bee together newsletter - february 2015

Bee Together

Newsletter February 2015

Our History

by Marc Thiel

History and Perspective of the SIAS’ Bee Project:

In spring and summer 2013, two local beekeepers, Marc Thiel and

Roger Wenkin, organised practical sessions where the general public could

learn about beekeeping. The objective was to offer people interested in

beekeeping a first experience with bees without having to invest in any

equipment or bees. These sessions were supported by SIAS, a syndicate

of communes (Betzdorf, Junglinster, Niederanven, Sandweiler,

Schuttrange, Contern, Weiler-la-Tour, and, as of 2014, Frisange) that share

the common objective of nature protection.

Hubert von Dewitz, a member of the

local beekeepers’ club Luxembourg

City, was and is an important partner

of the project.

The sessions targeted people who

lived in the SIAS communes. A

number of English-speakers

attended as well. Of the 70 people on

the SIAS beekeeping demonstration

mailing list, approximately 30 people

regularly attended these sessions. As the sessions were attended by

Luxembourgers and foreigners, the group was divided into a

Luxembourgish-speaking and an English-speaking group.

Following the sessions in spring and summer 2013, many participants

decided to start their own apiculture. Therefore, in 2014, we tried to find

mentors to help the new beekeepers to set up their own apiaries. Also in

2014, we offered a second season of practical sessions for people

interested in beekeeping. Our project now has 2 parts:

1. practical sessions for beginners (demonstration courses); and

Marc Thiel at beehive systems event

http://www.sias.lu/

Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015

[email protected] photos © Bee Together 2

2. beekeeping with mentors for people with knowledge and their own bees.

The second part of the project is very

important as the success of beekeeping is

dependent on the experience you have. To

have a mentor with whom you can ask

questions and discuss opinions is very

important during the first years of

beekeeping. Unfortunately it is difficult to

find local, experienced beekeepers willing

to spend time in mentoring novice

beekeepers.

We are now expanding the project to

include a third component: sharing equipment that can be expensive to

purchase (such as a honey extractor and a wax melter). This shared

equipment will be made available to the new beekeepers.

History of the Bee Together Group:

After the practical sessions with SIAS Bee Project, some of us discussed

the idea that not only do we need to build awareness of the importance of

bees, but also that we need to help the interested participants become

beekeepers.

As is often the case, when you propose an idea, you need to volunteer to

take action to make the proposal a reality!

After a meeting in October 2013, we decided to continue offering the

beekeeping demonstration sessions in spring/summer in collaboration with

the SIAS Bee Project and to help people become beekeepers. In 2014, the

demo sessions were organised with the support of SIAS and

the natur&ëmwelt English-speaking Section in order to have insurance

coverage for the events.

As of summer 2014, we refer to our group of people interested in bees and

pollinators as the Bee Together group. We encourage people who are

interested in becoming beekeepers to join a local beekeeping club. Bee

Together coordinates its events and activities with Joe Molitor, member of

the board of the beekeepers’ federation, FUAL (Fédération des Unions des

Apiculteurs du Luxembourg).

We continue to collaborate closely with the SIAS Bee Project.

beekeeping demonstration session with Roger Wenkin on right in blue

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.eventbrite.com/o/naturampemwelt-english-speaking-section-2814647574



Our Objectives

by Annemie Debackere

The objective of Bee Together is in its name: share our learning,

discovering, caring, and fascination about bees! Apart from the honey bee,

there are about 300 other wild bee species in Luxembourg. Bees are an

important group of pollinators, along with butterflies, moths, and lots of

other insects. Our group would like to work not only with the domestic

honey bee, but also with pollinators in general.

We promote beekeeping by

organising events for people to

learn about the importance of

bees, the bee’s lifecycle, and

beekeeping.

We discuss informally the type of

beekeeping (e.g. beekeeper-

friendly, bee-friendly), races of

bees, beehive systems, what

equipment to buy and where,

where to set up and the

orientation of the hive, and

what is important to note in the environment surrounding the beehive.

We can help people to find land or be a contact point for people to make

their land available for a beehive.

Beginner beekeepers can accompany experienced beekeepers without

having to invest in protective clothing or equipment right away. We continue

mentoring them once they have their own or a shared hive. With the

support of FUAL, we intend to provide a theory course over four evenings

(February to April 2015) about bee health, bee biology, beekeeping

techniques, and bee products.

