Organic Beekeeping Journal - Newsletter

Spring 2002
This Issue:
The Nectar Flow Begins: Feeding Ends
Record-Keeping: Your Best Self-Teaching Aid
Available Brood Frames Above

Organic Beekeeping

Organic Beekeeping methods include treatments using natural materials, honeybee nutritional supplements and a system of specialized beekeeping practices which promotes strong honeybee colonies. Everything used in Organic Beekeeping may be eaten and/or handled safely by both honeybee and bee keeper.We have no need of poisons or pesticides.

Nectar Flow Begins: Feeding Ends

It is important to know when the nectar flow begins in your area. If you must investigate your nectar flow schedule, you may find out this information from local beekeeping associations. Once this nectar flow begins, all feeding jars should be removed from the hives.

Spraying of brood areas continues as frequently as possible as this is the only delivery of the syrup/oil emulsion mixture until the next feeding season.

Record-Keeping: Your Best Self-Teaching Aid

There are many benefits of good record-keeping in managing your honeybee colonies. The following are a few important items to be noted:
The condition of a hive when starting out in spring.
The amount of syrup consumed and the schedule of this consumption.
The amount of brood being raised by the cluster and the relative size of the cluster at a given time.
Tracing queen lineage when hives are split and nuclei formed..
The date the first drones are seen and the date the first queen cells are seen in a colony.
The conditions of the bees and laying patterns of the queens.
The dates of important nectar and pollen sources.
Many more factors should be recorded as well. Such information gives many clues about what is going on inside of a hive. When studied, this information will serve as the best of self-teaching aids.

Available Brood Frames Above

Late in winter, we placed available honey frames above our clusters to prevent starvation. Once the pollen gathering is strong, full frames of honey should be removed from above the cluster and replaced with empty frames ready for brood rearing. To keep honey-filled frames above a cluster at this time, would cause congestion in the hive. The cool evening temperatures will prevent the cluster from moving outward horizontally. The only expansion is taken vertically until the night temperatures are considerably warmer (or internal hive temperatures are warmer due to other factors).

Organic Beekeeping Society Newsletter:

A separate publication from the Organic Beekeeping Journal Newsletter and is only available to members of the Organic Beekeeping Society. The following is an outline of our next newsletter. If you are interested in receiving the Organic Beekeeping Society Newsletter, we invite you to fill out the form below to join:

Organic Beekeeping Society Newsletter to Include:

* Internal Hive Temperatures Research and Monitoring - A hive tool for determining the state of the colony in winter
* Investigating a likely natural remedy for foul brood disease
* First Annual Honey Exchange - Enjoy honey samples from different regions of the country.
* Honeybee Queen: Mother of Nations - What you may not have heard about requeening.
* Friends of the Honeybee Exchange - Promoting the exchange of Organic Beekeeping necessities and enjoyables.

Member Researching: Honeybee Hive Improvements

Requesting any information useful in the research of different types of woods and their possible relation to pest control and hive acceptance. Also any information on the construction of hives in relation to alternative geometric shapes. Please send to: William Pointer 7608 Candies Creek Ridge Rd NW / Charleston, Tennessee 37310. E-mail: pointers@earthlink.net
Organic Beekeeping Society
Please note: Membership is free.

Organic Beekeeping Society application for: Organic Beekeeping Society membership and Class Information
We invite you to become a member of the Organic Beekeeping Society. There is no fee for membership through 2002.

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Friends of the Organic Beekeepers:

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Goshen Timber Frames: Timber frame homes available in standard packages and custom designs. Timber framing workshops and apprenticeships available with this well-known timber frame company.
Woodjewelry by Buddy and Cheri Baldwin Handcrafted wood jewelry in colorful laminated woods. Hand tooled and carved hairsticks, barrettes, earrings, beads, necklaces, bracelets and pendants.
Garden Benches Available in oak, cedar and pine. Beautifully handcrafted giving emphasis to the unique character and grain of the wood.
Animal Portraits and Primitive Art: The Paper is a Painting Susan Olsen studied in Japan under the instruction of a Master Paper Maker. Her artform starts with paper pulps and dyes from plant fibers and is completed to a portrait or "painting" .... but the Paper is a Painting.
Rivendell Cabin Nestled in a secluded area of the mountains of Western North Carolina. Rivendell Cabin is a new cabin, complete with conveniences, outdoor activities and great mountain views.
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Peace and Bee Well
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by Regina: ibn Fetrat the Year: Two Thousand and One (anno domini)

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