Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

MEMBER BULLETIN BOARD => GREETINGS/TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF => CLUB MEETING, CONFERENCES, GATHERINGS, SEMINARS and EVENTS => Topic started by: BeeMaster2 on July 30, 2022, 09:32:23 am

Title: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on July 30, 2022, 09:32:23 am
We will be hosting BeeFest 2023 March 3,4,5 here at our farm. We are doing it earlier this year to try to get ahead of the swarms. All members are invited to come. We have room for tents Campers and RVs. There are hotels within 20 minutes of the farm in Macclenny Fl. The newest one is the Hampton Inn And  Suites. Just opened last year.
If you are driving, please bring chairs and drinks as well as your bee suits and smokers for the smoker contest. If you are flying, I have 6 bee suits available and a couple of vails.
We provide the food, iced tea and lemonade.
Your children are welcome but you are responsible for keeping an eye on them.
Bring your fishing gear. We have a one acre stocked pond.
Our address is 23523 N County Road 125, Sanderson, FL 32087-3019. Apple Maps takes you right to our door.
If you are coming, please reply to this thread with how many people are in your party. This will give us an idea of how many are coming and how much food we need. Also let me know if you are bringing a tent, camper or RV. Hope to see you here.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Bill Murray on July 30, 2022, 10:46:01 am
Jim Marley and I will be there all 3 days. Let me know if you need anything.
Bill
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on July 30, 2022, 01:04:46 pm
Okay, thanks Bill.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on July 31, 2022, 09:03:15 am
We are doing it earlier this year to try to get ahead of the swarms.
That will help.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: guitarstitch on November 14, 2022, 08:33:45 pm
Hey Jim, great to hear this!  You can count me in and possibly Ashlynn as well.

Are you open to inviting Clay County again this year?

Is there anything else I can bring to enhance the experience this year?
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Michael Bush on November 15, 2022, 07:25:15 am
I'll be there.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on November 15, 2022, 07:33:20 am
Guitarstitch,
Yes, Clay County is invited. Will you please let them know at the next meeting. I prefer that if they are coming that they log into BeeMaster and leave a post here with how many are coming and what days. That helps us determine how much food we need.
Since you are local and driving, bring chairs, drinks and your bee suits.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: guitarstitch on November 15, 2022, 02:37:01 pm
Certainly.  Thanks, Jim!
-Matt
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: TinaOB60 on December 04, 2022, 10:13:04 am
Hi Jim,

This looks like a lot of fun. At this point My husband and I plan to be there.
With your permission, I?ll share the info with our members at our next meeting.
(Nassau County Beekeepers Association)
Is it ok to arrive on the 2nd? I?m happy to help with set up.

Thank you,
Tina O?Brien
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 04, 2022, 10:40:44 am
Sure we can use the help. Are you going to camp out here. If so, what are you camping in?
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: TinaOB60 on December 04, 2022, 12:16:15 pm
If my husband comes, we will be in our camper. If I come alone, I?ll be in a tent. I?ll give you a definite answer when we get closer to the event.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on December 04, 2022, 12:23:37 pm
If my husband comes, we will be in our camper. If I come alone, I?ll be in a tent.
Why wouldn't your husband just drive the camper for you and drop it off so you don't have to stay in a tent?
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: TinaOB60 on December 04, 2022, 12:38:44 pm
I?m sure he would if I asked him but I hate to do that if he?s working.
I?m actually quite comfortable in my tent and it?s much easier than bringing the camper.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 04, 2022, 01:53:07 pm
Ok, I?ll put you down for the tent area.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: flsteeler55 on December 04, 2022, 10:22:36 pm
Sharon D from Nassau:
Count me in.  Make sure that wife does not have an event like last year bringing out snacks.  btw, I have a lot of pics from the afternoon hive inspection, and maybe even the Richard getting stung because he took the bee veil off. If you would like, let me know.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 05, 2022, 09:43:21 am
Sharon,
Glad you are coming.
Please post the pictures in the BeeFest 2021 thread.
Hopefully that won?t happen again. Judy is still in pain and going to the doctor on a continual basis trying to get permanent relief.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: yes2matt on January 04, 2023, 05:23:25 pm
I'll bee there, maybe with a friend, maybe with some number of kids. We'll camp if you don't mind.

Also with Bill, please let me know if I can bring something. I have a good handful of Chinese grafting tools in the drawer for example.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 04, 2023, 08:25:02 pm
Sounds good Matt. Definitely bring the grafting tools. I?m have the same campsite area ready.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on January 25, 2023, 09:26:30 pm
Coming soon BeeFest 2023. March 3,4,5. For more information, see reply number one this thread. All members invited.
Please let me know if you are coming and how many in your party. If you are driving, please bring drinks, chairs and your 🐝 suit.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on January 26, 2023, 09:55:24 am
Made reservations.  Be there Friday afternoon.  Looking forward to seeing fellow beekeepers.  Always a good time.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on February 01, 2023, 09:09:32 am
Here is the schedule for BeeFest 2023.
When you arrive please sign in, forms provided.
We will have areas set for tents, areas for small campers and areas for RVs.