As you will see from our previous and upcoming events, Bee Together

collaborates with other associations and organisations that wish to raise

awareness about the importance of pollinators, the protection and

conservation of habitats, species, and biodiversity.

Get Fit by Nature event with natur&ëmwelt in Trintange, November 2014




As a person’s interest in beekeeping matures, we encourage them to join

the beekeepers federation to take advantage of the benefits of membership

and become active in the community.

How We Are Organised

by Crista Filip

Bee Together is a voluntary, participative association. We come from

various countries and have different backgrounds but are united in our

interest in bees. John Park was the driving force behind Bee Together and

slowly a core group of volunteers emerged. We have a mailing list of about

150 people interested in bee-related events.

Volunteers left to right: Marc Thiel, Massimo Sabbatucci, John Park, Crista Filip

and Annemie Debackere (absent from photo Amanda Surbey)

How I Became a Mentor

by Hubert von Dewitz

For 30 years I have been a member of the Beekeepers’ Club of

Luxembourg City. We were informed by Marc Thiel from SIAS that practical

training for beekeepers was being planned

and asked if we could support this initiative.

A first meeting took place in December 2013

at the Waldhaff restaurant. There we

identified the need for mentors for new

beekeepers after the initial practice with bees

in Senningerberg. John Park asked me on

several occasions if I was willing to accept

more beginners. I agreed to help as a mentor

because I remembered my early struggles

with my bees: without a mentor I had to learn

the hard way. Once I lost my colonies

Hubert von Dewitz at beehive systems event




because of my own mistake. We also do need more beekeepers in

Luxembourg.

After we had begun, others wanted to join us. In the end I had a group of

seven new beekeepers. In 2014 we met 16 times during lunchtime at

various intervals. Afterwards I sent a report on our activity for future use.

Everybody bought a complete hive and received a colony with 10 or even

20 Langstroth frames. Two artificial swarms were put into Zander hives.

Initially the new hives stayed at my apiary. Later, once a new location was

found, we moved the hives to their new home. You can imagine the joy of

our new beekeepers when they each received their first colony.

We had a lot of fun and established good relationships with each other.

Our grill party in July with the beekeeper club was a great success. Some

of the new beekeepers come to our monthly meetings at the club house in

Gasperich. I also learned things during this time as I had to prepare for the

meetings.

My concern is that my new beekeepers now each have only one hive.

Investment is again needed to be able to cope with the growing

requirements of the bees for more space as well as in order to be able to

harvest the honey in 2015. If you are a retired beekeeper, perhaps you

have a honey extractor to donate or sell. We might have to find new ways

for the beginners here in Luxembourg.

A Beginner’s Perspective

by Chavdar Aladzhov

I am 36 years old, and I come from Bulgaria. I have lived and worked in

Luxembourg since 2006. I always wanted to take care of bees and

produce honey. Unfortunately, as my grandfather, who was an

experienced beekeeper, passed away long before I was born, I never got

the opportunity to learn in practice more about the bees. By chance, in

2013 I heard about the Bee Together group in Luxembourg that was

oriented to English-speaking people, and I immediately registered for the

first welcome meeting.




There were other new beekeepers at this meeting, and some who had

already followed an introductory course. We were split by geographical

location, and I was fortunate to be in the group of Hubert von Dewitz,

assigned as our group’s mentor.

Starting in spring 2014, we had several practical sessions (almost once a

week) at Hubert’s bee stand. He helped us to

order our own material and to select the type of

hive we wanted to have, the necessary

equipment to repair and maintain the hives in

good condition, the clothes, etc. The idea was

to put our own hives at his place and then, at a

later stage, to split hives in order have our own

independent colonies. Step by step and

session after session I felt a little bit more

confident with the bees. It is amazing how

differently they react to all the surrounding

factors, including us, and how even our

mentor, with 30 years of experience, was

always very attentive to the bees’ behaviour.

I have learned a lot, and finally in September

2014 my mentor helped me to establish my

own hive in the area where I’m living

(Strassen).

For me, and I think for the other new beekeepers, one of the biggest

challenges is the time. In spring and summer there is a lot to do with the

bees, especially when you have little experience and you are wondering

whether you are doing each step correctly.

I am very happy with this initiative and really thankful to the volunteers of

the Bee Together group who allowed me to realise one of my dreams and

to meet wonderful people.

