Organic Farming Conference in February

Here's a link to the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) website: http://www.mosesorganic.org/ They have a conference in LaCrosse - Feb 25 through Feb 27. Go to the website for more information or to reserve a spot.

There are a couple of bee-related talks by Eric Mader of the XERCES SOCIETY:

Saturday at 2:00 pm POLLINATOR CONSERVATION

Saturday at 4:00 pm, MANAGING NESTS FOR NATIVE BEES

Plus lots of other INTERESTING talk about GMO's, Pesticides, Practices, Politics, oh my! It really looks like it has something for everyone!

ECWBA Newsletter

December 5, 2009
Holiday greetings to all of the ECWBA members,
December has settled upon us and now is the time every one is making preparations for the holiday season. However, I thought I'd send out a brief newsletter to keep everyone updated about the East Central Wisconsin Beekeepers Association.
1. Here is the list of meeting dates for the new year, 2010:
January meeting: January 23, 2010, 9:30 am at Ripon Public Library.
February meeting: February 20, 2010, 9:30 am at Ripon Public Library.
March meeting: March 20, 2010, time and place is yet to be determined.
2. Here are the discussion topics to be covered at the meetings:
January meeting: Review of beekeeping basics.
February meeting: Mite and disease control and prevention.
March meeting: Splitting spring colonies and making nucleus colonies.
May meeting: Another field day ???
3. Beekeeping seminar: Earl Jewett is working on putting together a seminar for the timeframe of January and February. Details of date, time, and place will be forthcoming in the next newsletter.
4. ECWBA library news: Andy Krueger will be purchasing some books for the new year. Most of the initial book purchases will be beginning beekeeper oriented.
5. Membership dues reminder: ECWBA membership dues for 2010 will remain at $15.00. Dues need to be paid by March, 2010, in order to continue receiving a newsletter and association communications.
Beekeeping Notes:
· As for 2009, if there is something you have not done yet for your bees, don't worry – it's too late.
· Start planning for 2010 – do you want to expand your beekeeping operation or just improve upon what you already have?
· Be good!!! – Santa Claus just might deliver some good beekeeping stuff!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all…
Best of beekeeping,
Jeff Champeau
President, ECWBA
Telephone: 715-330-9969

Telling the Bees

I recently came across a "folk" group from the UK - their name, "Telling the Bees" - REALLY nice music and they have a new cd available. They're a little hard to find in the states. Their BLOG: http://tellingthebees.blogspot.com Their website: http://www.tellingthebees.co.uk I found them on Amazon.com - but for download only. They're also available for download from Itunes.com On any of these sites, you can "listen" to some samples. The music (to me) - feels very "summery" and warm - the words wrap around the themes of nature. (reminds me of bees)

I did a little search regarding the legends and stories behind the theme, "Telling the Bees" and came up with some interesting tales.

I had heard/read of the practice of TELLING THE BEES, in that - when the beekeeper had died - "the bees must be told". I came across this story too, "One of the most important practices being the "heaving up" of the hives. This practice requires that on the day of the funeral as the funeral party is preparing to leave the house the hive and coffin are both "heaved" or lifted at the same moment."

There's also a "history" of the bees being SOULS DEPARTED. "Plato's doctrine of the transmigration of souls holds that the souls of sober quiet people, untinctured by philosophy come to life as bees."

And there are a multitude of stories involving a sleeping human - where the bee plays the role of "messenger" or "guide" to other realities. Perhaps providing them valuable information for use in their awakened state.

It's interesting to see the deep psychological connection humanity has with bees.