Practical training seminar for local beekeepers and students in Kijabe, Kenya -July 2013
Training in Africa of any sort is best done with a few 'change agents' as opposed to a large group of people who are only semi-interested in the project at hand. I would rather work with five to seven men and women who are able to succeed in impacting the other 65% of the population that is changeable, than work with 100 people who are only there for the seminar.
Photos from the seminar:
Talking about the benefits of the top bar hive.
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African sunset,
Kijabe, Kenya |
Masai women attending the training with the desire to learn more about the use of modern type hives. Their women's guild already has a few log hives.
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Explaining the use of catcher boxes to acquire swarms. This catcher box had an occupation which was successfully transferred to a full size 25-bar hive and was put back in the bush to await another occupation.
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Suiting up with the trainees. I always carry an extra 10-12 suits for attendees so they can feel free to LOOK INSIDE the hive at what is going on!
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Smoke calms the bees by causing them to gorge on honey thus making them lethargic and less likely to be aggressive.
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Stoking up the group before going out!
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Ted teaching.
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Taking down a hanging hive.
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Scutellata species of African bees on freshly 'drawn-out' comb.
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Partially filled honey comb.
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Capped comb on top. Most capped comb contains 'ripened honey,' which is well evaporated and less than 20% water content.
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Inside top bar honey chamber. Queen cannot get to this part of the hive and lay eggs. During a nectar flow it is the storage area for honey.
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Hanging a hive.
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Inspecting the last comb with bees hanging.
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Top bar hive.
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Swinging apiary with multiple hives.
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Prepping to put in queen excluder.
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Queen excluder will go in at the tenth bar.
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