The Bountiful Bee

1
The Bountiful Bee

• Back Yard Beekeeping
• With Howland Blackiston Ed Weiss
• www.bee-commerce.com

2
History of Beekeeping

• Honey Robbers (20,000 B.C.)

3
History of Beekeeping

• Beekeeping in Egypt (2400 B.C.)

4
History of Beekeeping

• European Beekeeping (1300 A.D.)
• Methods Change (1852 Langstroth)
• Bees Come to Virginia (1621)
• New Growth in Back Yard Beekeeping

5
Benefits of Bees

• Honey (100 lbs per hive Complete Food)
• Beeswax (Candles, Polish, Crafts, Etc.)
• Pollen (60 pounds per hive High Protein)
• Propolis (Antibacterial Varnish)
• Venom (Medical Use)
• Pollination (The Big Attraction)

6
Bees and Pollination
7
The Anatomy of a Beehive

• 60,000-80,000 bees (summer)
• 10,000-15,000 bees (winter)
• Three Casts of Bee
• The Queen
• Drones
• Worker Bees (Many Responsibilities)

8
The Modern Beehive
Outer Cover Inner Cover Honey Supers (Shallow)
Queen Excluder Food Chamber (Deep) Brood Chamber
(Deep)Bottom Board Hive Stand
9
Tools of the Trade

• Hivetool
• Smoker
• Gloves (if you must)
• Veil

10
Where to Put Your Hive

• Dont Create a Nuisance
• Easy, Level Access
• Nearby Water Source
• Dappled Sunlight
• Shielded from Winds
• Facing South-East

11
Getting Started

• Read-up on Beekeeping
• Join a Regional Club
• Latch onto a Mentor
• Order Start-Up Kit
• Order Package Bees
• Begin your love affair