Burgh Bees

Fall Extraction, Part I

2009-09-20T15:50:00.001-07:00

We were lucky enough to have a couple supers of fall honey on top of our one overwintered hive in Hazelwood. We feel very lucky as several of our beekeepers have noted a low fall flow this season. These gals have really been packing it in.

In an urban area we are apt to use Bee Quick to clear the supers. Our students sprayed it onto the fume cover, and in the hot sun, the bees moved down into their hive bodies.

Then, the frames are easily moved without bees into a screened super to be transported to the kitchen for extraction.

Fall Extraction, Part II

2009-09-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

At the kitchen, Joe Z., demonstrated how to uncap with several different knives.

One of our students, Roberta, tests Joe's description of the knives.

In the second video, note that Joe points out that up to 10% of the honey can be in the capings, which is why you want to collect those and harvest that honey as well.

Steve had been kind enough to lend us his automatic extractor (though there are plans in the works for a bike powered extractor). The honey runs out from the uncapped centrifugal force as the frames spin.

The honey flows out of the extractor through a spout on the side near the bottom. The honey is strained, but not filtered.

Back to Blogging

2009-09-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

We've been very busy this summer and have fallen behind in our blogging duties. But, I hope that doesn't mean that you haven't been following our presence at all the events around town. Check out the events page on our website to see all the things we've been up to in the past months. We just had our ninth class which involved a honey extraction from our hives in Hazelwood (a blog entry to soon follow). Going forward, we hope to be more diligent in posting to the blog with pictures from our classes and events.

At this point in the season, we are checking on our hives to make sure they are healthy heading into winter. To do this, we've reduced their entrances and installed mouse guards.
We've also started feeding sugar water in hive top feeders to help build up stores for the winter. Many beekeepers have had a very light fall honey flow. Additionally, we've treated for mites throughout the season with powdered sugar and apiguard. The frames are marked with an X to ensure that we do not harvest honey stored during the treatment.
To help accomplish these tasks, several of our class members have volunteered as stewards to watch the hives as the move into winter.

Mt. Washington Installation

2009-05-31T18:20:00.001-07:00

Robert and Alex carry in the first hive.

Two hives - a room with a view.

When letting the bees out, we put some grass in front of the hive to disorient the bees so they know to reorient themselves to their new home.

We added an extra hive body on the smaller hive. We sprayed the upper frames with sugar water to attract the bees to the upper box.

Hives to Braddock!

2009-05-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

Jennifer and Robert returned the Braddock feral bees that we removed from a derelict building back in April and had requeened, back to their hometown last Friday May 22. We transported them in 5 frame nuc boxes then transferred them to 10 frame hive bodies in the back courtyard of the former St. Michael's convent on Braddock Avenue. The site was overgrown with Japanese knotweed which we made short work of.

The bees seem happy back in the shadow of the Edgar Thompson works across the street.

We also brought another small requeened hive to join the overwintered colony in Hazelwood. The big hive is doing extremely well, so we took a couple frames of emerging brood from the established colony and used them to strengthen the new one. While we have been successfully suppressing the swarm instinct so far by "opening up the brood nest" by removing capped brood, as well as keeping the overhead honey stores broken up, the swarm season hasn't passed, so we continue to monitor the situation.

The bees are finding plenty of nectar and pollen in the river bottom and are packing it in. We added another super of mostly foundation that we dispersed amongst the drawn and filling frames. Taking a tip from a recent issue of American Bee Journal, we put empty medium frames in the middle position of the supers to make cut comb honey. Lastly we made sure to cull the drone brood from the bottom of the drone brood trapping frame we had installed undrawn 4 weeks ago.

Zoo Class Part I

2009-05-20T13:48:00.001-07:00

Today we had wonderful sunny weather for our first official class for zoo staff, who have graciously welcomed honeybees into their beautiful workspace! We're looking forward to more of these education opportunities at the Zoo! Above, Meredith talks through basic hive etiquette before the group goes into the hive.

Douglas Jones, Assistant Curator of Horticulture & Grounds, gets geared up for his trip into the hive.

