thought, why is this so hard to figure out? I mean we have some very smart scientific people that should be able to do something to help these guy's. Right? I had no idea of the STEEP learning curve I was undertaking.
After taking a class with the Sacramento Bee Keeper Association, I ordered my first three packages of bees from Olivares Honey Bees in Orland, Ca. The packages were three lbs of bees with a fertilized Queen bee in a little cage with a quart of sugar syrup to keep them fed for the long journey home. After reading and clicking on every You-Tube video about putting the new package of bees into your hive boxes, the excitement was building up to the big event. I opened the package of bees and added them to their new home with a feeder in place with some great syrup blend purchased from Mann Lake in Woodland. I took the little Queen cage and popped open the cork to put the new Queen in the hive box to join the rest of the bees. The Queen emerged and flew away... There I was in my brand new beekeeping outfit looking up in the sky watching my new queen fly away into the sunset with the slight making of a tear in the corner of my eye. I couldn't believe this was happening to me as I read ALL the information how to do this.
Long story short, she flew back and entered the hive and all three packages of bees did very well. Unfortunately I still didn't have the slightest idea what to do next...
Though out the years I've met some wonderful people and caught many-a-swarm. I enjoy working with new beekeepers, referring swarm calls to them and answering questions about beekeeping. There's nothing like relocating a swarm of hard working bees to an apiary. Not to mention, it's a sweet deal!
There's all sorts of myths legends about our bees that we are connected with but here is one of my favorites>
For more information on the European Honey Bee please visit Professor Emeritus Robert Page "Arizona State University" YouTube presentation
I got into beekeeping after reading an article about "Colony Collapse Disorder", about 15 years ago. I thought, why is this so hard to figure out? I mean we have some very smart scientific people that should be able to do something to help these guy's. Right? I had no idea of the STEEP learning curve I was undertaking.
After taking a class with the Sacramento Bee Keeper Association, I ordered my first three packages of bees from Olivares Honey Bees in Orland, Ca. The packages were three lbs of bees with a fertilized Queen bee in a little cage with a quart of sugar syrup to keep them fed for the long journey home. After reading and clicking on every You-Tube video about putting the new package of bees into your hive boxes, the excitement was building up to the big event. I opened the package of bees and added them to their new home with a feeder in place with some great syrup blend purchased from Mann Lake in Woodland. I took the little Queen cage and popped open the cork to put the new Queen in the hive box to join the rest of the bees. The Queen emerged and flew away... There I was in my brand new beekeeping outfit looking up in the sky watching my new queen fly away into the sunset with the slight making of a tear in the corner of my eye. I couldn't believe this was happening to me as I read ALL the information how to do this.
Long story short, she flew back and entered the hive and all three packages of bees did very well. Unfortunately I still didn't have the slightest idea what to do next...
Though out the years I've met some wonderful people and caught many-a-swarm. I enjoy working with new beekeepers, referring swarm calls to them and answering questions about beekeeping. There's nothing like relocating a swarm of hard working bees to an apiary. Not to mention, it's a sweet deal!
There's all sorts of myths legends about our bees that we are connected with but here is one of my favorites>
For more information on the European Honey Bee please visit Professor Emeritus Robert Page "Arizona State University" YouTube presentation