Reports from the Master Beekeeper Course
Gale Urquhart
I had a very good time at the Master Beekeepers
classes. What did I learn?, what have I forgotten already?, what
do I want to forget you may ask!
It all started out in very cool environment at the teaching center,
you have to love that air conditioning, but soon it was time to
experience the hot, still air of Nebraska. You know they said
the wind quit blowing in Nebraska one day and everyone fell down,
well we should of seen a lot of people falling down this day,
because there was not a breeze and the humidity was high, but
you have to love a beekeeper, not a whimper out of them, maybe
it was the promise of home made ice cream made with honey.
They were however able to keep my attention with a man made swarm.
I have never seen one in my life so it was quite interesting.
Did you know that you can walk through a swarm and not get stung?
Did you know you can swat at the bees in a swarm and not get stung?
Well I did not, but experiencing it is believing.
From there we got to mark a queen, ok maybe not a queen but a
drone bee that we had to pretended was a queen. I really like
this hands on stuff.
Have you ever done an ether roll or a powder sugar roll? I have
now! Ever wonder how to tell how many bees you are rolling so
you can get a decent count of mites in your hive? Well they say
you should take a pint jar and put 2oz of water in the jar, mark
this water line on the jar, remove the water and fill the jar
with bees to the mark. You now have approximately 200 bees or
close enough you can use that to figure your drop count. I’m
stuck on the powder sugar roll for now, it doesn’t kill
the bees, and my hives can use the extra 200 critters. Call me
sadistic but when you shake the mites out its more fun to kill
them yourself and I don’t really like the smell of ether
anyway.
Much, much more was taught, but now I must play catch up at my
job as well as my business.
I want to remember it all, but what I have forgotten!
Funny I just can’t remember!
I would like to thank everyone for this opportunity. It was a
fine experience for your money.
Gale Urquhart
Spring Creak Honey Farm
Saylorville Township
Des Moines, Iowa 50313
515 289-2192
Pat Randol
I attended the Master Beekeeping Class at Mead,
NE in June. This was the most intensive class I have ever been
too. We started at 8:30 each day and ended at 6 for supper that
evening with an hour for lunch and two 10 minute breaks. I was
taught more about bees and bugs than I ever thought possible.
They highlighted some value added products, lip balm, hand cream,
soap, mead. There is so much we can do with the products from
our bees, whether it is for your own use or to use it to start
a small cottage business. It was well worth the time and effort
to attend. I also met so many other beekeepers from around the
U.S.( California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin,
Nebraska) and I am I sure there were other states that I am missing.
It was great to get to know some of them and listen to their way
of doing business.
Pat Randol
