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 March 30, 2018, 11:53:52 pm
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I am setting the BeeFest 2019 date as March 15-17, 2019.
You can park your RV, trailer, set up a tent, get a motel room in Macclenney FL (about 25 minutes away) or if you?re close enough, do day trips. You can also, as Robo did during BeeFest 2018, hang a hammock between 2 trees. :happy:
Jim
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There are lots of Motels in Lake City where Wally and I stayed. It is about 30-35 minutes right through the national forest.
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I live in Largo,FL and I'm interested in attending. Can you share more details about the event, please!
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David
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=50636.0
Cheers
gww
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David,
Hope to see you this spring. Be sure to start at page 10. That is where a lot of information is. Lots of pictures throughout that thread.
Jim
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For those who are planning on coming to BeeFest 2019, here is a picture of a bass that my brother just caught and released, in our pond.
Bring your fishing equipment.
Jim
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During Beefest, we need to make a new ?How to light a smoker video?.
I see a lot of beekeepers having trouble keeping them lit.
Jim
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Mark your calendars for March 15, 16 and 17, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Tom will be doing the Dousing demonstration again this year.
See you here.
Jim
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Beefest 2019, March 15, 16 and 17.
Directions to the farm.
From I-10, east or west, use exit 333, the Glen St Mary exit, N County Road 125. Head north towards Glen St Mary. Go 14.5 miles north, the last 5 miles you will be in the Osceola National Forest. When you see that the trees are thinning in the distance start slowing down. There will be a dirt road, OC Horne Rd, on the right with just 25 feet of asphalt at the entrance, DO NOT TURN THERE. My drive way is about 50 feet past OC Horne Rd. There will be a BeeFest sign at the entrance and there is a sign with a cow that says Annabelle?s Wish. Follow the signs to the first gate on the right and then around the pond to the house.
The address is:
23523 County Road 125 N
Sanderson, FL, 32087-3019
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For those that want to stay in a hotel during Beefest 2018, there are 3 motels in Macclenney Florida. They are all about 20 miles away.
They are:
Motel 6
1499 S 6th St, MacClenny, FL, 32063,
800-724-1686
Econo lodge
151 Woodlawn Road, MacClenny, FL, 32063, US
Guest ReservationsTM
(855) 479-0732
Travelodge
1651 S 6th St
I-10 and Hwy 121 Exit 335
Macclenny, FL 32063
United States
+1 (904) 259-6408
The closest is the Travelodge.
Jim
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I have my plane tickets.
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Jim, I am wondering if a bee club could attend any if the current and future 'BeeFests?'
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I just ask that they log in on this site and, on this thread, let me know they are coming and how many, in their family, they are bringing. Children are welcome. I just ask that you keep a close watch on them.
Jim
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One (semi-) adult and four kids (4, 6, 8, and 9). Two tents.
We had such a fine time last year, and I was so impressed by your turkeys that I got a pair. <3
Should I bring a pair of dowsing rods or get some from Tom?
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Thanks Matt. If you have them, bring your dousing rods.
Jim
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With Michael Bush?s guidance we are planning on doing a little Queen grafting during Beefest 2018. I think we will start it on Friday and bee able to move the grafts into a finisher hive on Sunday.
Jim
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If you are planning on attending BeeFest 2019 please reply to this thread and note that you are coming, how many are in your party, camping out, RVing; tent, trailer or motel.
This will help me plan it out better and how much food we need.
Let me know if you need anything. If you are flying, I have about 8 suits/veils if you need to borrow one. Let me know here and I will reserve them on a first come first serve. I necessarily I can probably get more from our local clubs.
Feel free to call me.
Jim
904-304-5800
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Jim
Wife and I with my small camper. Will there be a small power hook up for me?
John Boeckstiegel
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Jim
Wife and I with my small camper. Will there be a small power hook up for me?
John Boeckstiegel
Yes. You just need to locate your camper near the dock, the new barn or close to the house.
Jim
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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!
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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?
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Just one for sure, thank you.
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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!!
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Still snowing here as well. I'm really tired of moving snow.