Jennie talks to the group about basic bee biology and castes.

Zoo Staff Class Part II

2009-05-20T13:41:00.001-07:00

Robert teaches the group about how to find eggs and larva on a frame. Robert installed some experimental frames in the zoo hives-including a wire frame and plastic foundation frame-to compare first hand how the bees within the same hive react to the different equipment.

Everyone takes a turn learning to handle the frames, including Emmett, who cleared the path for hive number two, which we looked at later.

Susan, who tends the roof garden holds a frame of brood, after inspecting for eggs.

Polar bear, who lives below the green roof, looks up hoping for lunch.

Zoo Staff Class Part III

2009-05-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

The hive on the hill is doing quite well also. Although, given it was such a sunny and warm day, the bees were warm-you can see above the bees are hanging outside the entrance fanning the hive.

Look at that luscious zoo honey!!!

Daryl and Glenn hold up the frame of golden honey.

After closing up the hive for the day, Robert whips out a level to make sure the bees home isn't tilted.

2009-05-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

The Locust trees outside my house are blooming. Are yours?

Swarm Management, Hazelwood

2009-05-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, we inspected the hive at Hazelwood.The colony is building up fast--they seem to like it there! When we inspected, the drone/mite trap frame was capped so we removed it and replaced it with a medium frame with foundation (you can see the pictures of it here). There were other indications that the hive was preparing to swarm: there were a couple queen cups with egg and larva and the super was full of brood. To address the possibility of a swarm, we added a super of mixed empty comb and foundation frames both above and below the super with brood (compare the pictures below). Additionally, because the lower hive body had empty frames and was less active than the upper hive body, we reversed the hive bodies and removed 3 frames of brood, which we contributed to the nucs that we are establishing. We checked back in a week and found the queen—the tactics seemed to have worked. You can compare pictures of before (in the Pop City article) and after (when we checked back on the hive a week later).

Demonstration Apiary Installation: Pittsburgh Zoo

2009-05-13T16:46:00.001-07:00

We are so excited to establish our second demonstration apiary at the Pittsburgh Zoo! Our demo apiaries are where our beekeepers -in-training will practice working with the hives. And there's no more scenic place than the Zoo for this! Here, Francis Pizzi, Curator of Horticulture at the Zoo leads us to the bees' new home on the Zoo's green roof that overlooks the bear exhibit.
Bees and Bears--roommates.
Alex places the hive on a pedestal on the Zoo's beautiful green roof, which is abundant with pollinator plants.
A visitor to the green roof.

Demonstration Apiary: Pittsburgh Zoo II

2009-05-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hive number two goes on a hillside next to the entrance of the Zoo.
Francis Pizzi stands next to the new hive.
Meredith gazes at the escalator that climbs the hilly entrance to the Zoo. Zoo guests will be able to view the hive from the entry walkway.
Installation Accomplished.

A Nucleus Checkup

2009-05-13T16:24:00.002-07:00

Robert, Joe, and Alex take a look at the nucleus colonies, derived from the Braddock feral colony removed several weeks back. The colonies, which were given Hawaiian queens from where Christina is spending the year, are doing quite well. Well enough that later that evening Meredith and Alex took two nucs to the Pittsburgh Zoo--their new home!

We also put in a new shipment of queens into some of Robert and Jennie's own nucs.

Meredith stands tall against Robert's skyscraper hive experiment, which currently weighs in at 200 lbs.
Jennie and Alex say goodbye as we load up the two nucs headed to their paradise home at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Hazelwood Neighbors Class

2009-05-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, May 9, 2009, Alex and Meredith gave a beekeeping class to a group of fearless Hazelwood young adults, gathered by Barb Williams, holding the veil above.
They were remarkably good beekeepers! Gentle and patient with the hive, they also asked fantastic questions about their neighborhood bees!

A couple students are especially eager to get back into the hive as the season progresses. We'll be sending a call out each time we're going in to let everyone know!

