By: SepasangMawar

SepasangMawar — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:50:12 +0000

In our area, “no one” is a full-time bee keeper but, there are many part-time, back yard bee keenpig businesses. Often these guys actively look for a place to place a hive/bee box or two. There are often local ordinances and regulations with respect to the placement of a bee hive. Again, these guys typically know what they are/how to find out, and what to do with respect to the regulatory process. In our area the bee guys assess the area in terms of problems that the bees could face as well as problems you could face. In times past, the bee hive host was paid in a bit of honey and comb; these arrangements were made at the time of the yard survey and before the bees arrive. They then deliver the boxes, tell you what to watch for, and what’s needed for mid-season maintenance. When the neighbor hosted bee hives, he was required to run the sprinkler in the evening to provide the bees a morning water source off of the vegetation. He was also told how to monitor for swarming activity; when the hive is full of honey a new queen is produced and she leaves the box with a swarm to start a new hive. In the neighbor’s case, he reported a difference in activity which was discounted as a novice’s observation until after the swarm; we got to see the swarm and it was impressive. The end result was that we had “wild” honey bees both of the domestic and mixed kind for several years into the future.The bee guys do all of the hard and technical work in our area. For example, when the bee activity starts to change pre-swarm the goal is to drain the original hive of most of the honey and prep a second box for the new queen. I think they do physical some transfer of comb and/or the queen to the second box. What can I say, they want as few folks standing around, in particular children, and in particular children with severe bee allergies. In the neighbor’s case, the bee guy prepared the boxes for winter and then took them away until spring. Mid-summer the neighbor shared his honey payment with us but, the comb didn’t come until fall after the winter preparations were done. I seem to remember that the neighbor had to do something one spring when there was a late frost to keep the hives warm. In terms of preparation, the bee guy did determine that there were enough flowers/pollen in the area to sustain the hive; he discounted the blackberries over the bank which is why they produced so much honey. He also determined how many of what type of chemicals were being used in the area; everyone was low to no chemical in the area at that time. With respect to regulation .the hives were located between the road and a wall of evergreens, then well under the fruit trees. The neighbors that might notice were quietly asked if they minded. The friends and neighbors that visited were asked to stay on the outside area marked with a few discrete stakes. The neighbors with fruit trees were glad to have the bees particularly since the hives were located beyond their own back yards. The hives were there on a don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t complain basis.

Comments on: Keeping the Buzz on – Interdisciplinary Reflections on the Protection of Bees

By: SepasangMawar