At the May 2013 CBA meeting we exhibited a wooden hive stand in response to several requests for low-cost, non-cement block hivestand ideas.  Here is a simple stand that is sturdy, costs about $13 (as of June 2013), and works well with screened bottom boards.

It starts with four 1 foot lengths of 4×4.   You can also cut them into 18″ sections – that just  means your hives will be about 19.5 inchs off the ground, rather than 13.5 as this one is.

Then you cut 4 pieces of 2×4 at 18.5 inches, and 2 pieces of 2×4 at 22 inches.  The longer pieces go across the front and back, and 2 of the 4 smaller pieces form the sides, to the INTERIOR of the 4x4s.  The remaining 2 smaller pieces connect the 4x4s at the bottom, front to  back.  This stand is sized for 8-frame hives to fit onto the side pieces but drop all debris through the center hole. Ten frame hives will fit onto the stand, but if you wanted the same clear debris drop, you would add about 2.5 inches to the front and back crossmembers. Use a strong wood glue and several 3″ decking screws to put it together.

 

A diagram looking down from above shows the assembly as:

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Day 1, Thursday, 28 MAR 13:
“Beekeeping and the WWW” – To download the PowerPoint presentation click here.
To download just the links click here.

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Day 2, Thursday, 07 APR 13:
“Honey Bee Biology” – To download the PowerPoint presentation click here.

“Getting Started in Beekeeping” – To download the PowerPoint presentation click here.

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Free On-line pdf version is downloaded with this link.

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Day 3, Thursday, 11 APR 13:

“Hive Inspection & Overview of Yearly Management” – To download the PowerPoint presentation click here.

Download the presented hive inspection checklist with explanations by clicking here.

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Day 4, Thursday, 18 APR 13:

“Mites, Pests and Diseases” – To download the PowerPoint presentation click here.

 

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Day 5, Saturday, 20 APR 13:

Download the presented Field Day Inspection Task List by clicking here.

Gardening for Honeybees

Here is the link to the presentation Dan gave at the March 2013 meeting of Colonial Beekeepers Association:

http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Portals/0/vce/HortPubs/garden4honeybees.pdf.

Sanitation and Labeling Presentations – presented by Sarah Dunn of VDACS at the February meeting of Colonial Beekeepers AssociationTo view or download the PowerPoint presentation or any of the supporting references click here.

Here are some files you can view and/or download to find lists of annual and perennial plants that are beneficial to honey bees with nectar and pollen along with bloom times. My lawn mower isn’t broken, I’m raising these weeds!

Honey Bee Plants for Virginia.

Habitat Improvement With Installed Bee Pastures.

This regional guide http://pollinator.org/PDFs/Guides/OuterCoastalrx7FINAL.pdf from pollinator.org covers the Virginia Peninsula and Middle Peninsula areas. Starting on page 16 you can see the bloom periods for beneficial pollinator plants but there is a lot of additional great information within.

Here is a spreadsheet file you can view and/or download to assist you in using a Cloake Board and making up a schedule to make queens by the grafting method. I adapted this from the Susquehanna Valley Beekeepers Association webpage. Good luck and if you have any questions you can call!

PETE

Grafting Schedule.

Here is a spreadsheet file you can view and/or download to assist you in creating a NUC and determining the queens development. I adapted this from the Susquehanna Valley Beekeepers Association webpage. Good luck and if you have any questions you can call!

PETE

NUC_QueenRearingCalendar.

Title 3.2 – AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL CARE, AND FOOD
(Click on this link to view this Code of Virginia on the Virginia General Assembly Information System website.)

Chapter 44 – Beekeeping

“Where Do Bees Come From” – presentation by Andy Westrich at the February meeting of Colonial Beekeepers Association

To download the PowerPoint presentation click here.

“Feeding for Spring Buildup” – presentation by Pete Ostrowski at the February meeting of Colonial Beekeepers Association

To download the PowerPoint presentation click here.

BREAKING THE BROOD CYCLE & SUGAR DUSTING