2009 BASC Beekeeping 101 Event
By admin | May 3, 2009
Thank you to everyone that came out to the Beekeeping 101 event April 25th. According to my sign-in sheet, we had 62 people in attendance. I (as well as others) have some great pictures of 60+ beekeepers all in “moon suits” walking up the hill to the apiary location. It is really something to see. “Either the bee club is having an event or we’re being invaded.”
A special thanks to Jerry for allowing us to once again hold this event at his house. Thank you Ron for organizing the schedule and starting us off. BASC really appreciates all the presenters and speakers that showed up to explain what all the equipment is and how it works. Lastly, I’d like to thank Jim Mieras of Pierce-Mieras Mfg. (Fullerton) for providing protective gear for sale to our new beekeepers. Many who showed up were now able to purchase veils, hats, suits, and tools on site and then head up to the bees in the apiary.
That was a record attendance for this event! We will try to have another one this year and then again in Spring of next year.
Mark Allen (Past President)
Topics: Events, General Beekeeping, Our Club | 4 Comments »
Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Research
By admin | March 17, 2008
I was excited to see the new Haagen-Dazs ice cream flavor as well as the new bee information labels in my local supermarket freezer.
At the request of Dr. Eric Mussen and Dr. Sue Cobey of UC Davis, I brought two observation hives to the Dreyers/Haagen-Dazs sales convention that was held in Las Vegas last year to answer questions about bees. It is thrilling to see more mainstream sources of bee education and awareness popup. As of February, Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream (part of Dreyers Ice Cream) has come out with a new flavor of ice cream called Vanilla Honey Bee. In addition, the labels on over 40% of Haagen-Dazs flavors have honey bee information on the label. When I was speaking with representatives of Haagen-Dazs they were very excited about this new program because 40% of all Haagen-Dazs flavors are dependent on honey bee pollination. I mentioned to them that ALL flavors of ice cream are honey bee dependent. Milk cows are fed alfalpha, clover, oats, and other feed crops. These crops are totally dependent on honey bees to pollinate in order to produce seed either at the seed producer level or directly in the field. Without honey bee pollination, there will be no feed crops for milk production.
Haagen-Dazs has donated $100,000 to UC Davis for Bee Research as well as $150,000 to Penn State University for Bee Research. These funds will be used to continue efforts at both research laboratories towards Colony Collapse Disorder, pollination research, and overall bee health.
Read more here:
- http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/mussen/JanFeb2008.pdf UC DAVIS
- http://live.psu.edu/story/28868 PENN STATE
written by: Mark Allen
Topics: General Beekeeping, Honey and Health, Pollination | 4 Comments »
CDFA Information on Pesticide Damage to Your Bees
By admin | March 17, 2008
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) offers a good article, in .pdf form, on the indicators of pesticide poisoning of honey bees. This article also provides information to beekeepers, growers, pesticide applicators, and general agriculture industry on how to protect against pesticide drift to honey bees.
Click on the link here: www.cdfa.ca.gov/files/pdf/ReduceBeePesticideEffects.pdf
Topics: General Beekeeping, Pollination | 4 Comments »
Our next Hands-On Beekeeping field trip!
By admin | February 29, 2008
Okay, so you can purchase the hive, you can even purchase a queen and bees, but what do you do then? Maybe you have even read the books that are recommended. You are ready… yet you are still waiting for something or someone to help you get started. Well, you are in luck! BASC offers field trips to an experienced member’s beeyard for hands-on introductory beekeeping sessions.
Our next hands-on beekeeping field trip is going to be sometime in May of this year. The exact date is vague at this time as we are working with the calendar. However, as we get closer to May, the exact date and time will be available to all members and potential members that want to participate. Membership in our club is only $8 for the entire year and includes events like these as well as access to library resources of books, films, trade magazines, and supplier catalogs. This is not nearly as important as the access members have to experienced beekeepers found at every BASC meeting. We want you learn and enjoy this hobby as much as we do, and that is saying a lot.
We try to hold our “Beekeeping 101″ sessions at least 3 times a year so that new and potential beekeepers can get physically involved with handling a hive of bees. We also include practical skills like assembling wooden hive components, wiring wax to new frames, and extracting honey from comb. The day ends with either a relaxing lunch or bbq to unwind and chat with other beekeepers.
Please contact us be email and/or check back to this site for updated fieldtrip information.
Topics: General Beekeeping, Our Club | 6 Comments »
Healthy Bee Products
By admin | February 17, 2008
Yahoo Health has an article discussing the many healthy products made by bees. Some include: honey for sore throat, honey as the ultimate antibiotic for cuts and scrapes, royal jelly, pollen and diet, and uses for propolis.
Please go to: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/11249/the-healthy-buzz-about-bee-products/
Topics: General Beekeeping, Honey and Health | 3 Comments »
Why Choose Beekeeping as a Hobby or Profession?
By admin | February 5, 2008
Why Choose Beekeeping as a Hobby or Profession?
Beekeeping truly is one of the worlds oldest professions, closely linked to the development of agriculture in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Though we have learned much about how honey bees accomplish such amazing things, each new discovery leads to new questions to ask, and new secretes to explore.
Beekeeping engages the mind and benefits the physical health of people of all ages and walks of life. It is an interesting and productive outdoor avocation. The level of physical activity required can be as mild or as rigorous as you like. The hive products can benefit your health. And the delicious honey produced from just a few hives can produce extra income.
Working with the seasons of the hive can “put you in tune” with the complexities of our plant world and with the seasons and cycles of nature. For example, honey made from the nectar of each type of flower has a distinct color and flavor. So the color and taste change during the year as different flowering plants fulfill their life cycles.
Honeybee products have been valued for thousands of years for their nutrition and health benefits, and for their medicinal uses (and may other uses as well).
Honey is one of the oldest known medicines, revered by the ancient Egyptians for its healing properties. Hypocrites, the Greek “Father of Medicine,” used honey in many of his prescriptions.
Royal Jelly, a hormone-rich immune system enhancer, has been used for centuries by the Chinese as the secret of a long, healthy, youthful life.
Pollen has long been highly regarded for its concentrated, energizing nutrients and as an anti-inflammatory. Propolis is such an effective antibacterial that it was used in the Egyptian mummification process as a preservative.
Beeswax is a standard base for many medicinal ointments and nourishing skin creams (and dozens of other fascinating uses).
Even one colony of honeybees can substantially increase production from your fruit trees and vegetable and flower gardens. Sale of excess honey can more than pay for your hobby. And just think of the pride you will feel at presenting gifts of your own pure, natural, delicious and beautiful honey to you friends and family!
Topics: General Beekeeping | 7 Comments »
Why are Honey Bees and Beekeeping Important?
By admin | February 4, 2008
Why are Honey Bees and Beekeeping Important?
Honeybees do much more than just make honey. one third of the U.S. diet depends on honey bee pollination. Honey bees provide 80% of pollination for vegetable, fruit, seed and flower crops. They also pollinate the forage crops fed to dairy and meat animals. In this way, they add at least $10 billinon to the value of more than 90 U.S. crops. Honey bees also provide $150 million in honey each year, and at least another $50 million in beeswax used in cosmetics, polish, and candles.
Topics: General Beekeeping | 4 Comments »