BeeFest 2023

Friday March 3
9:00 Welcome, Coffee and introductions

10:00 Dave Westervelt; Honeybee Biology

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Michael Bush; Natural Cell and Varroa

2:00 Hive Inspections, Separate Altmiller Split Hives

4:00 Bill Murray; Making Queens Using Double Screen Boards

6:00: Dinner

7:00 Evening Bonfire
______________________
Saturday March 4
8:00 Breakfast

10:00 Dave Westervelt; Flowers Beneficial to Bees

12:00 Lunch

1:00 John Boeckstiegel; Oxalic Acid Treatment

2:00 Marlie; Candle Making

3:00 Michael Bush; Huber?s Observation on Bees

5:00 Mead Tasting, bring your mead.

6:00 Dinner

7:00 Evening Bonfire
__________________
Sunday March 5
8:00 Breakfast

9:00 TBD

10:00 TBD

1:00 Lunch and Goodbyes
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on February 26, 2023, 06:52:20 pm
Reminder, BeeFest is this coming weekend, Friday,Saturday,Sunday.
If you?re driving, please bring chairs and drinks for your family.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: guitarstitch on March 01, 2023, 10:17:56 pm
Looking forward to it!  I got your awesome snail mail reminder as well.  :D

Would a small amplified speaker and microphone be of any benefit?
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 02, 2023, 06:29:30 am
Matt,
Yes, it probably would help.
See you here.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Michael Bush on March 02, 2023, 08:00:30 am
Getting on the plane this afternoon.  See you all soon.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: guitarstitch on March 03, 2023, 09:35:58 pm
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QqBnV2NTMysguSu76

Bee fest photos!
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 03, 2023, 11:22:28 pm
Here are some more photos from today?s BeeFest

:







Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 03, 2023, 11:24:23 pm







Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 03, 2023, 11:26:32 pm




Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:51:24 am




Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: TinaOB60 on March 05, 2023, 10:37:53 am
It was a great weekend.
Thank you to Jim & Judy for hosting this great event.
Education is a wonderful thing and I feel I learned a lot.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Ben Framed on March 05, 2023, 10:47:49 am






Looks like y'all are having a nice time! Is that Michael with the guitar? Its hard to tell for sure with the smoke of the fire, which is a nice fire by the way! Glad to see and hear of another successful Beefest!

Phillip




Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 02:02:14 pm
Yes it is.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: gww on March 05, 2023, 03:17:51 pm
Looks like it was nice to be outside day and night.
Cheers
gww
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Bill Murray on March 05, 2023, 08:22:49 pm
I want to say thank you to Jim and Judy for their hospitality, and to everyone that showed up for Beefest. The comradery shared, the informative talks and lectures, the sharing of different ideas and and approaches on how to accomplish final goals you want to meet, Along with the time and environment to discuss it all makes this a quality event. So again a huge thank you to Jim,Judy, and to friends old and new that showed up.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Ben Framed on March 05, 2023, 08:28:44 pm
Thanks Beemaste2 and guitarstitch for the pictures!

Phillip
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:01:06 pm






Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:05:25 pm






Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:21:56 pm

Guitarstitch, Bill Murray and Acebird discussing 16? deep hive frames.


Kids holding court, about a boy and a girl holding hands.



Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:24:20 pm




 


Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:28:33 pm

Hive inspection and separating Altmiller split hives.





Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:33:03 pm





Taffy oaks doing a candle making class on how to make candles for honey shows.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:38:51 pm

Phoebe and friend playing with baby chicks.





Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 05, 2023, 09:42:55 pm

Michael Bush discussing Huber?s Observation on Bees



Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Ben Framed on March 05, 2023, 10:38:38 pm
You had a good line up of events with a nice looking group of folks of all ages! Congratulations to you Jim, Judy and everyone who helped in the effort for your success!

Phillip
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Bill Murray on March 05, 2023, 11:09:01 pm
stich, jim thanks for the pics
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: The15thMember on March 06, 2023, 11:32:49 am
Looks like it was another fun and successful BeeFest!  :happy:
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 06, 2023, 03:44:10 pm
Just boxed my first swarm of the year. We did splits on all of the hives except the observation hive. It is now less than half strength.
Judy put a Nuc on a ladder next to it with lemon grass oil but they would not move in. I put a sheet down and put the Nuc on it and shook them down. Some went in but most went back in the tree.







