Beekeeping Network

I want to start a hive this spring and was wondering if anyone has any links or contacts for well priced, quality equipment?

Are there any other people starting their first hives this spring? 

Steve

Message from Brian regarding where to purchase bees:

(Thank you Brian)

 There are two new beekeeping supply companies on the scene:

 www.twobeesapiary.com

www.urbanbeesupplies.ca

I don't think Urban Bees sells bees and their equipment list is limited but they seem to know what they are doing and their prices are comparable to Bob's.  Two Bees Apiary sells nucs later in the year.  Their prices on equipment are about the same as Bob's and they basically carry the same thing, a little more limited in scope.

If someone is wanting to buy a New Zealand package, they start arriving about the second week of February.  Bob is selling 4 lb packages for $175.  The US is banning the importation of bees from Australia which is putting a higher demand on other sources, hence prices are up significantly.  It's better to get a later start with BC bred and raised bees.

Joe www.joewasp.com , is a good source of quality swarms, cheaper than buying a package or a nuc.  Generally they start becoming available in May, swarm season.  The down side to starting with a swarm is generally the queen is old, usually at least two years.  Frequently old queens die in the winter causing the colony to die with her.  That means if hiving a swarm it's a good idea to requeen in the summer.

This is the list of suppliers from the Richmond Beekeepers Association:

Two Bees Apiary  Lianne and Trevor Shyry, 778.237.8711  www.twobeesapiary.com

Flying Dutchman  Stan and Cheryl Reist, 1.877.390.6890  flydutch@telus.net

Hardie Honey  Dwayne Hardie, 1.250.748.8471

Westcoast Bees  Bob Fisher, 604.272.1921  bluebob@shaw.ca

Heather Higo 604.532.6904 (local queens)

As I mentioned earlier I'll be making up a 1/2 dozen nucs for sale this spring.  $150 each.  From survivor stock, that is bees that haven't had Varroa mite treatment but have managed that pressure.  It'll be on a first come first served basis.  Interested parties can reach me at blessedbeefarm.1@gmail.com

I'm hoping to get a local bee breeding program going.  A queen and drone exchange, maybe having a mating field in Vancouver or Richmond.  A lot of details to work out.  I'll keep you posted.

Exclusive: Bees facing a poisoned spring

New kind of pesticide, widely used in UK, may be helping to kill off the world's honeybees

By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor

 http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/exclusive-bees-facing-a-poisoned-spring-2189267.html

Any one interested in coming to the meeting next week?

Richmond Beekeepers Association: Meet at 7:30pm on the second Tuesday of every month (except July & August) at the Kinsmen Nature Park Pavilion in Richmond (slightly west of Westminster Hwy & No. 5 Road). Info Chris Kramer 604-992-7431.

We can carpool  contact me or check out the Vancouver Honeybee Keeners

http://www.meetup.com/Honeybee-Keeners/

Hi folks,

I will have a dozen nucs to sell at the beginning of June. My nucs consist of 5 frames of bees and brute with one newly mated queen. I use organic beekeeping techniques and low impact IPM treatments for mites. My breeding program selects the most disease resistant strains. My bee yard is in Bella Coola, BC where there are no other Apis Mellifera and thus no risk of cross contamination. I will be bringing them to Vancouver at the beginning of June. Each nuc is $250.

Drop me a line if you have any questions:

corine@bellacoolacsa.org

Any interest in a group getting together, watching a dvd on mason bees by Dr. Margriet Dogterom, looking at various options for mason bee homes, all before March 28 (Vancouver's frost free day) which is around the time we plan to place our mason bee cocoons (purchased) outside?

Mason bees are native to our environment and are solitary bees that help pollinate our fruit trees (which are great for community gardens, etc). They need a sufficient amount of nectar and pollen in the spring in order to survive and do their thing.

If we have this session early enough, you should have time to get your own mason bees (if not purchased already). Let me know in the next week or two. cylia

Brian Campbell is doing a Mason Bee Workshop this Wednesday at The Red Barn at Terra Nova Rural Park from 7 - 9pm

This is a great time to get started on introducing mason bees into your backyard or patio. These local native bees are excellent pollinators and easy to care for. The are gentle and shy bees that make them wonderful for families, young and old alike, to work with.

Learn with Richond's bee enthusiast and Master Beekeeper Brian Campbell in this hands on workshop how to care for and maintain your backyard mason bees. Special attention will be given to disease and pest management. Mason bee cocoons and supplies will be available for purchase after the workshop.

Cost: $15. Please email bcalchemy@shaw.ca to pre-register.

Brian is a wonderful teacher and I highly recommend his seminars. My partner Peter and I have attended one of his workshops and he provides valuable info.  We are not experts, and enthusiastic and avid learners. What we're offering is to share what info we do have, to encourage others to check this out too and to meet our neighbors.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/decline-of-honey-be...

not exactly heartening news. 

http://honeybeealliance.blogspot.com/

A blog from a friendly beekeeper I know.  Enjoy.  cylia

"Building a Better Bee" article from Macleans, October 11, 2010.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/10/07/building-a-better-bee/

Hopeful news. Enjoy. cylia

Hi Melissa;

Who are buying the nucs from?  How much are they?  Brian

HI Brian,

From Bill Ruzicka. They are $155 +tax.

Youth Urban Apiculture Program

Do you know any bee-loving youth? Let them know about the Environmental Youth Alliance's Community Hive Program - a free, 4-month training program in hobby beekeeping for youth! Learn about basic natural beekeeping, habitat creation, honeybee products, and honey extraction. For more details check out our website or our blog. Here's an older blog entry about the apiculture program. Applications are due April 25th.

It's official -- cell phones are killing bees.

http://inhabitat.com/its-official-cell-phones-are-killing-bees/

Hi, I'm with Viva Collingwood Multicultural Summer Plaza, and the main theme of our festival is Recycle/Repurpose/Reinvent. We would love to have someone present information on beekeeping. Our festival time begins, August 24 and runs until September 3. Please contact me if you want more information. 

Thanks, Andrea Berneckas

I Need to borrow an extractor. Any one know of one that is available?  I once saw an ad for one on Shared Harvest but cant find the ad.

Steve

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone else will be extracting honey soon? I have 4 (Langstroth) frames of capped honey to extract and no extractor. This is my first year.

Thanks, Asia

604 879-4928

Hi all,

Check out this film at VIFF.

For those interested in see the film "The Ailing Queen"

it is showing twice:

Sun, Oct 9th 6:45pm  @ Pacific Cinematheque

and

Mon, Oct 10th 1:30pm @ Vancity Theatre

Steve

Wondering if there are any bee enthusiasts who would like to meet for a quick dinner and/or then go to the film "The Ailing Queen" on Sunday, October 9th -- 645 pm showing. I would be interested in meeting you, hearing your stories and what you have learned about bees this year. Email me directly if interested. I would prefer to dine at a veg.friendly cafe.

I have just checked the VIFF site and there are plenty of tickets still available so you may want to buy your ticket in advance. Here is the link: http://filmguide.viff.org/tixSYS/2011/filmguide/Title/detail

Interesting article out of Florida:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2044764/The-mysterious-hone...

Here's a link from strathconabees 

If you are looking to start beekeeping right away (not as exciting at the spring start and possibly a little toughter) check out the link