[Zulu]

While not a big thing I am pretty happy

Passed the exam part, now have to do the practical in September.

Bees arrive second week of April, and have been lucky enough to get some hands on through my mentor, which has given me great confidence before my bees arrive.

 

[Iddee]

Congrats....

Would love to see apiary pics you take in the next 12 days. Try to visit a few if possible.

 

[Zulu]

Have asked my dad to set up some appointments for me, he knows of two places close to his home.

I am going to be interested how wild these Southern African bees are going to be

 

[Iddee]

Pics, Pics, Pics.

Did I mention taking pictures??

 

[Bens-Bees]

While not a big thing I am pretty happy

Pfft... not a big thing... it's a HUGE thing!! Congratulations!!!

 

[tecumseh]

Please explain. There seems to be some dangling ends here.

the exam for being a 'certified bee keeper' is the path to becoming a master beekeeper? what does being a 'certified' bee keeper mean?

what is this talk of South African bees?

 

[Zulu]

I head out to see my dad later this morning , he lives in the Southern part of South Africa along the coast in a small town called Sedgefield, where the Apis Mellifera Capensis is native.
Unique in that the workers can clone themselves if a queen dies, and thus raise a new queen. But nature is still in control , as they lay like crazy and will drop up to 20 eggs in one cell , a new queen sorts that out quickly.

Yep first step to Master beekeeper....

 

[Tia]

tecumseh, I can't answer your question regarding South African bees, but I can speak to the Master Beekeepers Program in NC. Qualifications and requirements are thoroughly explained at http://www.ncbeekeepers.org/master.htm.

Congratulations, zulu!

 

[riverrat]

:thumbsup:

 

[G3farms]

congrats Zulu, I know you studied hard for it!!

Be careful in your travels and like Iddee said we need pics.

 

[milapostol]

Yes, please explain...I didn't know there was such a thing!!

Congrats!!! :wave:

 

[Iddee]

Click on the link in Tia's post and you can read about it. It is for NC only, by the NC beekeepers association.

 

[tecumseh]

a 'well done' Zulu is in order and thank ya' Tia for the link.

I am headed in a few minutes to our clubs annual B school. It should be a very nice but hectic day.

 

[Tia]

Any time, tecumseh. I'm always pleased to promote bees and beekeeping any way I can! Here in my "old age," much to my amazement, bees and beekeeping have become my passion.

 

[Mama Beek]

Congratulations Zulu!

 

[brooksbeefarm]

Congratulations Zulu, i'm glad tec. ask the question because i didn't have a clue either what the big deal was. and thank you to Tia. :thumbsup: Jack

 

[Bitty Bee]

Congratulations!

I can't to wait to read the posts you will have about the South African bees. Please do take pictures and share!

 

[milapostol]

I would love to hear your experiences with the certification program.

 

[Tia]

Jack and Mil, the NC State Beekeepers Association's Master Beekeeper Program is fun if you're as fanatical about bees as I am! Right now I'm giving the beeginners course at the Down East Library and our extension agent, Anne Edwards, is giving it at the other end of the county at the extension offices. It is a great encouragement to beginning beekeepers and a great recruitment tool for finding folks who would like to take up beekeeping.

Lots of State Beekeeping Associations do this. . .I know EAS has one, too. If you're interested in taking the course, look around. I'm sure there's someone near you who is conducting a similar project.

 

[Bens-Bees]

As far as the Southern African bees are concerned, those are Cape bees, and they can and do wipe out normal european honey bees as well as africanized honey bees. Hopefully none will make their way to America anytime soon.