Queen of the Sun

Dr. Joseph Mercola <https://www.facebook.com/doctor.health>
4 MORE DAYS TO GO! The producers of the powerful documentary, “Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?”, are allowing a FULL and FREE preview until February 1st. This film takes a look at the global bee crisis called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and offers proactive solutions. Please SHARE this link with your friends and family!

<http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/25/queen-of-the-sun-documentary.aspx>


Copy and paste:

Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/25/queen-of-the-sun-documentary.aspx>

articles.mercola.com <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/25/queen-of-the-sun-documentary.aspx>

"Queen of the Sun" takes a fresh look at the global bee crisis from multiple angles and offers proactive life-affirming solutions. <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/25/queen-of-the-sun-documentary.aspx>

Wnter Carnival Winner

Proof the bees are out in the winter months

St Paul Winter Carnival Snow Sculpting First Place
"It's Bee-ginning to look a lot like Christmas"

• Tim Trost, Goodhue
• Jared Trost, Hastings
• Jim Krueger, East Bethel

Beekeeping Classes

Here are some more bee classes taught by JoAnn Sabin

The Art of Beekeeping (for beginners)
River Market Co-op 218 North Main Street, Stillwater, MN
Instructor: JoAnne Sabin
Saturday, February 22, 2014 8:30am-6pm
Website <http://rivermarket.coop/the-art-of-beekeeping/>   Registration Info <http://rivermarket.coop/news/classes/>


Beekeeping: Beyond the Basics
St. Paul Community Ed Harding High School 1540 E. 6th St. Saint Paul, MN
Instructor: JoAnne Sabin
Two sessions: Thursday, February 13 and Thursday February 27, 2014 6:30-9:30pm,
register online <http://www.commed.spps.org/>   course catalog <http://issuu.com/spcommed/docs/spps_ws13-14-6rv_web>  (page 6 in catalog)

Backyard Beekeeping
North Branch Community Ed North High School 38175 Grand Ave, North Branch, MN
Instructor: JoAnne Sabin
Saturday, March 1, 2014 8:30am-5:30pm
Website <https://ssl.dwebsite.com/secure2/ce_northbranch/php/public.php?action=classDetail&is_ongoing_event=0&classId=5263&programId=&categoryId=&sliding_fee_id=0&from=search>  

New Virus Hurting Honeybees

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/scientists-add-plant-virus-causes-mass-honeybee-die-2D11975906

Package Bees 2014

We have mailed out order forms for the upcoming bee season. They went out Monday. Everyone in my database should get one by Friday. If you don't receive one, email me and I will send you one.
Here are the prices this year:

Your Choice of a Italian or a Carniolan Queen

Hygienic Queens with VSH

      Qty.              2 lb. Pkg.*                    3 lb Pkg.* 

1 – 19               $87.00                           $103.00

20 – 59             $86.00                           $102.00

60 - 99              $84.00                           $100.00

100+    __        $82.00_ __  __________$98.00

*plus MN Sales Tax 

Sales Tax Calculator per package
There is no tax on the cage deposit
If you qualify for tax exempt we need a completed ST3 form with your order.
The form is at the MN Dept. of Revenue website

      Qty.              2 lb. Pkg.                    3 lb Pkg. 

1 – 19               $6.20                           $7.34

20 – 59             $6.13                          $7.27

60 - 99              $5.99                           $7.13

100+    __         $5.85_ __  ________  $6.99

Why the price increase?

I explain it here:http://naturesnectar.blogspot.com/2013/12/package-bees-2014.html 

In the hive today

photo by G. Gehrman

 

 This beekeeper added tar paper around the bottom of his colonies and a tarp for a wind break

The temperature today should be 40 degrees. It is a good time to go out this afternoon to see if the bees survived the polar blast from last week. You should be noticing cleansing flights going on.
 The bees should be moving up into the top box right now following their food. The warmup is coming at a good time letting the bees reshuffle a little bit and move on to new honey stores.
 If the bees were on ample food stores during the cold blast they should have weathered it well. There should be no brood in the hive at the moment so the cold weather is very survivable. Once the bees start rearing brood in February, a deep freeze can be impact colony survival.
 I have heard an early spring is forecast for our area which would be welcome news for beekeepers.

Area Bee Classes

Beekeeping in Northern Climates – Part 1
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska
Instructors: Marla Spivak, Professor, Department of Entomology, University of MN and Gary Reuter, Scientist, Department of Entomology, University of MN
Saturday, November 16, 2013 or February 22, 2014
Website
http://beelab.umn.edu/Education/Public_Courses/Beekeeping_Short_Course/index.htm
Beekeeping in Northern Climates – Part 2
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska
Instructors: Marla Spivak, Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
 and Gary Reuter, Scientist, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
February 23, 2014 or April 12, 2014
Website
http://www.beelab.umn.edu/Education/Public_Courses/Beekeeping_Part2/index.htm
Backyard Beekeeping
Century College East Campus, White Bear Lake
Instructor: Bob Sitko
8 sessions starting February 13, ending April 3, 2014
Website
http://century.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassListing.ClassListingDisplay&int_category_id=4&int_sub_category_id=83&int_catalog_id=
Honey Bees: A Course for Keeping Bees Healthy (and on their own six feet)
Take it anytime ONLINE!
Website
http://www.beelab.umn.edu/Education/Public_Courses/Healthy_Bees/index.htm
Beekeeping Basics
Gale Woods Farm and Park, Minnetrista
Instructor: Dan Palmer
March 2 and April 20, 2013
Website http://www.threeriversparks.org/events/B/beekeeping-basics.aspx
Phone: 763-559-9000
Successful Queen Rearing Short Course
495 Hodson Hall, St. Paul Campus U of M
Instructors: Marla Spivak, Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota 
and Gary Reuter, Scientist, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
June 28 – 30, 2013
Website http://www.beelab.umn.edu/Education/Public_Courses/Queen_Rearing_Short_Course/index.htm

Classes fill early; sign up today.

There is life during a Polar Vortex

Who said bees aren't tough

photo by G Gehrman

Annual 2014 Hobby Beekeepers Banquet

The MN Hobby Beekeepers 2014 Annual Banquet

Saturday January 25th.  Please register by January 11
Social hour starts at 5:30
Dinner @ 6:30
Auction begins at 7:30
Open cash bar

An event to benefit the Univ of MN Basil Furgala Scholarship Fund
  This fund helps U of M graduate students in their research studies.
 All beekeepers benefit  from research done at the bee lab.

Please come and join your fellow beekeepers at the banquet.
The auction is a great place to pick up some nice beekeeping related items and you are welcome to bring an item or items to donate to the auction. There will be  a brand new 3 frame deluxe hand crank extractor up for auction.
Remember that this is a fundraiser, so it is ok to purchase a bag of smoker fuel for $50.00 for example. All the money raised goes to help beekeeping and honeybee research.
Anyone can attend the Banquet, beekeepers from other hobby groups are very welcome to attend. To register click the link below for the information.
http://mnbeekeepers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MHBA_Banquet_2014_Form.pdf

Nature's Nectar LLC Website

I have updated woodenware and bee equipment pricing on my website.
Package bee prices will be posted when I have them.
www.naturesnectarllc.com