Lughnasadh 2009 (2)

BIRTH OF A BEE ©
by Lady Raven Ariana

I belong to a local group of urban homesteaders that network, host workshops, socials, campouts and gatherings, and generally share knowledge, help, and support with each other. On July 21st one of my long time friends and fellow urbanites hosted an event about beekeeping in the city. She has a place in an older part of the city and has chickens, quail, bees, and a large garden. When we gathered in the afternoon the temperature was scorching over 100 F. A canopy was set up to shade the treat and drinks table. There was no shading the hive, garden, or livestock. The lively children played in the water and on a trampoline. My friend had nicely packaged honey and beeswax with clever labels on display

Danielle Downey, our state’s Bee Inspector, joined us. It is currently legal to have bees, even in the city; yet you must register through the state’s agriculture department and pay a $10.00 yearly fee. Danielle had a wonderful presentation with large colour pictures showing various aspects of bee biology. She is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and totally supportive of the urban beekeeper. She offered many resources and ways to learn about beekeeping, dispelling myths, and getting started. She talked about all aspects of beekeeping and answered questions. Our hostess chimed in and showed her methods of honey extraction and other experiences she has had. We saw an example of two different styles of hives and heard the pros and cons for each.

Danielle really urged folks to consider beekeeping because of the dangers facing bees in the modern world. Urban beekeepers may prove to be a strong hope for the continued existence of the European Honeybee (the bees that pollinate most of the world’s crops). Disease, parasites, genetic bottlenecking, and a not understood problem called colony collapse disorder is threatening bees. Modern home yard practices geared towards the reduction of food plants for pollinators and the pervasive use of herbicides/pesticides are also a problem.

Following a lengthy Q and A, Danielle said that the conversation and questions could go to the wee hours, now it was time to get down to the meat (or BEE) of the situation; opening the hive. My friend and Danielle explained all the necessaries (leverage tool, bee brush, smoker, and bee helmet/net…mostly to keep bees out of your hair.) In a traditional set up you have “supers” stacked on top of each other. The bottom supers contain the queen, eggs, and developing brood. The top most supers contain the comb honey.

When the top supers were opened there was trepidation with a few of our members. The bees remained calm and docile and soon FRESH honey in the comb was distributed to the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ of all participants, young and older. Supers can weigh 100 pounds or more and it took both our hostess and bee inspector to move them. After the couple of top supers were removed we got down into the actual functioning of the hive. We saw drones and new grubs, we observed how bees fed and fanned the honey to keep an even temperature. Denise plucked a few drones (non-stinging) for the children to handle. Even the most fearful child braved the experience to handle a buzzing drone.

A memorable moment was when Denise showed us how to see a Drone’s sexual parts and how to extract semen. Wow….not everyone has experienced this! She could deftly extract drones from any part of the hive we visited.

The highlight of the bee-show was the birth of a worker! She eats her way out of her cell, then immediately sets up housekeeping by cleaning up after herself. All bees are girls except the drones. Workers are utilized according to life experience. Young workers have nest duties, while older workers gather honey or guard the nest. Drones are driven out of the nest at the end of the growing season before winter, so not to waste resources. Bees cluster in the winter and maintain critical warmth by fanning their wings, clustering, and moving between layers of the cluster.

Bees can be maintained as far north as Alaska. Special winter techniques must be applied.

I have to say that seeing a worker bee emerging from her cell and tasting wild urban honey from the same nest is quite the harvest experience. Lughnasadh is first grain harvest. What better way to savor the holiday than enjoying local urban honey, quail eggs and the company of local urban homesteaders?