Recent Posts

71

Introduce Yourself! / New Beekeeper looking forward to spring

« Last post by smcgraw on August 09, 2012, 01:31:13 PM »

I currently do not have bees but have been looking forward to the spring. I was given a large number of hives and equipment from a friend. I live east of Brighton and I am surrounded by farm land. There is little to no bee activity out our way (I did see a swarm 5 or 6 years ago). I have two gardens, some fruit and nut trees and we are adding flower beds all the time. I current have a very low harvest and I am looking forward to a productive season next year with that addition of bees to the home stead menagerie.

72

The Garage - "FOR SALE" / Miscellaneous Equipment for Sale--SOLD OUT

« Last post by CSBAPres on August 05, 2012, 04:16:20 PM »

I am synchronizing all of my equipment so it is all exactly the same.  This means that I have leftover equipment, in solid working order, that I would like to unload.  I also have some equipment from other people that I am trying to get out of my shed.  I live in Berthoud and am down to Denver once every other week or so. 
Beth 970-213-3099

15 Screened bottom boards  $5
2 Pollen traps  $15
Ross Round boxes 1 8 frame, 6 10 frame $10
Cappings fork $1
Smoker  $10
20 package bee boxes $2
Single deep frame observation hive $20
Frame pieces:  split bottoms, wedge tops, shallow sides--make offer
Cardboard nuc box  $5
30 Queen cages FREE
1 frame grip  $5
15 or so Boardman feeders $1
10 telescoping metal lids--lid only  $5
approx. 500 sheets shallow (4 3/4") beeswax foundation  $15 per 100
Pail (Band) heater $75
approx. 50 8 oz. opaque cylindrical plastic honey jars with squeeze tops--make offer

73

Buy Local Honey / Got CO Chem-Free Honey?

« Last post by CSBAPres on August 05, 2012, 03:48:15 PM »

I am looking for chemical free Colorado honey.  60# buckets preferred.  Beth 970-213-3099

74

Introduce Yourself! / Re: love bees, got bees, allergic to bees

« Last post by CSBAPres on August 05, 2012, 03:46:31 PM »

Sorry to hear about your allergy.  That's a game changer--but you just need better equipment to muscle through!

What kind of advice are you looking for?  Management? 

The regional associations are a great source for help.  Do you need assistance finding one?

75

Introduce Yourself! / Re: Hi -New to bees

« Last post by CSBAPres on August 05, 2012, 03:42:49 PM »

Welcome!  There is some JeffCo zoning work being done right now. Check onto the CSBA home page in a couple of weeks and I should have a link there on how to comment on the proposed changes.
Beth

76

Introduce Yourself! / Hi -New to bees

« Last post by Jm527 on August 05, 2012, 02:44:59 PM »

Hello,

A friend of mine who also is on this forum really got me inerested in beekeeping.  I'm in unincorperated Littleton as he is so I think I fall into that "grey" area of allowed to keep bees. Plus I back open space so I'd have few arguments against it.

Anyhow, just looking for fellow newbies and some tips along the way.

Have a great day!

77

Home Brewing - beer, mead and wine / Awsome Mead recipe

« Last post by simplyhoney on August 03, 2012, 05:58:38 AM »

       A simple great mead recipe:

8 Pounds of burnt (thats right burnt) dark honey.
5 gallons of good clean water
1/4 cup of graded lemon peel
1 package of champagne yeast

   Why the burnt honey?  This is a discovery I made some years ago while trying to liquify some crystalized clover honey in the oven and I forgot it. The honey became dark and carmelized.  I couldn't think of anything to do with it so I made a batch a mead.  At that point it was the best mead I had ever made. 
  My theory is that the over heating does 2 things:
   First, it kills natural yeasts in the honey, which does away with the "chemical" after taste or finish that so many meads tend to have.
   Second, the carmelizing makes for a nice body similar the way malt does in beer.

    Night before you start place 2.5 gallons of clean or distilled water in fridge.
    Place 8 lbs of burnt honey in the steralized fermenter, boil 2.5 gallons of water. Pour boiling water onto honey and stir to disolve with sterile spoon.  Add lemon peel.  Pour cold water to fill vessel.  check temp pitch yeast when temp allows.  Follow standard racking procedure after initial fermentation.  Best bottled and aged for at least 12 months (but mine rarely makes it to the bottle:)
  We also sell 5 lb containers of "brew" honey for this purpose.-see "for sale" page

78

Introduce Yourself! / love bees, got bees, allergic to bees

« Last post by gsitz on June 28, 2012, 04:38:45 PM »

I started a hive a few years back and found to my dismay, I'm allergic to them.  House em, feed em, and what do I get in return?  Oh well!  Still love em. 
I was wondering what the best treatments are, that you guys use for your bees. 

Started with euro honey's, 2 years later it collapsed and some feral german black mean bastards moved in.  That's when I found out about my allergy issue.  Anyways, they collapsed on their second year and another feral (undetermined) bee species has taken root this year.  I'm hoping its not the pesticides (suburbs), and want to give them the best chance to survive.

Any advice about bettering their chances is welcome.

Thank you

79

Queen & Bee breeding / Re: Marking my queen

« Last post by emdisi on June 26, 2012, 06:55:30 AM »

Thank you for the advice!

80

Queen & Bee breeding / Re: Marking my queen

« Last post by CSBAPres on June 25, 2012, 06:25:46 PM »

Kris Holthaus, queen breeder extraordinaire in Fort Collins, recommends Testors brand paints so that is what I use. Acryl is the type you want--not the one with the carcinogen statement.  You can find it in tiny little jars in model car and airplane stores.  They also have these great little marking brushes, too.