Welcome, Guest

Author Topic: BeeFest 2019  (Read 22036 times)

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2019, 06:42:41 pm »
Hello, I would like to attend on Friday for the queen grafting demo please.  I can bring a crockpot of chili/cheddar/Xochil chips for lunch, also bring deli bowls for serving it.  I can also make a vegetarian chili if there is interest.   I am in Fla. panhandle. Thanks!
Sounds great. How many people will you have in your party?
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline FloridaGardener

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 548
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #21 on: February 02, 2019, 10:33:06 pm »
Just one for sure, thank you. 

Offline Kathyp

  • Global Moderator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 20363
  • Gender: Female
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #22 on: February 27, 2019, 01:42:05 pm »
Wish I could come.  Still snowing here, so I am not going anywhere.  Hope you guys take lots of pics and have a great time!!
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline Michael Bush

  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 19832
  • Gender: Male
    • bushfarms.com
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #23 on: February 27, 2019, 03:33:27 pm »
Still snowing here as well.  I'm really tired of moving snow.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline Acebird

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 8110
  • Gender: Male
  • Just do it
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #24 on: March 01, 2019, 08:42:27 am »
My oldest was here Monday and Tuesday.  They went back to WY to -8 and snow.  Ouch!  He has been wining ever since.
Brian Cardinal
Just do it

Offline SwarmCatcher

  • New Bee
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Gender: Male
    • Swarmcatcher
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #25 on: March 01, 2019, 09:32:02 am »
What a cool meet - I'll be interested to see that smoker video at the end of it
I intend to start using the smoker more during the cutouts, but used to have real problems keeping it alight for sufficient time, plus theres normally not a lot of room for everything. Used to use a plumbers blow torch to get it going quickly which is fine for beekeeping yard but not good on peoples property - insurance clauses.
Looking at going back to using it more this year - especially for the nastier colonies.
Does anyone know much about which woods are best to use and ideal chip size?
its a long way to go to join you guys and we hacve a weeks skiing in the French Alpes that week so my thoughts may be with you on occasion.

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #26 on: March 01, 2019, 11:23:46 am »
Swarmcatcher,
Sounds like you are making a flamethrower instead of a smoker. Always light a smoker from the bottom and pack your material on top of it. I have tried a lot of material but I always go back to pine straw. Once lit, you slowly start packing it as tight as possible.

Speaking of the smoker video, I am looking for someone who is coming to BeeFest that is golf at editing to video it and post it on this thread. Any takers?
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline iddee

  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 10853
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #27 on: March 01, 2019, 11:58:45 am »
Swarmcatcher, I have been doing removals for over 40 years. I have found that the smoker is good until the hive is exposed.Then it is worthless. The bees give up and become totally docile once the full hive is exposed. Let it go out, it is no longer needed.

PS. Two great tips for removals. DO NOT start removing comb until ALL of the comb is exposed.
DO NOT put honey comb in frames. Only brood comb and pollen comb. Honey comb will drip and drown all your bees, plus cause robbing.

PPS. Welcome to Beemaster.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline Acebird

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 8110
  • Gender: Male
  • Just do it
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #28 on: March 02, 2019, 05:45:08 pm »
Wally do you crush and strain the honey or let the bees rob it out?
Brian Cardinal
Just do it

Offline iddee

  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 10853
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #29 on: March 03, 2019, 02:04:58 pm »
What I can keep clean, I crush and strain. Most of it gets too dirty, so I set it out a hundred feet or so from the hives and let them clean it up.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Offline Michael Bush

  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 19832
  • Gender: Male
    • bushfarms.com
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #30 on: March 04, 2019, 09:49:56 am »
>the bees give up and become totally docile once the full hive is exposed. Let it go out, it is no longer needed.