Our 2014 Achievements

by Annemie Debackere

In 2014, Bee Together organised more than 20 visits to volunteers’ hives to

introduce people to bees and beekeeping. Over 30 people came to one or

more visits. No prior experience was required, nor any equipment, only the

Chavdar Aladzhov




visitor’s calm and patience when working with the bees. Before the visit,

people received some advice about what to wear. At the visit, they

received protective clothing to wear, and explanations about what we would

do that day. Visitors could ask questions and get hands-on experience right

away by helping with small tasks.

We helped approximately 20 people set up their own beehives.

The theme of the annual Nature Festival, the family event organised by

natur&ëmwelt, was the protection and

conservation of bees. Bee Together

shared a stand with Greenpeace for

the ‘Save the Bees’ campaign, where

the public could sign up for a visit to

the hives, taste honey, and learn

about bees.

The annual Bee Day (“Beiendag”)

was organised by the Fédération

des Unions d'Apiculteurs du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (FUAL) on

October 5 in Luxembourg City. Several other organisations were invited by

FUAL to participate. Bee Together was present at the FUAL stand, where

visitors had the opportunity to taste honey from the Marque Nationale du

Miel Luxembourgeois.

In the invitation sent to Bee Together’s mailing list, we informed people of

the 12-stop educational walking trail through the capital and the two

exhibitions accompanying it.

At the stand, visitors received answers to all types of questions including

information about the types of bees, the floral composition of honey, finding

or offering land for a beehive, and how to become a beekeeper. Eighteen

new English-speaking and five new Luxembourgish-speaking people

registered for bee demonstration sessions in 2015.

On November 15, volunteers of Bee Together participated in the ‘Get Fit for

Pollinators’ event to help clear part of a site in Trintange owned by

natur&ëmwelt in order to encourage the growth of sun-loving plants, some

of which will provide food for pollinators. The site had been overrun by ash,

sloe, and hawthorn bushes. Experienced volunteers of natur&ëmwelt used

chainsaws, while others brought the branches to a bonfire. It was a great

Bee Together at natur&ëmwelt's Nature Festival, June 2014


http://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-world-of-bees-annual-bee-day-beiendag-tickets-13349250969

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/get-fit-for-pollinators-in-the-meadows-of-the-trintange-valley-tickets-13600211599

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/get-fit-for-pollinators-in-the-meadows-of-the-trintange-valley-tickets-13600211599



pleasure to work together and share the passion for nature. After, we were

invited to a lunch offered by natur&ëmwelt, which made for a welcoming

get-together.

In November there was an information

evening on beehive systems in the

Jardins de Luxembourg in Reuland.

Some 30 participants received

explanations about the various beehive

systems.

An information session on varroa

treatment in December was attended by about 15 people.

Bee Together published three articles in Delano, the English language

magazine for Luxembourg's international community. Each article raised

awareness about beekeeping and pollinators.

We encourage people to become members of the local beekeeping clubs

and the beekeeping federation (FUAL) to keep informed about beekeeping

in Luxembourg and in general. Membership also encourages contact with

local beekeepers and provides insurance coverage.

All activities were free. There was a possibility to make a donation that

would be used to purchase protective clothing for the beekeeping

demonstration sessions, or material to make bumblebee nest boxes. In

2015, participants in the theory courses are encouraged to pay a fee of €25

each which will provide funding for Bee Together’s activities and projects.

Our Upcoming Events

by Crista Filip

2015 will be a busy year for Bee Together with dates already set for events

in the first quarter. Our events related to wild bees, pollinators and

biodiversity are:

Get Fit by Nature in the Orchard with the natur&ëmwelt English-

speaking Section. Saturday, 28 February from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Bee in Solidarity with Solitary Bees with the natur&ëmwelt Remich

Section on Sunday, 8 March from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Pierre Kusnierz - Jardins de Luxembourg


http://www.eventbrite.com/e/bee-informed-beehive-systems-tickets-13603495421

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/bee-informed-varroa-treatment-tickets-14038803439

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/bee-informed-varroa-treatment-tickets-14038803439

http://delano.lu/taxonomy/term/3817



Bee Informed - Bee Medicine on Tuesday, 5 May from 7:00 PM to

10:00 PM

Bee Informed - Biodiversity with natur&ëmwelt / SIAS Sunday, 14 June

(date confirmed, time to be confirmed)

We will also organise beehive visits (we

call them "beekeeping demonstration

sessions") that run from April till the end

of June; they are not yet listed on our

events. They are a 2 hour event to

learn about the importance of bees, the

bee’s lifecycle, beekeeping and

biodiversity. At the event, you may get

hands-on practice working with bees.

