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Beekeeping Network

Information

We organize get-togethers for those who are already beekeepers and we hold information sessions on beekeeping for people who want to start! (Join VV, then Beekeeping)

Location: Vancouver
Members: 138
Latest Activity: Jul 16

25 members like this

Beekeeeping is part of the Village Food Group and Neighbourhood Food Network

Dear beekeepers and other beekeeping enthusiasts,

I encourage you to become part of a neighbourhood group where you can meet in person with other beekeepers regularly (or with people interested in beekeeping). Steve and I are part of a group of about 10 beekeepers that was created last spring. We had a couple of get-togethers last year and it was invaluable (and fun!) to learn from each others’ experiences. So far I have responses from people who would like to start a group in the Commercial Drive area, Dunbar and North Vancouver. I suggest creating groups based on where you live - having people that live near by who can lend a hand (or hive box if your bees swarm!) can be very helpful.

Please note that during Anna's absence, you may contact Steve Sandve (beekeeper) or Cylia for questions and help furthering ideas related to beekeeping. (Click on the links at their names above to open up their Village page, and write them a note on their Comment Wall.)

Join the Neighbourhood Food Network here.

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Comment by Hannah Carpendale on September 17, 2013 at 12:21pm: Hi everyone! I am a local beekeeper and recently found out about the Rally for a GE/GMO Free BC tomorrow, Wednesday Sept 18th! I was wondering if we could get a group of beekeepers together to attend with some signs (and perhaps costumes). Municipalities will be voting on whether to recommend that the provincial government legislate BC as a GE/GMO free area. It would be great if we could make some "beekeepers in support of a GE Free BC" signs to show support against the threat that genetically modified crops pose to honeybees and other pollinators. The rally (tomorrow, Wednesday Sept 18th) is from 7am-10am outside the Union of BC Municipalities Convention at the Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place). If you'd like to join me, could you please reply or send me a message asap and we can arrange to meet up there! And please help to spread the word if you're able to! More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/186994361480098/ and the link to their petition is http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/vote-yes-for-a-ge-gmo-free-bc...

Comment by Fiona Gold on August 23, 2013 at 2:13pm: Hi Hannah - you can e-mail me. I have about a liter of 65% Formic Acid I am not using. [email protected]
cheers, Fiona

Comment by Hannah Carpendale on August 23, 2013 at 1:54pm: Hello all, we are looking to buy 9 oz. of 65% formic acid from someone who has a supply and is located in the city, or to buy a larger amount from a supplier together with someone else (ideally who is able to pick it up). Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Comment by Steve Sandve on May 8, 2013 at 7:54pm: Equipment can be sterilized at Iotron Industries in Coquitlam but this is usually done earlier in the year. The Richmond Beekeeping Club does a group purchase as I think they only do larger orders. You could use a blow torch to clean the inside of the boxes and bottom boards if you are sure that there was no AFB in the hives previously. Scrape and sand off the paint on the outside and repaint. Personally I would spend the money and get new frames, I don't like to clean old frames if they have comb on them.
Steve

Comment by Hannah Carpendale on May 8, 2013 at 6:26pm: Hi everyone, I am part of the beekeepers' group at the Purple Thistle Centre, and we're looking for help or leads for sterilizing our equipment as we don't have experience with this. We have four supers, two bottom boards, stands, and covers, and about forty frames. Any help would be much appreciated!

Comment by Stephanie Imhoff on February 15, 2013 at 11:13am: It really depends on when suppliers get their shipments... I think it may be as late as June. I would suggest starting sooner rather than later if you plan to get any honey in your first year.

You might want to contact Lindsey at Urban Bee Supply or
Bob from West Coast Bee Supply. They will both be bringing in packages from New Zealand.

If you want local bees, I would suggest joining a bee club and getting on a swarm list, or ask around for a split, which you can get later in the Spring.

Eric [email protected] may be able to sell you a split later in the spring too.

Comment by Jenny Rustemeyer on February 15, 2013 at 8:25am: If you're starting out, what is the latest in the year you want to get your bees?

Comment by Stephanie Imhoff on February 2, 2013 at 9:23am: Needing Bees?
A member of the Richmond Beekeepers Association has 5 frame nucs available on March 1st for $180.
These are locally overwintered bees, not imports from NZ.
Email Eric for details.

Comment by Cylia on January 25, 2013 at 7:03am: Thanks for the info. I will contact them and let you how I make out. cylia

Comment by Steve Sandve on January 24, 2013 at 3:14pm: At Still Creek Community garden we have 2 colonys that did well this year (about 35 litres of honey) Last time we looked the bees were still thriving in their hives. We also have an Oxcalic acid vaporizer for use if any garden is treating this winter. We used garden money to start the hives and then sold the honey back to the gardeners and covered our start up costs.
We plan on doing a couple splits this spring if the colonys survive and add 2 more hives to the garden.
Steve