by Catherine Haug, March 17, 2011
(Photo, right, from Facebook – Flathead Beekeepers; photo, below, by Veronica Honthaas)
Presentation Topics
The following topics are covered in more detail in the complete Gathering Summary: Managing an Organic Beehive and Photo Gallery: Managing an Organic Beehive.
- Introduction
- Ronny’s Three Rules or Requirements for Organic Hives
- Bee Genetics & Cell Size
- Wild Bees
- Managing Hives Organically
- Stings
- How to Regress Cell Size
- Catching Bees with Swarm Bucket or Bait Hives
- Audience Q & A
For more photos see: Photo Gallery: Managing an Organic Beehive.
Ronny’s Resources
Ronny provided several local and web-based resources for those interested in beekeeping with small-cell bees.
Local Persons & Organizations
- Doug & Veronica Honthaas, (Columbia Falls)
- Julianne Valentine (Somers), a local expert, has lifelong experience with bees
- Flathead Bee Club: Google Group-Flathead Beekeepers and Facebook – Flathead Beekeepers
- Western Bee Supply, Polson (www.westernbee.com)
Books & Websites
- Idiots Guide to Beekeeping, by Dean Stiglitz and Laurie Herboldscheimer: A great beginners book (see Amazon for more: www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Beekeeping/dp/1615640118)
- Organic beekeepers group, Dee Lusby (Arizona): pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Organicbeekeepers
- Michael Bush: (Lots of info)
- Principles of Beekeeping Backwards, by Charles Martin Simon: www.beesource.com/point-of-view/charles-martin-simon/principles-of-beekeeping-backwards/
- www.charlesmartinsimon.com (books, etc. by Mr. Simon)
- You Tube (www.youtube.com)
Related ESP Articles
- More on Honeybee CCD Discovery, Oct 30, 2010) (essentialstuff.org/index.php/2010/10/30/Cat/more-on-honeybee-ccd-discovery)
- Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder Explained?, Oct 10, 2010 (essentialstuff.org/index.php/2010/10/10/Cat/honey-bee-colony-collapse-disorder-explained)
- Saving the Honeybee, April 26, 2009 (essentialstuff.org/index.php/2010/03/21/Cat/more-on-bees-other-pollinators)
- Gathering Summary: Pollinators & Their Habitat, April 22, 2009 (essentialstuff.org/index.php/2009/04/25/Cat/gathering-summary-pollinators-and-habitat)
- Honeybees, Apr 15, 2009 (essentialstuff.org/index.php/2009/04/15/Cat/honeybee-be-mine)
- Video: Honeybees & Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), Mar 31, 2009 (essentialstuff.org/index.php/2009/03/31/Cat/honeybees-ccd-film)
- Honeybees in the Ecosystem: Event Summary, Mar 16, 2009 (essentialstuff.org/index.php/2009/03/16/cinecom/honeybees-ecosystem)
- Gathering Summary: Managing an Organic Beehive
- Photo Gallery: Managing an Organic Beehive.