Depending on demand and places

available, you can come to more than

one event to see what needs to be done with bees as the season

progresses.

Some of the above activities intend to raise awareness of the importance of

biodiversity, habitat and wild bees. Pollinators need flowers and are in their

turn food for birds, bats, and other animals--this all makes up for a lively

environment! To make this happen, Bee Together is planning to continue

the fruitful collaboration with the natur&ëmwelt.

With the support of an experienced beekeeper, Andreas Reichart, we are

organising beekeeping theory courses in English:

Bee Informed - Bee Biology. Tuesday, 24 February from 7:00 PM to

10:00 PM. This course covers honeybee biology. The inner and

external morphology defines the potential of each bee and the colonies.

Bee Informed - Beekeeping Techniques. Tuesday, 3 March from 7:00

PM to 10:00 PM. This course covers beekeeping techniques and the

equipment needed for beekeeping (this will be a practical course).

Bee Informed - Bee Health. Wednesday, 18 March from 7:00 PM to

10:00 PM. This course deals with the bee diseases. Understanding bee

health is very important, because if you want to be a beekeeper you

have to know about bee diseases.

Bee Together at FUAL's Stand at Bee Day, October 2014




Bee Informed - Bee Products. Wednesday, 22 April from 7:00 PM to

10:00 PM. This course introduces bee products, how to harvest them,

and how to prepare them for sale.

To complement your learning from the theory courses, you may also wish

to join the annual bee conference in German and French on Sunday, 29

March from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with this year's theme on Varroa sensitive

hygiene.

For more information and to register for our events and courses click here.

Bee Together is also collaborating with Slow Food Grand-Duché Convivium

to raise awareness of the importance of bees with their members.

Meet the Theory Course Instructor: Andreas Reichart

My name is Andreas Reichart, I am 53

years old, and I live in Trier with my

family. I have been a beekeeper for 23

years.

I studied biology in Tübingen,

afterwards I worked in a dairy for 15

years.

In 2010 I was employed at the FBI in

Mayen. It is a beekeeping-institute,

and there I was responsible for the so-

called “DEBIMO project.” We visited

beekeepers three times a year, took samples of bees, and asked the

beekeepers how they treated their colonies against varroa.

What Are Our Challenges?

by Massimo Sabbatucci

Bee Together is a new group of people living and working in Luxembourg

who, besides sharing an interest in bees and pollinators, also share a

common language: English. This is an important element for the many

expatriates living in the country and interested in beekeeping.

During our sessions in 2014 we noticed that the people attending our

demonstrations came from many different countries. This diversity reflects

Luxembourg’s cultural humus.

Andreas Reichart


http://www.eventbrite.com/o/bee-together-luxembourg-6875740615

http://dict.leo.org/ende/index_de.html#/search=responsible&searchLoc=0&resultOrder=basic&multiwordShowSingle=on



To date, it has not been possible to attend a beekeeping theory course

here in any language other than Luxembourgish. Thanks to FUAL’s

support, 2015 will be the first year that a theory course will be offered in

English. It will follow the content and topics of FUAL’s course taught in

Luxembourgish. The course will be complimented by modules introducing

the beekeepers, both experienced and not, to the products of bees.

Our vision is broader than breeding bees, increasing the number of hives,

and selling honey; we also wish to raise awareness of the importance of

pollinators. Although many of them do not supply a product interesting to

humans, they contribute immensely to our food production.

Every other day you may read an

article about the importance of bees to

our lives. A quote, probably incorrectly

attributed to Albert Einstein says, “If

the bee disappeared off the surface of

the globe then man would only have

four years of life left. No more bees, no

more pollination, no more plants, no

more animals, no more man.” Like other beekeepers in Luxembourg, we

recognise the importance of pollination to provide us with a variety of food.

Bees and pollinators are our interests and by understanding, protecting,

and supporting their environment we simply protect ourselves as well. It is

not only a win-win situation; it is a fun and enjoyable hobby too.

We Need YOU

In order for Bee Together to continue its activities, we need YOU!

We are looking for volunteers to help us to:

Organise and/or run events, and

Market and promote our events using online tools.