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My oldest was here Monday and Tuesday. They went back to WY to -8 and snow. Ouch! He has been wining ever since.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Wally do you crush and strain the honey or let the bees rob it out?
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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.
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>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.
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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
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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
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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
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Got hotel. See you Saturday about noon. Just me this time.
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Got hotel. See you Saturday about noon. Just me this time.
🤗
See you Saturday.
Jim
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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:
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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
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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.
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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
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I just got back home to WPB. Jim and his wife put on a heck of a spread just like last year. It is a shame there are not a whole lot more people taking advantage of this great opportunity. We learned lots and had a great time. Where can you go and have a one on one with Michael Bush opening up several hives, asking any stupid question you can think of and learning the why he does what he does? And the entry fee is zip as in nothing. Michael said to me I am surprised there are not a lot more people here just to pick on me. I agree. Common folks make a plan next year before Jim decides to not do it anymore.
Jim, when I find my process sheet for making mead I will send it to you. Good luck on all those splits that were made.
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Sounds like it was great. It's just too early in the year for me. April at Buds was pushing it. Maybe someday...
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I just got back home to WPB. Jim and his wife put on a heck of a spread just like last year. It is a shame there are not a whole lot more people taking advantage of this great opportunity. We learned lots and had a great time. Where can you go and have a one on one with Michael Bush opening up several hives, asking any stupid question you can think of and learning the why he does what he does? And the entry fee is zip as in nothing. Michael said to me I am surprised there are not a lot more people here just to pick on me. I agree. Common folks make a plan next year before Jim decides to not do it anymore.
Jim, when I find my process sheet for making mead I will send it to you. Good luck on all those splits that were made.
Thanks Brian. Michael did a great lesson on queen grafting on Friday and we grafted up 6 rows of queen cells. We put 3 of them in a starter hive and 2 in a starter/finisher hive. On Sunday we checked on them. The ones in the starter hive did much better than the ones in the finisher. Matt?s daughter, Madeliene, had the highest number of queen larvae.
Jim
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Sounds like a great time, had some family things going on but it has improved .
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Beefest was great this year. It was great last year too. Good people. Awesome food and hospitality. We got into bees every day. I look forward to next year.
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I am wondering if a later time would have been better. Having it on spring break and St Patrick's Weekend might have been a conflict for some people. What does the group think? It also jams up the hotel/motel availability. Next year I plan on bringing the camper.
Kathy, having it too late screws up the time for splits and April might be warm for some northerners. Just bite the bullet and come.
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The timing for the bees there was great this year. Unfortunately that varies from year to year, so I think it's impossible to be right all the time. It's hard to eliminate all the conflicts...
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Kathy, having it too late screws up the time for splits and April might be warm for some northerners. Just bite the bullet and come.
When hubby retires I might be able to pull it off. It's just too much to put on him when the weather is so bad and he is working. The help I used to hire has moved so I need to find a new critter sitter that won't get stuck in the snow :cheesy:
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The timing for the bees there was great this year. Unfortunately that varies from year to year, so I think it's impossible to be right all the time.
I agree that the year varies but the dates are picked prier to knowing what the year will be like. Timing splits cannot be early but you can hold them off a week or two. The difference would be more populous hives if later.
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I wish I could have been there. Sounds like it was educated and fun. I would love to have met each of you. Life gets in the way. Maybe next year. :smile:
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>Maybe next year.
Start planning now...
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Plan for March 20-21-22, 2020. Those are the dates for BeeFest 2020.
Jim Altmiller
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>Maybe next year.
Start planning now...
Yes Sir!! :smile: :grin: :grin: :grin:
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Here are some pictures that Kent took on Sunday.
Enjoy.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BR7R8t8JhMLUG7cdAATjudjd-dy3GHnb
Jim Altmiller
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Her are the pictures from Saturday.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJd4VBYDkOPAeMPEL6fcXkskPfsl5JBv
Jim Altmiller
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Here are more pictures from Saturday.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Vn4ZxOYH6clIUjzs9T6ZhhSiHjYfwYbD
Jim Altmiller