Bee Nice to your Pollinators
Beekeepers take part in keeping Bees happy!
There are many types of bees pollinators keep and it's easier than you think. In fact we have a beekeeper in the midst of our school staff!
Mrs. Niemo may be known to many as a teacher of chemistry, aviation, engineering, and coach, but she is also a beekeeper! She has been keeping bees for a couple years now and in the interview with Mrs. Niemo I found that beekeeping isn't that bad.
The queen bee is shown to be surrounded by worker and drone bees
How did you get into beekeeping and how do you manage?
Mrs. Niemo was always curious about how plants work growing up and even in college. During her college career, she even took a whole semester in plants. On valentines day, she came across a beekeeping conference which her husband(environmental engineer) brought her to. Through this she has gotten into beekeeping and she's taken on that life of a beekeeper.
Taking care of bees "Requires as much time as a fish-tank". The season of which Mrs. Niemo takes care of the bees actively is during March to October. She takes care of Italian Hygienic Bees which are relatively gentle and as their name describes, hygienic. However, she still wears gloves and a veil when taking care of the bees.
What are the challenges you’ve experienced through your time as a beekeeper?
Illnesses from parasite mites that find their way into hives through drone mating has been an issue. Weather and predators can also be an issue, as Mrs. Niemo mentions "one summer I lost 2 beehives which is hundreds, and thousands of bees" . There has been a bacterial disease called American foul-brood(AFB) which infects colonies and can wipe out a whole colony if not treated. It affects the younger developing bees and becomes more susceptible to getting robbed by other colonies with no cure. This is why Hygienic bees are more resistant to AFB. It spreads with spores and is highly contagious so Mrs. Niemo checks for this by poking a hole in one of the developing larvae caps to check. If it isn't a severe case, you can treat it with acids. Although there aren't many bears or foxes near Mrs. Niemo's hive, she does express her concern of bears coming over and knocking out the whole hive.
Do you exchange your bees on orchards and what do you do with the honey/beeswax?
Some sell their honey at farm markets but Mrs. Niemo doesn't. She takes it as more of a hobby and gives it away. Since she gets a lot (150lbs of honey) she always has some on hand. Her son even helps her out with caring for the hive. When it comes to collecting the honey, she takes out the frame, and cuts the caps off the honeycombs to let the honey flow out.
She actually 3d printed(right in this school) a flow hive which are 3d printed honeycombs. This shortens the process of getting the honey and makes it more effective.
Her mission
In the future, Mrs. Niemo hopes to travel the world and teach the way of a beekeeper to others. To bee-on the fron-line educating others and spreading her hobby. In this way, she can support the global bee population and the small communities. Help the small communities gain a new resource for food and a source of income.
People can also use the beeswax to help their clothes last longer as a waterproof agent. Beeswax is highly beneficial as it can be a source of lubricant and for candles. Which may benefit some indigenous tribes.
Check out this Link which goes to the bee conservancy! It's a charity that protects bees all around the world.
