From the Editor, Jerry Hayes
What Kind of Beekeeper Are You? The Survey
A state of the art psychoanalytic and psychodynamic assessment prepared by known beekeeping scholars with guidance from…. The Editor
Swarms and Swarm Control
A I never lose a swarm because I breed non-swarming bees and use the all swarm control techniques and technology possible.
B I will not lose a swarm this spring. I have put a queen excluder between the brood chamber and the bottom board. I’m ready.
C Swarming is a natural biological process. I will not try to stop it.
D As long as ALL the colony doesn’t leave at once I am in good shape.
Learning
A This year I will complete and Pass my Master Beekeepr examination.
B I am planning on beginning the Florida Master Beekeeping Program if I have time. I do read Bee Culture though, when I have time.
C I don’t believe in Exams. Learning by trail and error is a much better way to learn. I will be buying more package bees this spring but I am getting better
D I have decided to take an online class in woodworking. Does that count?
Disease and parasite ID and treatment
A I can find, recognize and ID every honey bee disease and symptom. I get at least a dozen texts everyday from State Bee Inspectors from most of the nation.
B I do all the Varroa sampling stuff. I don’t use the ‘gas’. It made me cough and eyes burn. I saw something that looked like AFB once but it was just dark stringy honey.
C I am a natural beekeepr and don’t believe in inspecting my colonies, or using medications on them. A happy bee is a healthy bee.
D I tried inspecting my colony for the first time last year. It took too long to look at each bee.
Inspections
A I inspect my colonies weekly at 10 am and 3 pm on Saturday. I use my own ten point scale grading system for assessing food stores, brood temperature, temperment, humidity, wind speed and transfer the data into an Excel spread sheet.
B I inspect every week. Well mostly every week if I have time and the weather is OK. I keep notes. I will try to keep notes this year.
C I don’t need to inspect. I can tell how the colony is doing by putting my ear against the side of the hive and listening.
D Sometimes I have my neighbor come over and take a look.
Local Association Memebership and Participation
A I am a member of several local, regional and State Associations— it gives me more chances to second guess them.
B I am a member of my local association and help out if I really have to. I usually pretend I have a cold.
C Actually, I think my local association is a little bit blue collar. I have my own WhatsApp group and we tend to do our own thing. I still use my local association when I have a problem though.
D There’s a local association?
Honey
A I don’t bother entering my honey in honey shows as it wouldn’t be fair to the other entrants.
B I wish I could enter. Next year, definitely
C I make wax wraps, cosmetics and soaps for my friends. I buy Manuka Honey directly from New Zealand.
D Last time I entered my honey the judges complained about picking small pieces of wax out of their teeth after tasting.
MAINLY A Congratulations!! You are the Obi-Wan Kenobi of Beekeeping. May I have your autograph? Seriously, go through the questions one more time and answer honestly this time.
MAINLY B You are the real McCoy. Lifes a journey right?
MAINLY C You are a NATURAL beekeeper. That’s not the same as being a natural beekeeper.
MAINLY D You are to beekeeping what Arnold Schwarzenegger is to ballroom dancing. Have you ever thought about going into politics?
**I got the idea and direction for this from BeeCraft magazine and Brood Box contributing writer Peter Smith. They are both Great!
