28 January 2020

Bargains at the Spring Convention

The Spring Convention Trade Show is a wonderful place to shop for beekeeping bargains. Many of the bee companies offer special discounts for Spring Convention purchases which means you save lots of money on your equipment. It's a wonderful opportunity to have the chance to look at new equipment too, and to meet the lovely staff from these shops who package up your orders.  If you're new to beekeeping then it is an opportunity to look at bee hives and make decisions about what sort you'd like to work with.  If you pre-order from suppliers you can meet them at their pick up points to collect your orders.  You will need a wristband to enter the trade show, you can buy this at the reception on arrival.  Trade Show (Saturday) Only Wristband is JUST £5 On-The-Day - no advance purchase needed The Trade Show Only Wristband does not give access to lectures, workshops or seminars. It does give you access to  ‘Speakers Corner’ wher...

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Iran Ranks Among Top Honey Producers in the World - and check out the Bee Venom


Iran produces more than 80,000 tons of honey every year, Agricultural Ministry officials said during a ceremony held to unveil achievements in the beekeeping industry recently.
CEO of Beekeeping Industry Expansion Support Fund Behzad Bankipour said that over the past five years, Iran’s beekeeping industry shifted its focus from producing only one main product, namely honey, to producing other bee secretions such as royal jelly and bee venom, Fars News Agency reported. 
According to Morteza Rezaei, deputy agriculture minister for livestock affairs, said each gram of bee venom is exported at around $80. [my emboldening]

22 January 2020

Blue Monday vs Beekeepers' Mental Health

One of the big advantages of beekeeping is that it diverts me entirely from cares of the day.

Confronted with yet another bee-behaviour situation that I don't know how to manage, I have no remaining head-space to wallow in the ludicrous piffle of Blue Monday, for example.

Right now, I'm thinking only one thing: will the bees survive the winter?

21 January 2020

Always more to learn

Now here's a thing. In Adrian and Claire Waring's book "Get Started In Beekeeping," they mention as a throwaway comment that over-spinning frames can lead to honey laced with fine bubbles.

Dang.

20 January 2020

How much does a jar of honey cost?

If you're p-honey, a 340g jar sells for £9.00 (£26.47/kg, or £12.00 for a one-pound jar).

The web site www.p-honey was not available when I visited. I found an article in the local press.

https://www.thorntonheathchronicle.co.uk/the-key-to-good-honey-happy-bees/



18 January 2020

Hallucenogenic Honey!

Hallucenogenic Honey!

Every day I am more totes amaze than yesters: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/16/creating-a-buzz-turkish-beekeepers-risk-life-and-limb-to-make-mad-honey

 Kutluata makes traditional hives of lindenwood in his workshop above the village of Yaylacılar.
Photograph: Gökçe Saraçoğlu

17 January 2020

Get started in beekeeping

For such a modest title, this book is full of gold:

Suitable both for those just considering the prospect and those who are already fascinated beekeepers, this guide to setting up, maintaining and maximising bees in the back garden is an indispensable and readable bible of information and practical advice.
It covers everything from bee behaviour to what to do with honey, and balances all the background context on bee biology with the day-to-day and seasonal practicalities of running hives in any location, in the country or the city, and for colonies of all sizes.
Supporting resources include a 'bee calendar', troubleshooting section, illustrations, photos, a glossary and details of courses and organizations, in an essential guide for anyone who is fascinated by the ancient ways of the apiarist.

15 January 2020

Thiacloprid ban

https://www-dailysabah-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.dailysabah.com/europe/2020/01/14/eu-commission-bans-bayer-pesticide-harmful-to-bees-humans/

Congratulations to all those who passed their Basic Assessment in Beekeeping in 2019!

We hope you all have an excellent year beekeeping in 2020 - well done on a fantastic achievement. Basic_Results_for_2019.pdf

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14 January 2020

10 January 2020

Like sending bees to war

Fascinating article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/07/honeybees-deaths-almonds-hives-aoe

Dennis Arp stands for a portrait outside Rye, Arizona.
Photograph: Caitlin O’Hara/The Guardian

Dennis is also US winner of Dirtiest Beesuit 2019

09 January 2020

Foxed by Sophie Allport



I think I may have all of Sophie Allport's bee-related merchandise (https://www.sophieallport.com/collections/bees).

I'm thinking of keeping foxes instead.

08 January 2020

Cup Gum Honey (how much does a jar of honey cost?)


Cup Gum honey, from Kangaroo Island, off the coast of Adelaide, Australia. The island claims to be the oldest bee sanctuary in the world and is the only place where true ligurian bees are known to exist. The hives were brought to the island in 1888 and their descendants are still producing light, delicate honey flavoured with eucalyptus and local flora – with a hint of caramel.
Seen in WBKA news January 2020


07 January 2020

2020 Spring Convention - Everything you need to know

Friday 3, Saturday 4, Sunday 5 April 2020 The Beekeeping Event of the Year! 20+ Lectures; 50+ Workshops & Seminars for all levels of beekeeping experience including BBKA Funded Research Session Friday Large Trade Show Saturday  ♦ Not for Profit Exhibitors Friday and Saturday Excellent facilities; great value catering and accommodation available Book Now Click on the BLUE links below for more information  Download the Full Programme or FAQS Read How to Book using the web-based system. AVAILABLE AFTER MONDAY 13th January 12 noon booking for Wristbands, Workshops & Seminars, Accommodation and Dinners. Click for the three day Events Schedules . Details of the Lecture Programme are here Workshops & Seminars information is here; please read before booking. Tradeshow Saturday 4th only; all the main suppliers/leading companies Read about Accommodation & Catering here Getting from Priorslee to HarperAdams Activi...

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Fortnum & Mason (How much does a jar of honey cost?)

Presumably honey from masonry bees. See https://www.fortnumandmason.com/products/truffle-honey-200g, £14.95 / 200g (ie about £33.90/lb)