Newsletter October 1999
 

October Meeting

The October meeting should not be missed. It will be held on Wednesday 13^th at 7.30 pm at CIT Heysen Street Weston. We are fortunate to have Doug Somerville from NSWAg attending to talk about spring in the apiary. Bring along your questions to ask the expert.

Riverina Beekeeping Field Day

A reminder that the Riverina Beekeeping Field Day will be held on Saturday 30 October at Ron Frasers property, 5 Maple Road, Wagga Wagga. Queen bees should also be available there for sale.

CIT Open Day

CIT Weston will be holding their Open Day on 30^th and 31^st October in the grounds of the Horticultural Campus at Weston. Contact Neil Gow on 0412699565 if you can spare some time over the weekend to help out by attending the Association caravan so that we will be able to put on a minor display.

Aspects of Beekeeping in Europe

In a fascinating talk accompanied by slides and honey samples, Graham Turner took us on a rapid tour of beekeeping in southern France, Finland, Scotland and northern England. Interesting features he observed include:

• extensive use of telescopic lids
• use of polystyrene hive boxes by a big Finnish beekeeper
• the high yield obtained by this beekeeper despite a season of only a few weeks as much as 100 kg per hive
• use of Australian machinery in some of the extracting rooms
• use of a powerful blower to blow bees off the frames, combined in some cases with a chute to return the bees to their hive (see artists impression below!)
• the "ideal beekeepers truck" used by a northern English beekeeper: a Mercedes Unimog.

Robert Gardiners Talk to Garden Club

(Roberts entertaining account of his July talk somehow escaped the last newsletter.)

On July 14 I was the guest speaker at the AGM of the Third Canberra Garden Club, held most appropriately at the Botanic Gardens. The venue was superb, with facilities right down to an engraved message to remember the water jug for speakers.

As I had entitled my talk "A Spaceman in the Garden", I did ham it up by wearing my spacesuit. This and other props (slides, microscopes and hive paraphernalia) proved to be the floodgates for all the latent interest in bees which gardeners have to come tumbling out. I had to change tack constantly as people asked questions which led down different pathways certainly different from the ones I had planned, but getting to the same point in the end. I was stimulated by the enormous enthusiasm of the members, to the extent that a planned 20 minutes talk became an hour of chat, Q&A, and a hands-on look at specimens. Many were struck by the nice smell of the frames.

Eventually they had to get on with their AGM and I had to get back to school. The club presented me with a lovely cup embossed with Sturts Desert Pea. It brings a fond memory every time I use it, as it reminds me that our fundamental message (gardeners and beekeepers need each other) was well received. I even got back with two minutes to spare before going on yard duty!

Swarm Hotline

Judging by the activity of the past few weeks, if you keep bees at home in the ACT your bees have probably swarmed by now. Swarming has begun very early this season and collectors have been kept busy.

The 1900925222 Swarm Hotline has had some early problems due to difficulties updating collectors data but hopefully all is now well. If you can help out by being a collector, or you know a beekeeper who can help, contact the Association by phone (62832347 Derek Butler) or write (PO Box 1482 Woden ACT 2606) to obtain a registration form.

Environment ACT also has a standby list of collectors to provide to people with swarms on their property who cant manage the 1900 number. Contact Stephanie Hogan on 62072275 if you can help out on that list. Stephanie will be happy to add your name or take it off again quickly.

Environment ACT provide the following guidelines on swarms for their officers:

"WHAT TO DO WITH A BEE SWARM!!

European Wasps:

* This should only be done with care by folk who know they are not allergic to stings and are mobile enough to take evasive action if the bees react badly. The bees may also move into a worse location. This option is not recommended by the Association. Also spraying bees where the bees are already in cavities is usually a wasted effort with domestic sprays this is a job for professional pest control companies find one in the yellow pages who quotes for free.

Empty Super Award

From Robert Gardiner:

Margaret and I were working the hives one peaceful Saturday afternoon, both in our space suits. After work we walk around the yard for a while to let the bees fly off our backs. Our dear old next door neighbour saw us and called out that she had some vegetables for us. Margaret called back that we would come shortly. Billie didn't hear and kept calling. Margaret went closer to say it again. Naturally the bees flew from Margaret to Billie, lodged in her hair and stung her on the lip. Margaret rushed over and in removing her glove to swish the bees away was badly stung on the hand. Sir Galahad then had to gallop into action, same glove swish, same result. Final score: bees 3, people no score, but plenty sore.

Steel Pallets

Matt Dickson of Nationwide Pallets P/L has sent the Association details of their range of Honey Bins. The bins are galvanised steel pallets with collapsible sides. The bins are used with an aseptic food grade liner and hold 1500 kg. They are obviously not something that hobby beekeepers might use but if you are interested in more details or know someone that might be, contact the Association.

Bindaree Beenotes: Dick is back and restocking after the early spring rush. He will have queens until mid November.

© Copyright 2006 & Disclaimer