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Beekeeping Program Held
Posted on Apr 14th, 2024
The room was abuzz with numerous questions at the “Beginning Beekeeping” program held Sat Apr 13th at the Friends of the River (FOR) San Bernard Community Center. Speakers Linda Pirtle, Shane Pirtle and Paul Steffek had all the answers while presenting the basics of successfully running a first-time bee hive. All three are members of the Brazoria County Beekeepers Association. Paul is also registered with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service and does bee removal.
Photos Linda Wright
Linda Pirtle discussed the different bee jobs. The majority of a hive’s population are female who do all the work of keeping it functioning….why is that not a surprise. Other jobs include nurses who take care of the brood, janitors who clean the hive and foragers who gather nectar to make honey. The only queen bee mates a a few times and may lay 2,000-3,000 eggs a day.
Paul Steffek shows off a beekeeper full suit that protects from stings and other potential dangers. They are white because if the bees think a dark-colored animal is approaching to consume their honey, they sound the alarm. Honey bees account for nearly 80% of crop pollination in the United States.
Shane Pirtle holds a hive frame that comes waxed black or yellow and ready to be installed in a bee hive. The frame holds the honeycomb and can be removed to inspect the hive or extract the excess honey. Tip - it is easier to spot tiny white bee eggs on black waxed frames.
A table holding dishes of honey and the necessary honey dipper (wooden grooved spoon) provided attendees a chance to sample seven honeys collected from different locations.
"Those that attended said they learned a lot. It was very comprehensive and provided the info to start beekeeping. And the key takeaway is a bee is going to do what a bee is going to do." --Keith Cunningham, Chairman, FOR Environmental Com.
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