Tom Patterson wrote in message
...
The City of Aurora Colorado recently had a committee meeting voting to
ban keeping honeybees in residential areas. The crux of the matter
came down to a person who is allergic to honeybee stings convincing 2
of the 3 committee members that allowing honeybees to be kept in
residential areas would endanger her life. Although she lives in fear
of her life she has not sought out desensitization but feels that
banning honeybees is a better safety measure. The local paper printed
an article about the committee meeting.


http://www.zwire.com/site/News.cfm?B...sid=7030971&PA
G=461&rfi=9

I am urging any of you who feel that urban gardeners should have the
availability of pollination for their different fruits and other crops
to read the article and then post your comments at the end.

That really sucks, and is a good example of what's going wrong with our
country today,
however if pollination is your only concern use Bumble Bees.
Also if you have some extra money, sue the city.


--
Emperor Itchy | A little higher,
Lord of all I survey | now alittle to the left,
with my very narrow vision | a little more...
| THAT'S IT!!!!!
| Aaahhhhhhh!!!

In article k.net,
I am urging any of you who feel that urban gardeners should have the
availability of pollination for their different fruits and other crops
to read the article and then post your comments at the end.

Best quote in the article (from a reader comment):

"Removing all bees from the city will not make the city a safe place for that allergic
person. They are still at risk from wasps and wild bees that don't know how to read city
ordinances."

HA

Cheers
KJ
--
---
Gonzo: I had that weird dream again. || http://www.ibiblio.org/kelly
Rizzo: You mean the one with the goat and the dwarf and the jar of peanut butter?

In article , Tom Patterson
wrote:

The City of Aurora Colorado recently had a committee meeting voting to
ban keeping honeybees in residential areas. The crux of the matter
came down to a person who is allergic to honeybee stings convincing 2
of the 3 committee members that allowing honeybees to be kept in
residential areas would endanger her life. Although she lives in fear
of her life she has not sought out desensitization but feels that
banning honeybees is a better safety measure. The local paper printed
an article about the committee meeting.


http://www.zwire.com/site/News.cfm?B...A G=461&rfi=9

I am urging any of you who feel that urban gardeners should have the
availability of pollination for their different fruits and other crops
to read the article and then post your comments at the end.

Thank you.

Tom

Honey bees are banned where I live.
I don't mind so much that so many people are just ****ing crazy. The
annoying thing is the craziest ones end up in government wearing
normal-masks as they destroy the world or march our children into war.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

I say we send Michael Jackson after Saddam Hussein thereby solving two
problems at once.

Lee Hall
Zone 6B - Tennessee

Death by fondling?

Ian wrote:

Anyhow, another extremly efficient pollinating non stinging insect is
the Orchard Bee. They are very easy to keep and just about as good at
pollinating as the honey bee.


So, if I build a mason bee condo, will they come? Or do I have to buy bee
cocoons from a dealer the first year?

Best regards,
Bob, in South East Minnesota

In article , zxcvbob wrote:

So, if I build a mason bee condo, will they come? Or do I have to buy bee
cocoons from a dealer the first year?

Best regards,
Bob, in South East Minnesota

From my limited experience, they find the little condos all by themselves,
though they're notoriously lazy about distances so it probably does depend
on the density of the population that already exists in your neighborhood.
Your query reminded me I have to quick make or buy a second bee condo so
they'll be on both sides of the house instead of just on one side like
last year.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

Wasp stings are probably far more common (from personal experiece I'd
agree), but I'm not sure what you mean when you say that wasps are
"independent". 'Social' doesn't describe the insect's disposition; it
refers to the fact that they live in a colony and most of the common
wasps that people worry about (hornets, yellowjackets, etc.) are also
"social". The solitary or "independent" wasps (and solitary bees, too)
are far less aggressive (except to their prey!). You sort of leave the
impression that wasps go out of their way to attack people, but my
experience has been that it's typically the result of accidental
encounters, such as stepping on/near a nest in the ground, tucked
into a shrub near a house, etc., or else in the fall when people
encounter them around picnic tables, trashcans and recycle bins.

Also, Orchard bees are "non-stinging" by virtue of their mellow
dispostions, but they have stingers and can sting if provoked for some
reason.




Ian wrote:
"Removing all bees from the city will not make the city a safe place for that allergic
person. They are still at risk from wasps and wild bees that don't know how to read city
ordinances."


Funny thing is that 9 times out of 10 it is a wasp that has stung
someone, not a bee. Bee's usually don't sting unless they are
panniced or they are defending their colony. Bees are a social insect
instinctually flea from danger, where a wasp is an independent insect
instinctually attacking danger. I'm a beekeeper and am sick and
tiered of people always blaming bees for there sting. Wasps are the
aggressors, and if people actually payed attention, they could very
easily tell what stung them. A bee leaves her barbed stinger venom
sack, a wasp leaves only a welt b/c she has no barb. It seems the
hives that tend to bother people are the ones that aren't hidden from
sight.
Anyhow, another extremly efficient pollinating non stinging insect is
the Orchard Bee. They are very easy to keep and just about as good at
pollinating as the honey bee.


--
================================================== =============
Mike Waldvogel, PhD
Extension Specialist, Residential & Industrial Pests
Dept. of Entomology, NCSU-Box 7613, Raleigh, NC USA 27695-7613
Ph: (919) 515-8881 Fax: (919) 515-7746
Email:
http://entomology.ncsu.edu/DIRECTORY/waldvogel.html
================================================== =============

Also, Orchard bees are "non-stinging" by virtue of their mellow
dispostions, but they have stingers and can sting if provoked for some
reason.


Kind of depends on where you are. Out here in AZ you can count on just about
every bee you see being africanized. Coming soon to a hive near you...


--
The US government wants the power to read citizens' email, but refuses to
defend the nation's borders. What's wrong with this picture?

Anonymo421 wrote:



Also, Orchard bees are "non-stinging" by virtue of their mellow
dispostions, but they have stingers and can sting if provoked for some
reason.


Kind of depends on where you are. Out here in AZ you can count on just about
every bee you see being africanized. Coming soon to a hive near you...



Orchard bees (also called mason bees) are like tiny bumble bees. They
are not honey bees at all. They don't have a hive, they live in
individual holes in dead wood, etc. No risk at all of "africanization".

Best regards,
Bob

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
...


Anonymo421 wrote:



Also, Orchard bees are "non-stinging" by virtue of their mellow
dispostions, but they have stingers and can sting if provoked for some
reason.


Kind of depends on where you are. Out here in AZ you can count on just
about
every bee you see being africanized. Coming soon to a hive near you...



Orchard bees (also called mason bees) are like tiny bumble bees. They
are not honey bees at all. They don't have a hive, they live in
individual holes in dead wood, etc. No risk at all of "africanization".

Best regards,
Bob

How do they reproduce? Immaculate Conception?

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

Judy

Orchard bees (also called mason bees) are like tiny bumble bees. They
are not honey bees at all. They don't have a hive, they live in
individual holes in dead wood, etc. No risk at all of "africanization".

Best regards,
Bob

Whoops--I always thought those were a type of bumble bee. I was thinking that
by "orchard bees" you meant honeybees kept near orchards. Live and learn.

--
The US government wants the power to read citizens' email, but refuses to
defend the nation's borders. What's wrong with this picture?

(Ian) writes:
Funny thing is that 9 times out of 10 it is a wasp that has stung
someone, not a bee. Bee's usually don't sting unless they are
panniced or they are defending their colony. Bees are a social insect
instinctually flea from danger, where a wasp is an independent insect
instinctually attacking danger. I'm a beekeeper and am sick and
tiered of people always blaming bees for there sting. Wasps are the
aggressors, and if people actually payed attention, they could very
easily tell what stung them. A bee leaves her barbed stinger venom
sack, a wasp leaves only a welt b/c she has no barb. It seems the
hives that tend to bother people are the ones that aren't hidden from
sight.
Anyhow, another extremly efficient pollinating non stinging insect is
the Orchard Bee. They are very easy to keep and just about as good at
pollinating as the honey bee.

Even people living in an apartment block can keep a hive of bees.
An organic food store near me used to have a hive of bees inside the
store, with a plastic plumbers pipe winding up along the wall to exit
via a hole in the brickwork. A small platform made it easier for the
heavily laden incoming bees to land. I can't remember whether the pipe
was transparent or not (I guess it probably was, for the hive was a
display exhibit to interest the store's customers).

I can picture a determined apartment dweller might use his balcony as
the exit point for his bees to better diffuse their flight paths to
keep the hive from the notice of potential troublemakers. (Bees dump
their dead at the hive entrance, so arrange for this to be on your
balcony rather than have spent carcasses drop down to the balcony or
open window of residents below!). It would be a good idea to cap the
hive exit at night to stop a few curious bees from being attracted to
your lights (and, more crucially, those of your neighbours), but make
sure you remove the block before sunrise to allow the workers to go
about their business. Bees are early risers.

Just see and make sure that you secure the hive components so that it
can withstand a good jolt (even an earthquake) without coming apart!
You don't ever want to have to contend with a roomful of angry bees.
One last point: avoid the use of fly sprays, strong perfumes,
smouldering mosquito coils, and roach bombs! Bees understand that
persistent smoke means a bushfire is approaching, so they start packing
their bags ready to move out. Bees perform their own airconditioning,
so they probably would fare better where the apartment has none.

I think there is a sci.agriculture.beekeeping newsgroup, too.
--
John Savage (for email, replace "ks" with "k" and delete "n")

I have been toying with the idea of setting up a small hive because:
#1 I need help in pollination--sometimes that paint brush requires more time
than I care to spend. (Sure we get wind storms all the time, but never when
you need them!)
#2 I use bees wax for painting my eggs
#3 I LOVE HONEY and use it in so many of my beauty products
Do you have any helps or an honest place to go for a small beginners hive
kit? I like the look of the natural skep's (I think that's what they are
called) and understand these may not be a lasting or a good option. I simply
mentioned them for the asthetics as we get many visitors to our Gardens.

I have over 100 acres but just want to start with the bare minimum of hives
for a healthy colony (I don't want to take care of all the acres till I know
what I am doing. Right now my understanding of bee keeping is
bee=honey---lol) I have read many books from the library though. In the
winter months here I could easily move the hive to the barn.

I have checked around local and well, most of the bee keepers don't want you
doing it, they simply want you to lease their hives and keep all their honey
and charge you---LOL

Bee's sting, but we will never rid the world of them so accept them. True
people are allergic to them and people die from them, but the last time I
checked the air we breath near processing plants kills more people than bees
and we will never rid the world of them. How about the number of people
drunks kill? In a perfect world we would all live with no disease or
illness and never age----till that day, take the good with the bad and drive
on!

Wasps I hate, but I find placing a small shrimp into a wasp catcher works
great by day two that shrimp smells and attracts them.

I purchased one year a wasp killing kit and the buggers made their comb in
it----I left them alone and laughed the whole season every time I walked
near it.

Timber
www.timberslodge.net
....a Step Through Time


"Ian" wrote in message
om...
"Removing all bees from the city will not make the city a safe place for
that allergic
person. They are still at risk from wasps and wild bees that don't know
how to read city
ordinances."

Funny thing is that 9 times out of 10 it is a wasp that has stung
someone, not a bee. Bee's usually don't sting unless they are
panniced or they are defending their colony. Bees are a social insect
instinctually flea from danger, where a wasp is an independent insect
instinctually attacking danger. I'm a beekeeper and am sick and
tiered of people always blaming bees for there sting. Wasps are the
aggressors, and if people actually payed attention, they could very
easily tell what stung them. A bee leaves her barbed stinger venom
sack, a wasp leaves only a welt b/c she has no barb. It seems the
hives that tend to bother people are the ones that aren't hidden from
sight.
Anyhow, another extremly efficient pollinating non stinging insect is
the Orchard Bee. They are very easy to keep and just about as good at
pollinating as the honey bee.

Timber wrote:

I have been toying with the idea of setting up a small hive because:
[several good reasons]

... I like the look of the natural skep's (I think that's what they are
called) and understand these may not be a lasting or a good option. I simply
mentioned them for the asthetics as we get many visitors to our Gardens.

As far as I know, the skep style of beehive is "illegal", because you
can't inspect the hive for disease. If you buy a used beehive make sure
it has been sterilized. You may get comments from other beekeepers if
you use them.




I ...just want to start with the bare minimum of hives
for a healthy colony... In the
winter months here I could easily move the hive to the barn...

A beehive with sufficient honey can last through the winter outside
although it generally helps to provide some insulation since their heat
(around 90F in the hive) is generated by burning honey (metabolically).
They do need some reasonably warm days to fly outside to eliminate
waste.






I have checked around local and well, most of the bee keepers don't want you
doing it, they simply want you to lease their hives and keep all their honey
and charge you---LOL


Keep looking. You must have been talking to just the commercial
beekeepers. Many areas have beekeeper associations that include
amateurs. Check with your local extension service.

links from my bookmarks:

Univ. Florida Newsletter: http://apis.ifas.ufl.edu/

http://www.pollinator.com/ A site with information, links, and
advertising. You might be able to find used equipment here and/or buy
bees. (Bees can be sent through the mail).





Bees sting, but we will never rid the world of them so accept them...

Hey, without them we wouldn't be here. Their pollination is essential to
many crops. We should do much more than just put up with them. Encourage
them in every possible way.

http://www.pollinator.com/theysting.htm


Good luck

"Timber" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I have been toying with the idea of setting up a small hive because:
#1 I need help in pollination--sometimes that paint brush requires more
time
than I care to spend. (Sure we get wind storms all the time, but never
when
you need them!)
#2 I use bees wax for painting my eggs
#3 I LOVE HONEY and use it in so many of my beauty products
Do you have any helps or an honest place to go for a small beginners hive
kit? I like the look of the natural skep's (I think that's what they are
called) and understand these may not be a lasting or a good option. I
simply
mentioned them for the asthetics as we get many visitors to our Gardens.


A lot will depend on where you are but the best thing is to join your local
beekeepers club and ask thier advice. I wouldn't start with skeps because
you necessarily have to largely kill off the colony to extract the honey,
which often ends up tainted by all the larvae you'll strain out. A good
modern hive with moveable frames and a queen excluder (stops her laying
amongst the main honey stock) is much more manageable and allows you to look
after your bees easily with no losses to harvest the honey. If you need a
pretty hive the WBC is the layered one often painted white and seen in many
illustrations, but many beekeepers in the UK and US (including me) use
Nationals or Langstroths. I would recommend getting a number of modern
beekeeping books from the library and reading them carefully, then start
with one hive that you can learn to handle (I've had mine two years now and
it took a lot of trail and error and one hospitalization before I worked out
just how to handle the bees so that they don't sting me too badly and I dont
cause them unnecessary distress). If you start small you can learn to handle
tyour bees so you get excellent supplies and the bees do not have any
unnecessary aggrevation, and do make sure you discuss the nature of the bees
with yor supplier, if you have a lot of visitors you need a really docile
strain.
There are a few beekeeping newsgroups out there and it is definately worth
spending a few months getting advice and listening in before you take the
plunge, I adore my bees and wouldn't be without them, but I sensitized to
their stings over the first year and they could easily kill me now if I
mishandle them, so caution is a good thing!
I wish you much joy with your bees!
Sally