What's The Buzz ?!?
March 1, 2011
Beginning Beekeeping Short Course
About The Class
Beekeeping is the hobby that keeps on giving. You will receive hours of enjoyment and pounds of sweet honey while giving back to the environment in ways that are priceless. It is an easy and engaging hobby with a life-time of stories to share.
Spring is the best time to set up beehives. This class will provide basic information on how to get started. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to order equipment, bees and start this very sustainable hobby this season.
Become a beekeeper. It is easier than you may think, and more rewarding than you might imagine. As we explore a full cycle of a year in a beeyard, you'll learn about the equipment and techniques of beekeeping including:
· Use of the standard Langstroth beehive and other methods of beekeeping.
- Honeybee biology and behavior.
- Processes and lifecycle within the colony.
- Bee health, pests, diseases and integrated pest management systems.
- Locating hives in your environment.
- Essential Equipment and beehive construction methods.
- Seasonal colony management including installation of bees.
- Honey and other hive product production.
· Bee friendly planting and sustainable forage development.
- Bee associations and other sources of information.
· Networking and getting the most of available resources.
DATE: Saturday, March 26th, 2011
TIME: 8:30am – 4:30pm (central time)
LOCATION: The Ellis House
INSTRUCTORS: Dr. B. (aka Ed Bell, Ed.D), owner/educatorfor Belfry
Bees and Honey, Oswego, IL.
REGISTRATION: Fee for the short course is $68.00 and includes
instruction, instructional materials, hive tool and lunch.
Opportunity to order equipment and bees for the 2011
season will be available at additional cost.
RSVP to Ed Bell at 630-303-3775 or DrB@BelfryBees.com by Wednesday, March 23th. Walk-ins ok, space permitting.
4/29/10
New Honeybee Season Off to a Great Start
Wow, where has the time gone. So many things have happened this year already, I can hardly wait to see what the rest of the year will bring.
Only 2 of my 5 hives made it through the winter , though a third hive made it until the early part of February before the long, cold winter starved them out before I could get them properly fed. Seem like all of the area's beekeepers had a tough winter. Of 12 hives at the Lyon Farm only 1 made it through. I am glad to see that they did start 5 new packages along with the one survivor.
I established 20 new packages in four locations as of March 30th. They have gone gang-busters and I have already been able to expand them by 5 through splits with new queens. Additionally, a removal of a hive from a house in Oswego (see pics in Photo Albums) and the first swarm of the year found in the Rooker's (Oswego) yard have expanded things by two more bringing our total hives to 27 to date. Well, actually 29, but, two hives went to party with another hive down the line.
I have recenly moved two hives over to the Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom (http://www.ecreekpotteryandtearoom.com/) location on Grove Rd. in Oswego. What a cool place for shopping for that "just right" give or having lunch - and of course, tea with a friend. This will be an excellent location for the bees as there is a lake and plenty of wild flowers. We will have 4 hives located there providing fresh honey for tea and for sale.
The Yorkville Environmental Fair kicked off the presenation season for me. We exhibited there and met many wonderful folks who can appreciate the dire straights the honeybees are in now. I have also exhibited at the Kendall County Forest Preserve Green Expo at the Ellis House and Equestrian Center. Up coming events include the Willowcrest Retirement Community May 4th, Gardenology Day in Geneva May 15th (http://www.genevadowntown.org/), Churchhill Elementary 2nd Grade May 18th, and First Harvest Week July 5 - 10th. Watch for more notice.
SciTech, a hands-on science museum, will be receiving a donation of bees for their observation hive later this week. I will be installing the bees from my beeyard on Plainfield Rd. with a marked queen. Stop by SciTech soon to see the ladies in action. Also, I will be teaching some summer camps for SciTech this summer. Check-out their website at: http://scitech.mus.il.us/.
Lots more to come! Watch for things in my newsletter. If you have not signed up for the e-newsletter, use the Contact Us button and I'll get you on the list.
11/14/09
Apology to the Kendall County Historical Society and Lyon Farm Managment
The following Letter to the Editor appeared in the Ledger-Sentinel (Oswego Edition) on Thursday, October 22 and the November 12, 2009 Kendall County Record under the title of Expectations Unclear. While the Ledger-Sentinel & Record Staff did edit the original letter somewhat, the unabridged version appears here.
Apology to the KCHS Board Members
Over the last year, I have worked hard to establish honeybee hives and an educational program at the Lyon Farm run by the Kendall County Historical Society. I encouraged a generous donation of equipment and bees from the family a local beekeeper who passed away and I established a "Sponsor a Hive" opportunity with five local families. Through the collective donations, and utilizing my own equipment, I was able to establish 10 hives on the farm this past summer.
Utilizing the equipment, and live bees in an observation hive, I conducted educational programs in classrooms, with scout (boys and girls) groups, with a Rotary group, and was a guest speaker for a farming summer camp and SciTech's Insect Camp. All the while, I promoted the Lyon Farm, and its events, at the educational programs, through an e-Newsletter - Buzz Worthy, on my website www.BelfryBees.com, and to whoever would listen to me talk about honeybees.