I did this over and over and most of the bees went back in the tree.
Continued

Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 06, 2023, 04:05:06 pm
Ronnie did a presentation on 16? deep frames and gave me the box and frames.
I was planning on putting the swarm in this box so i decided to go get and see if they would like it. I put  wood strips in the top slots with fresh wax on the strips. When I came back to the swarm the bees had all exited the box and were back on the tree. I put the 16? hive under the tree and shook them. Most of the bees that didn?t land on the top of the frames went back into the tree. The ones on the crawls top were very interested and went in. I shook them several times and more and more went in. Once they started fanning their nasenoff glands and calling the other bees I started shaking the tree with the rope and kept shaking it to keep them from landing when I stopped, they were all going down to the hive.





They seem to really like the big hive box.
I?ll let you know if they stay without caging the queen nor giving them brood.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on March 07, 2023, 08:22:46 am



Looks like y'all are having a nice time! Is that Michael with the guitar? Its hard to tell for sure with the smoke of the fire, which is a nice fire by the way! Glad to see and hear of another successful Beefest!

Phillip
Maybe you and Kathy will make one.  Put it on your bucket list.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Michael Bush on March 07, 2023, 01:25:37 pm
Beefest was great as always.  Even if we just got together and talked it would be great, but the presenters were also great.  Marley showed us how to make candles, Bill showed us how to make queens simply without grafting, which was a variation on Jim showing us how to make splits.  And a lot more.. I clipped a few drones and gave them to the kids and one little girl still had it a couple of hours later (see picture above).  The kids had a great time riding horses, paddling in the pond, doing the zip line, playing with the chicks, chasing the turkeys.  The food was great.  Well worth the trip.  I would love to see a lot more of you who I've never met yet.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on March 08, 2023, 08:29:19 am
I would love to see a lot more of you who I've never met yet.
It really makes a difference seeing your on line buddies in person.  I truly missed Wally but I know the trip is too hard for him.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: gww on March 08, 2023, 09:16:43 am
Jim
You reminded me it is getting time to get some lemon grass oil into all my traps.  Knock on wood on the shaken swarms, so far I have not had one leave once they started flying down to the hive body usually after I have dumped a few in it normally using a five gal bucket.   Nice pictures.
Cheers
gww
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Bill Murray on March 08, 2023, 02:07:59 pm
Quote
I would love to see a lot more of you who I've never met yet.

I agree
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Michael Bush on March 08, 2023, 06:09:17 pm

Here's Marley on the zip line.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Ben Framed on March 08, 2023, 06:29:04 pm
Good picture Michael. That looks fun! Did any of you adults take a spin at it?  :grin:
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Michael Bush on March 09, 2023, 09:30:26 am
>Did any of you adults take a spin at it?

I think there were some.  I didn't.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 09, 2023, 01:58:50 pm
I?ve taken a lot of rides on it. 😊
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Ben Framed on March 09, 2023, 04:39:37 pm
I?ve taken a lot of rides on it. 😊
Jim Altmiller

:Thumbs Up:
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Twylavarn on March 23, 2023, 12:06:09 pm
I sure hate that I missed this :( hopefully next time!
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Ben Framed on March 23, 2023, 01:53:26 pm
Welcome to Beemaster Twylavarn!

Phillip
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 23, 2023, 06:28:40 pm
Twylavarn,
Welcome to Beemaster. We do have a Baker Bees meeting tonight. It is held the 4 Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Firehouse Subs in Macclenny.
Jim Altmiller
Title: -
Post by: ChristyCem on March 24, 2023, 07:44:05 am
Very  Nice  John 

Now  I need to  go buy a couple  of lottery tickets and  win Id love to   fill a  few  more tanks  here with some  of  these
-al
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on March 24, 2023, 09:38:13 am
Good picture Michael. That looks fun! Did any of you adults take a spin at it?  :grin:
Didn't know it was for the adults.  Besides the wife puts that in the "motor cycle" category at my age.
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Ben Framed on March 24, 2023, 01:45:26 pm
Good picture Michael. That looks fun! Did any of you adults take a spin at it?  :grin:
Didn't know it was for the adults.  Besides the wife puts that in the "motor cycle" category at my age.

:wink: I hear you!!
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Kathyp on March 24, 2023, 07:47:09 pm
Wish I could have been there, but between family stuff and the weather was not going to make it.  Snow on the ground right now   :grin:

Looks like good times!!!
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: BeeMaster2 on March 25, 2023, 01:05:26 am
Kathy,
I really hope that one of these days you will bee able to make it to BeeFest.
Maybe next year.
Jim Altmiller
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on March 25, 2023, 08:31:16 am
Snow on the ground right now   :grin:


Best time to leave
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Kathyp on March 25, 2023, 11:38:14 am
Quote
Best time to leave

Tempting, but the critters would disagree   :grin:
Title: Re: BeeFest 2023
Post by: Acebird on March 26, 2023, 08:07:30 am
Its three days or less not three weeks.  How about help from your offspring for all you did for them?  Just a thought.