Club gets beekeeping lesson
LESSON IN BEEKEEPING — Members of the Presque Isle Garden Club got a firsthand look at beekeeping recently, during a lesson at the home of club member Georgina Schiff, an amateur beekeeper. Pictured from left are: Steve Romann, Kalena and Kyle Washington, Bill and Brenda Maddox, Roberta Griffiths and beekeeper/instructor Aaron Buzza, who manages hives for the PIHS School Farm.
PRESQUE ISLE — A recent meeting of the Presque Isle Garden Club had participants all abuzz with one of the latest trends in home gardening, with member Georgina Schiff hosting a demonstration on beekeeping.
“The Garden Club meeting was held at my house in June. I have lived in Presque Isle for almost four years. Prior to that I lived in southern California,” said Schiff, who’s accustomed to answering questions about how she got into keeping bees as a hobby.
“I often get a response such as ‘you must be bored.’ In fact, it is just the opposite. This area is surrounded with amenities and opportunities to pursue my interests or entertain new hobbies. I have always been interested in bees but I did not think it possible for me to have a hive unless I owned a large piece of land, until neighbors Brian and Elaine Sipe introduced me to their hive,” said Schiff, an amateur beekeeper.
Schiff said she was also introduced to Aaron Buzza, who tends to the hives at the PIHS School Farm. She took on the challenge a few years ago, starting her own hive.
“This is only my second year keeping bees. I have one small hive that produces approximately five gallons of honey that I harvest in the fall. I try to consume two tablespoons of local honey a day in order to desensitize myself and be less reactive to my environment during allergy season,” Schiff said.
Roberta Griffiths, spokesperson for the Garden Club, said participants learned some interesting facts, including why it’s important to ingest honey regularly.
“If you are allergic to spring flowers, eat honey gathered in the spring. And if you are allergic to fall flowers, eat honey gathered in the fall. It’s easy immunization,” said Griffiths.
Griffiths said bees travel two and a half miles to gather pollen and are very protective of their home. Schiff added honey produced takes on the flavor of whatever the bees are getting into.
“Guard bees protect the entrance to their beehive, keeping away bumble bees, hornets and bees from other hives,” said Griffiths, noting crows are bees’ worst enemy.
“Bees will fill their cells with water to cool off the hive. The queen bee lays 1,500 eggs a day,” noted Griffiths.
She also offered safety advice. “If you are being pestered by a bee, don’t wave your arms. The vibrating air irritates bees,” she said.
Beekeeping is growing in popularity for a number of reasons, said Griffiths.
“The hobby is attractive to people who love honey, want to have a unique gift to give and enjoy observing the fascinating life of bees,” Griffiths said.
“Aaron provided several suits for members and guests to don, so we could watch while he searched for the queen bee in order to mark her. When she was found, he extracted her and placed her in a small vial where she received a dot of ink from a magic marker which makes her stand out easily in the hive,” she said.
“He emphasized the importance of homeowners’ attention to the pesticides they use on their property. The labels will tell what products are harmful to bees,” said Griffiths.
Schiff said she continues to look to the Sipes and Buzza for guidance.
“Brian and Aaron have been and continue to be my beekeeping mentors,” said Schiff.
When asked how much effort’s involved in keeping bees, she said it’s really quite simple.
“It is not difficult to maintain a hive. The bees do all of the work. I help them along by making sure they have room to grow and protect them from animals, including kids with tennis balls,” said Schiff, sharing techniques she’s learned from Sipe and Buzza.
“Brian winters his bees by surrounding his hives with insulation every winter. I will be attempting this next winter. Aaron choose not to winter his bees because the success rate is low and the bee medication that is recommended for wintering them will get into the honey; therefore, he orders bees every year,” said Schiff.
Schiff said she’s rather partial to locally-produced honey.
“Maybe I’m biased but Aroostook honey is the best I have ever had,” said Schiff.
The Presque Isle Garden Club welcomes new members and guests to attend meetings, which are held the second Tuesday of every month. For more information, call Griffiths at 768-5608.