Also pheromones are how they get back together and figure out where the brood is and where the queen is etc.  Smoke just interferes with this.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #31 on: March 05, 2019, 11:36:16 am »
Here is the schedule for BeeFest.
On arrival, fill in registration form and name tags.
I have an add in a local newspaper for free swarm removals so we may be stopping to go get swarms from time to time or we may just send a team out to get them.
Friday morning:
8:00 Breakfast.
Make up queen starter boxes.
Queen grafting, taught by Michael Bush.
Afternoon:
12:30 Lunch.
Make up swarm traps and place them in Maccelleny and Glen St Mary locations.
Decorative hive painting.
Kids crafts. Fishing.
Wax Candle making. Please bring bees wax if you can.
6:30 PM Dinner
Evening:
Bonfire. S?mores. Singing, Bring your musical instruments.

Saturday morning:
8:00 AM, Breakfast.
Inspect Altmiller Splits and move queen right boxes into separate hives.
Make new Altmiller Splits from the 2 bottom boxes.
12:30 PM, Lunch.
Troutdog?s Dousing demonstration and how it relates to Beekeeping.
Oxalic acid vapor treatment by John B.
Face painting and kids crafts. Fishing.
6:30 Dinner.
Wax Candle making. Please bring bees wax if you can.
Evening:
Bonfire. S?mores. Singing, Bring your musical instruments.

Sunday morning
8:00 Breakfast.
Smoker contest followed by Smoker training/how to light a five hour smoker video.  (Cameraman needed, pm me)
Bring your smoker if you want to participate. If you are flying, I have 7 extra smokers here. Let me know.
Candle making.
Crafts for kids.
1:00 PM Lunch
Plasticell frames wax dipping and steam wax wax melter demonstration.
I?m sure this schedule will change a bit but this is the initial plan.
Jim
« Last Edit: March 06, 2019, 09:12:53 pm by sawdstmakr »
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #32 on: March 05, 2019, 11:53:18 am »
Meal menu.
Friday morning:
Pancakes and sausage, juice and coffee.
Lunch:
Grilled cheese, chips, cookies, iced tea.
Dinner:
Taco bar with all the fixings.

Saturday
Breakfast:
Sausage and potato casserole, juice and coffee.
Lunch:
Sausage and Kale soup and chicken sandwiches. Lemonade.
Dinner:
Spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread.

Sunday, St Patrick?s Day
Breakfast:
French toast casserole, juice and coffee.
Lunch:
Corned Beef and Cabbage and Potatoes, iced tea.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #33 on: March 05, 2019, 11:56:55 am »
If you are coming, please reply to this thread and let me know how many people are in your group so that I can get a count for planning purposes.
We have room for tents, campers and RVs.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Acebird

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 8110
  • Gender: Male
  • Just do it
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #34 on: March 07, 2019, 09:40:12 am »
Got hotel.  See you Saturday about noon.  Just me this time.
Brian Cardinal
Just do it

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #35 on: March 07, 2019, 09:44:38 am »
Got hotel.  See you Saturday about noon.  Just me this time.
🤗
See you Saturday.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline yes2matt

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 538
  • Gender: Male
  • Urban setting, no acaricides
    • Love Me Some Honey
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #36 on: March 09, 2019, 08:51:30 am »
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/fl/sanderson?cm_ven=localwx_10day

The weather forecast was looking pretty bleak a few days ago but keeps improving.  These rascal kids of mine are very excited for the trip; and they might get a dose of rain camping  :) :grin:

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #37 on: March 09, 2019, 09:05:29 am »
Matt,
I?m hoping the weather moves back a day or 2 like it often does. I went out after the last rain and picked out areas that do not hold water for our campers. My local report is saying partly sunny on Saturday.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline Michael Bush

  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 19832
  • Gender: Male
    • bushfarms.com
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #38 on: March 12, 2019, 09:33:42 am »
For those of you who own my book, I often go places and people say they wished they would have brought their copy of my book for me to sign.  If you want to get your book autographed, bring it to BeeFest and I'll be happy to sign it.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13494
  • Gender: Male
Re: BeeFest 2019
« Reply #39 on: March 18, 2019, 09:53:56 am »
On Sunday we fired up the Steam Wax Melter for the first time since I fixed it. It worked really well. Here are some pictures.









Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin