Randy Oliver and the Sideliner/Hobbyist Session, Dec. 5, 2014
Randy Oliver: "ALL OLIVER - ALL AFTERNOON!"
Thanks to the good offices and kind generosity of the Idaho Honey Industry Association, Association Management Group and the Red Lion Downtowner Hotel, beeks from Idaho, Oregon and Utah recently experienced a wonderful and unique session with Randy Oliver in Boise. On Friday, December 5, Randy was in Boise at the Red Lion Downtowner and spent the entire afternoon speaking with the 100+ hobbyist/sideliner contingent.
Randy's agenda included presentation on the biology of the colony, during the course of a year; an eye-opening discussion on "Natural Beekeeping;" and how to "read" the combs. This was followed by a second hour-long presentation on practical management that built on the first discussion. The afternoon was spiked with pithy observations on the state of beekeeping, including a beekeeping application of the Gartner Hype Cycle (Initiating with a "Technology Trigger," the new beekeeper moves rapidly to a "Peak of Inflated Expectations," which is rapidly followed by a crash into the "Trough of Disillusionment," then recovery on the "Slope of Enlightenment," and finally the beekeeping experience culminates on the "Plateau of Productivity." Good stuff.)
True to form, a riveting discussion on mite management dealt with the detection and management of mite loads. There's no good way to kill Varroa destructor mites without poisoning your bees or poisoning their home, but those pesky parasites can be effectively managed and successful, long-term beekeeping is certainly possible.
Randy generates a top-notch article every month in the American Bee Journal (ABJ - "the oldest English language beekeeping publication in the world"), and he is a frequent contributor in national bee blogs. If Randy's presentation has piqued your interest in improved beekeeping, continue to follow him at ScientificBeekeeping.com and through the ABJ.
This event was sponsored by the Treasure Valley Beekeepers Club. Hat's off to all the Club volunteers that invested their time and energy to bring this hugely successful event to the local beekeeping community.
Randy's agenda included presentation on the biology of the colony, during the course of a year; an eye-opening discussion on "Natural Beekeeping;" and how to "read" the combs. This was followed by a second hour-long presentation on practical management that built on the first discussion. The afternoon was spiked with pithy observations on the state of beekeeping, including a beekeeping application of the Gartner Hype Cycle (Initiating with a "Technology Trigger," the new beekeeper moves rapidly to a "Peak of Inflated Expectations," which is rapidly followed by a crash into the "Trough of Disillusionment," then recovery on the "Slope of Enlightenment," and finally the beekeeping experience culminates on the "Plateau of Productivity." Good stuff.)
True to form, a riveting discussion on mite management dealt with the detection and management of mite loads. There's no good way to kill Varroa destructor mites without poisoning your bees or poisoning their home, but those pesky parasites can be effectively managed and successful, long-term beekeeping is certainly possible.
Randy generates a top-notch article every month in the American Bee Journal (ABJ - "the oldest English language beekeeping publication in the world"), and he is a frequent contributor in national bee blogs. If Randy's presentation has piqued your interest in improved beekeeping, continue to follow him at ScientificBeekeeping.com and through the ABJ.
This event was sponsored by the Treasure Valley Beekeepers Club. Hat's off to all the Club volunteers that invested their time and energy to bring this hugely successful event to the local beekeeping community.
Kim Flottum's Bucket List Trip to Idaho, 2014
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Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture magazine (http://www.beeculture.com/) visited the Treasure Valley to help the Treasure Valley Beekeepers Club celebrate National Honey Bee Day over five days in August. His first stop was to check
out the BSU blue turf (Thanks, Melinda), then he led intrepid Club members on an
inaugural, downtown Boise Pub Swarm (Thanks, again Melinda), then led the Kid's day learning
session at Boise City's Foothills Learning Center (Thanks, Carolyn &
Carole), including the presentation of a check from the Club to the FLC (Thanks,
Chad & Doug), conducted Apprentice exams for the Oregon Master Beekeeping
Program (Thanks, Jan), headlined at the 1st Annual NHBD Barbeque (Thanks, TVBC),
rang the opening bell at the Capital City Farmer's Market (Thanks, Karla),
presented a talk on Honeybee Nutrition at the Foothills Learning Center to
members of the TVBC and presented a ceremonial check to the Washington State University
Honey Bee Program (Thanks, again, Jan & Chad), attended a special honey-themed
epicurean luncheon at the Western Idaho State Fair plus presented two different
talks on Beginning and Beyond Beginning Beekeeping at Western Town at the Fair
(Thanks, Teresa and crew), waxed eloquent around the Duesmanville (Thanks, Liz
& Kebin) campfire, presented his "On the Radar," and prognostication
to a full house at Boise State University (earning his "Idaho Bucket"
and thereby satisfying his self-imposed Bucket List requirement - Thanks, one
more time, Melinda), convened with Ron Bitner, Jon & Golden Millet (Thanks,
boys) overlooking the Snake River and enjoyed some of Dr. Bitner's finest, and
finally (whew!) closed out his five day Idaho run with breakfast at Tom Sweeney's (Thanks, Frank) and a trip to look at indoor storage firsthand at the Honey Store
in Fruitland, ID (Thanks, Shilo & Nick).
While we've only heard second hand, we absolutely thrilled to know that Kim was deeply engrossed in the Fiesta Bowl last night - New Year's Eve, wearing all his Boise State Bucket Swag, including the ball cap he picked up in Boise, and rooting vociferously for the underdog Broncos, helped Boise State knock off the No. 10 Arizona Wildcats (Thanks, Kim!) Details of Kim's Bucket Trip follow. |
Kim Flottum Sporting His Boise Pride
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Kim Flottum: A Trip to Noyes Apiaries & The Honey Store, Aug. 18, 2014
Kim Flottum: A Trip to Noyes Apiaries & The Honey Store, Aug. 18, 2014