What I failed to do was to get a clear understanding (either verbally or in writing) with the Lyon Farm management, the Kendall County Historical Society, as to what the expectations were for accounting for the donations, the use of the equipment, and the honey produced by the bees.
To try to explain just becomes a "he said; she said" situation which, at this point, is mute. I am no longer welcomed at the Lyon Farm, or any KCHS property or event for that matter - though I am not sure why, as I have not been given an explanation for the universal banishment.
There was never any malicious intent on my part to do anything wrong. I did sell some honey under my brand name (though always giving credit to the local Lyon Farm bees). I even entered the Kendall County Fair judging - taking second to the Bramel Farm bees. It never occurred to me that I would not get some of the honey the bees produced.
The bottom line is that I take full responsibility for my role in allowing misplaced impressions and erroneous assumptions to erode the confidence the KCHS placed in me. For this, I am sincerely and whole-heartedly sorry. I extend my formal and public apology to the KCHS Board, the Lyon Farm management, and to the members of the Society for not meeting your expectations and for any inconvenience this has caused you.
It is my understanding that I have accounted for every penny the hive sponsors contributed and for all of the donated items. The farm management said I could get my personal equipment and belongings back after the Fall Festival which was held on September 26th 27th. I have not heard from them even though I have tried to contact them. I am willing to donate some items - without benefit to me - to strengthen the program. Please contact me directly to discuss putting some closure to this situation.
There is now the foundation for a wonderful honeybee program at the Lyon Farm. I hope the new beekeepers will be "busy as bees" in growing and sharing it with the Kendall County and surrounding communities. Lyon Farm honey is available at Lyon Farm events. Check out their up-coming events at http://www.kchs.us/page3.htm.
Ed Bell
Former Lyon Farm Beekeeper
Oswego
4/15/09
New Honeybees Arrive At Lyon Farm
Well, the new honeybee packages arrived quite chilly and tired from their long trip from Northern California on Monday, 4/13. It was a wet cold day but with the promise of warmer weather later in the week. While Tuesday was not much better, the bees got a good rest in my garage with lots of sweets and some group chorus lessons in buzz minor. Wednesday was the day for taxes as well as freedom for the bees. I started out the day teaching Native American forestry to Lakewood Creek 4th graders at the Hover Center which was only topped by the first installation of 5 honeybee hives at the Thanksgiving Farm. While the installation of the bees went very well, I got the BeeMobile stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out by a tractor.
Then it was on to the Historic Lyon Farm. I was met there by Bernie and Lee Moe and a couple of friends. The Moe's are one of our 6 hive sponsors. They assisted in the installation of 7 hives of bees including their own. No mud this time and a good time, regardless of the couple of stings each of us received as welcoming gifts, was had by all.
I now will leave the new hives alone for about a week before I check to see if the new queen is laying eggs and the new brood is settling into their new home. Check out this YouTube link to see how bees are installed in a hive. It is not me but it is a very good example of the process we used: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ExboUmqb8&feature=related.
Keep an eye out for more information and when we will look for the queen's activity next week.
4/3/09
Hive Sponsors Grow the Honeybee Farm
The honeybees are coming and Hive Sponsors have made them a great new home. Six different hive sponsors have provided, or will provide, decorated new homes for the honeybees of the Historic Lyon Farm. The honeybees will be arriving sometime between the April 10th and April 15th and will find the accomodations quite acceptible. The families of the Nagels (Oswego), Schilingos (Oswego), Moes (Oswego), Goeken-Miles (Yorkville), Martis (Naperville) and the Fox Chase Elementary School Brownie Troop (Oswego) all provided decorated hives to house the new honeybees and will participate in personalize educational programs with hand-on experience with the bees. Keep an eye out for pictures (See the Brownie hive in the photo album).
3/23/09
Two More Hives Added to Lyon Farm as Gift from the Constantine Family
The picutures below show the arrival of the final two hives of three donated by the Constantine Family in memory of Ralph Constantine who died unexpectedly in December of 2008.
Ralph Constantine was known to his family and friends as an avid outdoorsman enjoying everything outdoors. He was also an award winning beekeeper. In addition to the three active hives, the Constantine's dontated what amounts to a fully operating small scale honey extracting and bottling operation which will allow us to work with the honeybees to produce, extract, process, bottle and sell honey and hive products on site.
Additionally, and more importantly to Ralph's memory, we will be able to provide A-to-Z educational programming for kids and adults. Ralph enjoyed his work with the Oswegoland Park District caring for the parks and grounds of places like the Little White School House. He took pride in his ability to give to others through his work. He is missed and his memory will live on through the buzz of the bees.
Removing the hives New Home Looking back to Farm
3/23/09
Who Was Ralph Constantine?
Well, that is not a very fair question as Ralph was so much more of a person then can be just written on paper. Yes, he was a true outdoorsman and a beekeeper.