Swarm Management and Impromptu Class at Hazelwood: Part I

2009-05-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

A few of our dedicated class members-Bill, Carlos, and Gary-joined Robert, Jennie, Alex, and Meredith for an impromptu class at the Hazelwood hive. The colony has been doing so well, we're focusing on swarm management.

Inspecting swarm cells for eggs. These ones appeared to be harmless, but we scraped them off to keep the frame clean.

This is a short frame introduced to the hive to encourage drone production off the frame. This comb can be easily removed from the frame for mite management.

Swarm Management and Impromptu Class at Hazelwood: Part II

2009-05-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

The queen is pictured towards the edge of the frame above. She is marked with a red dot, which not only helps the far sighted beekeeper find her but also indicates her age.

Above, some new bees hatching. They get a brief few moments to introduce themselves to the world before going to work.

Robert uses an uncapping fork to clear out some drone cells at the bottom of the frame and to investigate mite levels.

A spacer makes providing the bees appropriate "bee space" easy in a nine frame hive.

Third Class: McCormack Apiary

2009-05-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, May 3, turned out to be a surprisingly beautiful day. Tom and Linda McCormack hosted the third Burgh Bees hands on beekeeping class at their150 hive apiary in Aliquippa, PA.

The bees we worked with were moving on up--from nucs to full boxes. Students added a couple frames of honey and a feeder to each hive body they created with the nuc.

Second Class: Country Barn Farm Part I

2009-05-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

For our second class session, the Burgh Bees class of 2009 gathered at Joe Zigurzynski's apiary just outside the city.

Our fine students gear up for their first time in a hive!

Second Class: Country Barn Farm Part II

2009-05-04T10:37:00.001-07:00

One group of students heads to the hives where Joe and Christina lead them through a hive inspection.

The other half of the students learned how to assemble hives. These assembled hive bodies will be used in the demonstration apiaries we are establishing around town!

Official Notice of Incorporation

2009-04-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Check out our official public notice of incorporation while it's up!

http://www.timesonline.com/admarket/public_notices/articles_of_incorporation/

2009-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Joe lights a smoker while talking to Christina about an inspected hive.

2009-04-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Christina explains one instance in which you might want to rotate your boxes.

Braddock Feral Hive Extraction

2009-04-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

A feral colony made a hive in an abandoned building in Braddock and had become a nuisance, so Burgh Bees came to extract it.

The bees entered the building through a small hole in the plywood on the second floor.

Braddock's Mayor John Fetterman alerted Burgh Bees to the nuisance hive.

After setting up scaffolding, Jim Fitzroy (left) and Robert Steffes (right) pried, sawed and muscled the plywood off that the bees were behind.

Braddock Feral Hive Extraction II

2009-04-20T04:55:00.000-07:00

The feral hive, yet to be extracted.

Meredith Grelli and Christina Neumann look for brood on a piece of the extracted comb.

A lovely part of comb safely on the ground.

After all the comb had been cut out from the building, Robert Steffes and Jennifer Wood used a vacuum to gather the remaining bees.

Braddock Feral Hive Extraction III

2009-04-20T01:49:00.001-07:00

Christina Neumann cuts comb from the wooden board onto which the bees built comb.

Alex Grelli looks over his handiwork. The comb with brood was cut and secured in frames with rubber bands. The bees will build these odds and ends out to fill the frame.

The nine frames of brood comb and honey extracted will be requeened to form three new hives. These hives will be placed in Burgh Bees' apiaries around town and the Burgh Bees Class of 2009 will be watching the colonies develop!

It's Official--We're a PA Nonprofit

2009-04-19T01:58:00.000-07:00

We're excited to announce that Burgh Bees is officially a Pennsylvania non profit!!!

Thanks to Alex for his work on legitimizing this group in the eyes of the state!

2009-04-17T04:48:00.000-07:00

The bees arrive in Hazelwood! Robert Steffes drove a hive from his apiary-SteffesWood-in Aliquippa, PA to Hazelwood Harvest's community garden.

Robert grabbing some tools out of the truck.

Alex Grelli and Robert clearing some space for the bees. The bees will enjoy nearly of block long of community garden and open space, including this fenced in lot.

