Our March meeting was cancelled where the topic for discussion was going to be “Spring Management Before Dandelions Bloom”. Here is a 3 minute video by Dave Elsen on that subject.
March Bee Management in NE Wisconsin
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More Mite Information
Since Varroa mites were introduced into the United States in 1987 beekeepers have been searching for ways to eliminate them. The more one knows about mites the easier it is for the beekeeper to keep healthy hives. This article in Entomology Today talks about different controls one can use when following an Integrated Pest Management approach.
Honey for Coughs
If you don’t have little kids, or it’s been a while, let’s break down for you why kids’ coughs can be a truly miserable problem that can drive you to madness.
Continue readingHoney Bee Jobs
Within a hive there are three types of bees. The queen, drones, and worker bees. There is only one queen in a hive, is female, and lays eggs to produce more bees. About 15% of the hive population are drone bees which are male and their only job is to mate with a different queen. Finally about 85% of the bees are female worker bees and they do all of the work around the hive. They take care of the brood, clean and defend the hive, and gather pollen and nectar.
Hive Location
There are numerous factors to consider when determining where to place your hive(s) which include they physical location, bee needs, and human needs. A good starting point is to do an internet search to determine if your local community has set guidelines for maintaining hives. Allouez Wisconsin, for one, has a number of rules to be followed.
Location
- South facing is optimal – early morning wake-up to start foraging
- Shade in the PM – so the hive doesn’t overheat in summer
- Access to water – needed to make honey
- Good air ventilation – so the hive doesn’t get damp
- Wind block – can be man-made or natural to help hive survive the winter
Bee Needs
- No obstruction in front of hive – bees like to exit and fly up
- Slight lean to the front – so rainwater can drain out
- Pollen and Nectar Sources – for honey production
- Level side to side – bees don’t care but could hurt honey production
Human Needs
- Accessible by vehicle or cart – honey and equipment are heavy
- Permission – check local ordinances and neighbors
- Accessible from the back of hive – best to work from the back of hive
- Weeds and Mowing – keep the hive weed free and trimmed
Basic Equipment
The following video discusses the most basic bee equipment that a first time beekeeper will need. You will learn about different personal protection gear, gloves, hive tools, bee brushes and smokers.
Why Babies Can’t Have Honey
The short answer is that honey can contain a bacteria that babies digestive systems are not yet developed enough to handle. The learn more click here.
April Kustov- Wisconsin State Hive Inspector
April Kustov, Wisc State Hive Inspector, spent 2 days with BCBA members inspecting hives and sharing her knowledge. April was thorough and focused during hive inspections and spent a generous amount of time with each beekeeper, explaining and demonstrating as they went through each hive.
She also was our featured speaker for the BCBA meeting (Wednesday 8/21/2019) There was plenty of good conversation, great questions and valuable learning for all attending. THANK YOU April ! So nice having you with us !
State Bee inspector April Kustov presenting to the club in August 2019. 
State bee inspector April Kustov inspecting a members hive during a visit to Green Bay in August 2019.
Girl Scout Troop 4679 Partners with BCBA
BCBA participating in GIRL SCOUT Journey!
The Brown County Beekeepers Association recently partnered with Girl Scout Troop 4679 from West De Pere, WI to assist troop members on their Girl Scout journey. The members Brooklynn Steier, Nicki Waystedt, and Skylar Schultz, participated with BCBA club members to construct, paint and install a hive as part of their Outdoor Journey. The Girl Scout Outdoor Journey is focused on environmental stewardship. The girls learn how to care for our planet by minimizing our ecological impact and to be an advocate for nature. Working with BCBA is a perfect fit for the girls to complete their Journey due to the important role bees play in our environment. The girls certainly have talent painting and were very engaged in installing the nuc in their new home.
Girl Scouts helping install bees into boxes they painted. 
Learning about bees 
Girl scouts earning their Gold award 
Doing a hive inspection
Youth Involved with Bees
It is always encouraging to see young students getting involved with bees. Below is the write up from Tia Savage describing the bee project she presented at her school on March 28, 2109. She has been invited to attend an upcoming bee club meeting to present her project. She has also expressed interest in furthering her knowledge of bees by joining the club. Excellent work Tia.
“My name is Tia Savage and I attend a project-based learning school, John Dewey Academy of Learning in Green Bay, WI. I did a project working to Save the Bees and raise awareness. I presented the project at Event Night at my school and it was one of the most successful Event Nights I’ve had. I built a bee box out of wood, Styrofoam and paint. I printed honeycomb using a 3D printer and used jello to simulate honey. I had samples of artificial honey and real local honey out as well. I was given the name of “the Bee Girl” and I think I may have really got people to understand the importance of honeybees. “