Ralph Constantine grew up on the family farm in Oswego, IL. He had a love of outdoors and went into farming with his dad, which he did until 2003. From there Ralph went to work for the Oswegoland Park District until his passing in 2008. Ralph and his family moved off the farm and into their residence in the Cedar Glen subdivision of Oswego in March of 1981.
In the winter of 1982-83 Ralph attended a seminar at his church, Oswego Prairie United Methodist Church, about helping African villages survive by teaching them the skills of beekeeping. The seminar peaked Ralph’s interest in beekeeping but he did not have any intention of pursuing beekeeping at that time.
In the spring of 1983 his neighbor, Jim Hoak, had a bee hive that swarmed and asked Ralph if he was interested in the swarm of bees to start his own beehive. This was unusual since Jim did not know at all that Ralph had attended the seminar or that he had an interest in learning about and keeping beehives. Until this exchange it was mostly a wave in passing between the neighbors. Ralph not being prepared to take the swarm made a makeshift crate of wood and screens to put the swarm of bees in and placed it in his garage until he could purchase the proper hive equipment.
Since that time Ralph’s hives grew to include a total of 12 hives at one time which he had 3 hives at his home and several more on different farms that he and his dad farmed. He loved talking about bees and the benefits to whomever would listen to him. While his children were in grade school he attended several of their classes when asked to come and talk about bees. He loved sharing information about bees with children so they would know there was nothing to be afraid of from a honey bee. With adults he shared how different honey bee products were good for different health issues. Honey Comb from a hive in the area a person resided would help with allergies.
Bee venom would actually help arthritis. He would actually surprise some of his children’s friends when they would visit and see him stinging himself with the bees to help with his own wrist or knee ailments. These self treatments usually lasted him about 6 months or so. Honey is a natural antibacterial that germs cannot live in and he would use this to help speed up his own minor cuts. He loved sharing other interesting facts about bees as well.
Ralph also enjoyed entering his honey in the Sandwich fair each year. Most years his honey would win him a blue ribbon. This he took great pride in and kept all the ribbons he had won.
3/4/09
First of 10 Hives Arrives at The Historic Lyon Farm
I delivered the first of what we hope will be ten hives at the Farm on Wednesday. The bees are part of a donation being made by a local family - more on that to come. I anticipate that within a week we will have moved an additional 3 hives (all part of the donation) onto their new stands in the Northwest corner of the farm, visible from Rt. 71.
New bees at New Home Coming out to check us out. Looking Southeast to the Farmstead.
2/23/09
"Buzz Worthy" Newsletter Established
I am pleased to announce that Judi Brittingham is the winner of the "Name the Newsletter" competition with the name "Buzz Worthy". Congratulations to Judi and to the others who submitted names. A jar of honey will be Judi's when we start to get the honey crop off later this summer/fall.
Look for Buzz Worthy to come out about monthly or every other month to keep you updated on what is happening with the Lyon Farm Bees as well as all of the other great activities held there. Additionally, great tips and advise for healthy living will be available and highlights of our partners will be provided. See below for more information.
Use the "Contact Us" page to be added to the mailing list.
Who Should be on the "Buzz Worthy" Mailing List?
FAMILY & FRIENDS - Let's keep in touch and if you ever need honey or hive products you know where to get them regardless of where you live. If you live somewhere near, the Lyon Farm is a great place for kids and adults with programming that, if not free (many programs are free), is very inexpensive for a trip out to an active turn-of-the-century farm.
REALTORS & BUSINESS FOLKS - There is nothing better then a house warming gift of locally grown or sold products in a basket or tastefully done gift. I am connected with a wide range of people and products that represent what is good about this area. Additionally, with the "green" movement encouraging folks to buy healthy and locally, you can not beat honey and hive products as well as other goods my partners are providing. They make great referrals to new homeowners and clients. Contact me directly to see how you can become a local partner.
TEACHERS & EDUCATORS - This newsletter and my website will have links to educational material on honeybees, pollenation, other stinging insects as well as related topics to biology, ecosystems, etc.
THE REST OF YOU - Not that you don't count as friends, but I've probably not had that much contact with you to where you would consider me a friend, but yet, you might be interested in everything presented so far. Check-out my website. Check-out the Lyon Farm. Check-out my partners. I believe there is something here for everybody that is value-added in this tough economic time. LIKE ....
What Will Be In "Buzz Worthy"?
Of course, we will be keeping you up-to-date on the honeybees and programs associated with honeybees at the Lyon Farm and we'll be highlighting the variety of activities and great family opportunities presented at the Lyon Farm.
Additionally, we will be highlighting local advise and ideas on gardening, conservation, recycling, the Kendall County Outdoor Education Center and Forest Preserve, non-pesticide-based care of your yard and surroundings, and much, much more. I will be also be creating opportunities for you to be involved, if you so choose, in these areas and others developed off from your input and suggestions.
Honeybees are to our food supply and nature what canaries were to the miners in the coal mines. What is good for the bees will be good for you. And, if it is good for the bees, you'll find it here at some point as well as at www.BelfyBees.com.