Robert and Alex unload the hive, the opening of which has been closed for the ride.

Colony to Hazelwood Part II

2009-04-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

Robert and Alex move the hive with a handy device.

A sign to let any would be passersby of the new gals on the block.

The hive is in!

Meredith Grelli gets ready to take the tape and wood off the hive opening for the bees' ride into town.

Colony to Hazelwood Part III

2009-04-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

Meredith takes off the wood block that was blocking the bees's escape and replaces it with some grass to slow their departure from the hive.
They were ready to come out and see the sun!

Barbara Williams of Hazelwood Harvest is excited to welcome the bees to the gardens and the new wardrobe that comes with it!

Scarecrow looks pretty pleased as well.

Colony to Hazelwood Part IV

2009-04-17T04:42:00.000-07:00

The community garden that the girls will be pollinating.

Hazelwood Harvest got a colony today

2009-04-16T04:49:00.000-07:00

We set up a colony at the Hazelwood community garden! Check out the photos!

The girls were flying about on this rare sunny day checking out their new home. Robert will stop by tomorrow and see how they are doing. One thing we have to do is provide top ventilation that was closed off during the move. Also have to do a quick check to see if they have enough stores. We can always put a top feeder on if they are looking too light. Now is a critical time for bees as they rapidly expand their brood production in the face of spotty nectar flows and dicey weather. The overwintering bees are breathing their last breath as they get replaced with the new generation. A difficult balancing act!

Feral hive extraction in Braddock Friday 17

2009-04-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

We'll be removing a feral colony from a derelict building on the corner of 8th and Talbot in Braddock starting at 10AM this Friday the 17th. The colony looks pretty healthy, and since the structure is slated for demolition, it's time for them to move! We plan to cut the brood comb to fit deep hive body frames, secure them in empty frames with gum bands, and divide them up into "nucs" so we can requeen them with queens from Hawaii (due to arrive by post today!). All these new minicolonies will go out to the SteffesWood apiary in Aliquippa, so Robert can closely supervise queen acceptance and build them up. As the new queens start laying, we'll use the new colonies for Burgh Bee apiaries in town, as well as have a few (hopefully) for individuals taking the course.
If you want to check the job in Braddock out, feel free to come down! We'll have extra veils and gloves.

Q&A: Splits for urban beekeepers. How do you handle splitting hives, specifically the recommendation of a two-mile separation from the original hive?

2009-04-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

One Answer:
You don't have to move splits you make in your yard to a distant location, looking to avoid the loss of foragers you put in the new colony returning to the original colony.

You can leave a split in the same yard. The young house bees who have not yet flown will stay with the brood. Plenty of extra bees shaken into the split box will insure that there are enough to keep the split brood warm, especially this time of year.One has to be careful not to feed for a couple days or returning foragers will signal the mother colony to start robbing the little split. They might do this anyway, so one has to reduce the entrance of the split to pretty small and keep an eye on it. One old time beekeeper (C.C. Miller) never moved splits away from his apiary. He would shake all the bees off the frames he made the split from, even using frames from multiple colonies, then would put the empty brood frames in a box on top of any colony separated by a queen excluder. Nurse bees will move up to cover the brood in a couple hours who had never left their home. He would then remove the box and put it anywhere he chose. The bees would stay put!

Welcome to the Burgh Bees Blog!

2009-04-10T05:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our blog devoted to all things beekeeping, especially in Pittsburgh! We'll let you know all of the bee events in the Burgh here as well as try to help keep you connected to other apiaries in the world.

If you have a question that you would like answered, email burghbees@gmail.com, and we'll post the answer here. We don't pretend to have all the answers, so please feel free to post what has worked for you!

In an effort to promote bees and beekeeping in Pittsburgh, we initiated our year long intensive beekeeper training program last Sunday, April 5 with a full and enthusiastic class of 35 future beekeepers! While our class this year is oversubscribed, we're already thinking ahead to next year's classes and hope anyone who wasn't able to sign up this year will consider again in 2010.