Snohomish County 4-H’ers Buzzing with Curiosity
By Betsy Fradd, WSU Extension 4-H
Anna Pearson cautiously pulls one of the ten wooden frames out of the rectangular box. Loaded with bees and honey, Anna is part researcher, part scientist and total information-gatherer. As part of the Snohomish County Beeslingers 4-H club, the 16-year old is checking for brood pattern, mites, disease and swarm cells as the hive continues to grow.
"A good brood pattern would have honey on the outside of the frame, three quarters of the sides, in an upside-down u-shape, said Anna. “In the center should be the brood. The brood should not be scattered about randomly."
Started in April, the Beeslingers visit the Maltby hive every other weekend to check on the bees. A local business in Snohomish, Beezneez Apiary Supply, provides space for the group to work on their projects during the week.
Club Leader Lisa Webb, a bee hobbyist, is excited to share her passion with the group. "It's a science learning adventure because there's so much to it," said Webb who's had hives for over a decade. "The kids are discovering bee behavior, bee maintenance, disease, and how to treat for parasites," added Webb.
The Northwest can be a tricky area to raise bees due to excessive moisture which can cause bees to die. Of the over 20,000 species, 4-H youth are working with Russian and Carniolian bees which survive more often in a wet climate than other varieties.
In addition to learning about queens, workers and drones the group is also reaping the benefits of bee activity. After extracting honey and wax from the hives youth are turning those into candles and soap. The big harvest comes in late September where they will remove the golden gooey liquid and filter the honeycomb. During the winter hibernation period club members will rewire and wax frames, study why bee colonies collapse and the best approaches to treating mites.
"The kids are finding out how important bees are to society, working together, and becoming excellent at data collecting and analyzing," said Webb. "It can take years to become a skilled beekeeper. They are learning so much and can easily continue it as a hobby or a profession."
Posted July 2012
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