Thursday, February 21, 2013

Keeping Busy and Waiting for Spring

It's that time of year, when all of the beekeepers (and let's be real, everyone else too) are getting antsy for spring. It's been a few months since we had the chance to really look in our hives and we need to know what is going on in there. Yes, there have been a few warmish days when we've had the chance to see the bees flying (or not, as is the case with some of my dead hives - more on that later) but no chance for full inspections.

After 2 years as president of the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild, I have stepped aside to let someone else take the reins (Suzanne Matlock is now Pres, along with a great group of other officers). Even though I am no longer president, I have been keeping busy this winter with Guild events. We had our big symposium a few weeks ago and by most accounts, it went really well. And we have our beginners beekeeping course coming up this weekend, which I will be helping to teach.

I have volunteered to videotape the Guild's Natural Beekeeping Symposium events for the past 2 years and I have finally uploaded those videos to YouTube. You can view footage of John Seaborn and Sam Comfort from last year and Michael Bush from this year on my YouTube Channel. Below is the first part of Michael Bush's talk from this year. I'll be back soon with another blog post.


Friday, February 1, 2013

Treatment-Free Conference - Leominster, MA

Photos from the Northeast Treatment-Free Beekeeping Conference in Leominster, MA 

July 27-29, 2012

(Hey, better late than never!)



Dean Stiglitz out in the apiary



Michael Bush Speaking

Dee Lusby Waiting to Speak



Sam Comfort Releasing a Queen 
Sam Closing Up the Package He Made


Sam Looking at a Top Bar 


Erik Osterlund speaking, all the way from Sweden

Kirk Webster Checking Out Some Top Bar Bees


Les Crowder Talking Bees
Treatment Free Mascot