The Buzz: Winter 2022

Hivelights: Bee-coming a Master

I’m super excited to be taking Cornell University’s Master Beekeeping Program, an 18-month series of courses that equips beekeepers with concepts, knowledge and best management practices.

I’m almost a month in now and absolutely love it! It combines my love of learning and passion for bees – I’m in my happy place.

After I complete the course, I will have increased skills and knowledge needed to keep colonies healthy and productive year after year. I’ll also gain a deep understanding of honey bees as living organisms and be able to navigate controversial topics to communicate with credibility in the beekeeping community.

Lastly, I will have the tools and resources to better educate new beekeepers and participate in bee research and outreach.

In order to receive the final certificate, I will have to deliver a presentation, contribute meaningfully to a set number of discussions and pass the written, oral and field exams at Dyce Lab located in Ithaca, NY!

So that means I’m going on a road trip to New York!!!! What a celebration that will be. I can hardly wait and am daydreaming about it already.

I’ll be a busy bee until then! Wish me luck!

Beeyard Basics: Spring Autopsies

Spring is a time of anticipation and excitement as the bee season starts its cycle. Inevitably, the time will come when you peek in your hives after a long winter and discover a loss.

Although difficult, it is very important to understand why your hive died so you can change your fall management practices to prevent it from happening again.

A thorough investigation or autopsy can tell you what might have happened to your hive. Keep in mind, each hive is different, and each case is different, but as a general rule of thumb, here are some basic things you can ask yourself as you inspect your dead hive:

Is your hive really dead?

Check to see if the queen is alive. The queen is usually the last bee living when your hive is dying of starvation. There are measures you can take to strengthen the numbers and save the hive if she is still in there.

Did the bees die with their heads in the cell, butts sticking out, away from honey stores?

Your bees may have died from starvation. This happens often in cold weather when the hive is unable to break cluster to move to their stores. It is very important to go into winter with a very strong population and plenty of food so they have a better chance of survival.

Do you see a lot of varroa mites on the bottom board or on capped brood when you remove them from their cells for inspection?

If so, your hive likely died from public enemy number one. You should be constantly monitoring your mite count but especially after the honey flow in August, before you feed. If it is high, you can treat with formic acid using a sanitary pad on top of the frames. If mite count is low, you can wait until November or December, when there is no trace of brood, and dribble treat with Oxalic Acid.

Does the hive seem wet? Are you seeing mold?

Your hive could have died from too much moisture. Moisture in the hive can be detrimental to bees, which is why you must make sure your hive has adequate ventilation. Make sure top and bottom entrances are wide open; otherwise there is no place for moisture to escape.

Are the cappings perforated? Does the larvae string out if you insert a toothpick into the cell?

Your bees may have American Foulbrood (AFB) and equipment cannot be reused. The best way to steer clear of AFB is to keep your hive hygienic, clean and sanitary. For example, it is best practice to change out brood frames at least once every five years.

In some circumstances, diagnosing what actually killed the hive can be confusing. For example, if your hive is infested with wax moths, they are not the actual cause of death, but rather an indication of a already weakened hive.

You won’t always be able to conclusively determine why your colony died. But by carefully inspecting your hive, you should at least be able to come up with some clues and have a good idea as to what brought down your hive.

Once you have determined the cause, you can make changes in your management practices to avoid making the same mistakes next time.

Buzzworthy: Honey for your Honey

Ask your sweetheart to ‘bee mine’ with an adorable gift pack from PS Honey! Prices range from $20 – $55, so there is something for everyone!

Not in a relationship?! Get one for yourself! I’m sure you deserve a, “to me, from me” gift, I know I do!

Visit the online store to place your order today! Deliveries available in the Winnipeg area on Friday, February 11. Just make a note when checking out and I’ll connect with you about details.

Simply CLICK HERE to order online.

If you prefer to pay by etransfer or cash for any items, please send an email to prairiesweethearthoney@gmail.com with your order and we’ll sort out the details!

Bees, Bees, Bees: Waitlist Now Open

These strong, healthy, five-frame nucs will give you a great start to the bee season.

Our five-frame nucleus colonies will include a robust laying queen from the previous season, three frames of brood and bees and two frames of bees and feed.

Ready for pick up end of May 2022!

To get on the waitlist, or for more information, email prairiesweethearthoney@gmail.com

Combing Soon: Field Days & Intern Experience

FIELD DAYS

Join me for a 4-hour field day experience with the bees! Happening every fourth Saturday, 1 to 5 pm from April to June.

Saturday, Apr 23 – Welcome to the World of Bees: Beeyard Etiquette, Hive Inspections, Nutrition, Equalizing Colonies, Installing Your Nucs
Saturday, May 28 – Hive Needs: Swarm Management, Splits and Queens
Saturday, Jun 25 – Looking Ahead: Extracting Honey, Rendering Wax, Fall Feeding & Pest Management.

Cost is $125 per session or $250 for all three sessions.

*That’s buy two, get one free!!

INTERN EXPERIENCE

Come experience the world of bees through a two-day learning exchange on Friday, July 8 & Saturday, July 9 from 1 to 5 pm.

This unique experience provides hands-on learning in the bee yard in exchange for work related to bees.

Day 1: We will learn about honey bees and best beekeeping practices. Topics include honey bee biology, equipment needs, hive location and set up, beekeeping basics, swarm management and more.

Day 2: Come prepared to work and get your hands dirty! Jobs may include equipment building, cleanup and prep, honey extraction, wax rendering and or labelling and jarring honey.

If you are interested in either of these programs, please send an email to prairiesweethearthoney@gmail.com.

Sweet Beesus: Recipes Dripping with Goodness

CRUNCHY HONEY-YOGURT BREAKFAST PARFAIT

YIELD: Makes 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 large – banana, sliced, divided
1/3 cup – honey, divided
1/2 cup – plain yogurt, divided
1/2 cup – crunchy granola, divided
1/2 cup – blueberries, divided

DIRECTIONS

Reserve several slices of banana and a few blueberries for garnish.

Layer honey, pre-sliced banana, blueberries, yogurt, granola in a parfait glass. Garnish with reserved banana, blueberries and a drizzle of honey.

https://honey.com/recipe/crunchy-honey-yogurt-breakfast-parfait

Video: Learning and Growing

It is so important to keep an open mind, and always be learning and growing.

I find it fascinating how many approaches there are to beekeeping. Experimenting and learning what works best in your bee yard is part of the fun.

This 18-month master beekeeping course at Cornell University has me very excited about learning, I truly love being a student!

I look forward to learning more from the bees next season, especially for the many life lessons the bees like to show me during every hive check.

A big thank you to Dwight @i1creative for producing this awesome video. Hope you enjoy!

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