We are also looking for beekeepers who would like to:

Talk to people about the importance of bees and beekeeping; and

Share their experience in setting up their own hive with or without a

mentor.

Contact us to discuss how you can help.

photo © John Park




Join a Local Beekeeping Club

by Amanda Surbey

Novice beekeepers can obtain support by joining a local beekeeping club.

Luxembourg is organised into 12 cantons, each with a beekeeping club.

The clubs cooperate through the "Fédération des Union d'Apiculteurs du

Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" (FUAL) or “Luxemburger Landesverband für

Bienenzucht”. When you become a member of a local club, they will also

register you as a member of FUAL.

We encourage Bee Together members to

join the club near their work, their home, or

their hives. Each canton organises regular

meetings, though discussions might not be

in English. Bee Together will continue to

organise English-based meetings and

events.

Benefits of joining a club include the

following:

The monthly Luxembourg beekeeper magazine “Lëtzebuerger Beien-

Zeitung” (in German).

Forms for registering your bee colonies, ordering low-cost/good quality

sugar syrup, and applying for the “Marque Nationale” are available

through “Beien-Zeitung.”

The Administration for Technical Agriculture Services (ASTA) makes

an annual announcement in “Beien-Zeitung” for beekeepers to order

seeds, trees, and shrubs via their club.

Assistance and low-cost products for use in the treatment of varroa

mites.

Some clubs provide beginners with starter hives/bees.

Advice on different beekeeping challenges.

Annual training courses for beginners and for experienced members.

Large or more expensive equipment may be available for sharing.

FUAL offers civil liability insurance for members.

More information on the benefits of membership can be found here. For a

list of Luxembourg’s beekeeping clubs, please refer to left-hand side of

www.apis.lu/kontakt/vereine (in German). If you are interested in joining the

Marque Nationale Honey


http://www.slideshare.net/BeeTogetherLux/beekeepers-local-club-membership-application-form

http://www.apis.lu/kontakt/vereine



Luxembourg City Beekeepers' Club, please contact Hubert von

Dewitz [email protected].

An Elegant Solution to Save the Bees

by Amanda Surbey

Mycologist Paul Stamets recently revealed a breakthrough discovery that

has the potential to change -and heal- our ecosystem. He proposes that

there is a missing link that can dramatically influence bee health, and it is

right under our feet. Yes, it’s mycelium, or, simply put, fungi. He presents

his discovery in this short talk, or visit his website, FantasticFungi.com.

Take Action for European Bees

by Amanda Surbey

Everyone knows bees are in trouble. But what can we do?

Pollinis, an independent non-profit European citizen movement, is

campaigning politicians and the European institutions to accelerate - in

Europe and in the world - the transition to a sustainable agriculture, which

is respectful towards the environment and the pollinators it depends on.

Watch their video (in English, French, or German) that explains how bees

disappear, who is to blame, and how we can take action to stop the

slaughter.

Sign their petition and please share the link: no one should ignore what is

happening right now with agriculture and nature. The stakes are too high!



http://fantasticfungi.com/paul-stamets-save-the-bees/

http://fantasticfungi.com/

http://actions.pollinis.org/actions/stop-neonics-en



References

What are your favourite books, web sites and online videos related to bees,

beekeeping, wild bees, biodiversity …? Please share them with us.

Towards holistic approaches to the risk assessment of multiple stressors in

bees

Honeybee shortage threatens crop pollination in Europe

Urban areas 'provide haven' for bees

Honeybees Might Have Emotions

Le déclin des abeilles : Analyse des facteurs qui mettent en péril les

pollinisateurs et l’agriculture en Europe

La biodiversité nourrit la planète

L'essentiel Online - Deux pesticides interdits avec effet immédiat -

Luxembourg

Hécatombes dans les ruches : des abeilles forcées à butiner trop jeunes

Bye bye Biene? Das Bienensterben und die Risiken für die Landwirtschaft

in Europa


http://bookshop.europa.eu/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/EU-Bookshop-Site/en_GB/-/EUR/ViewPublication-Start?PublicationKey=TMAD13001

http://bookshop.europa.eu/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/EU-Bookshop-Site/en_GB/-/EUR/ViewPublication-Start?PublicationKey=TMAD13001

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25656283

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-31359984

http://www.wired.com/2011/06/honeybee-pessimism/

http://www.greenpeace.org/switzerland/Global/switzerland/publications/Greenpeace/2013/agriculture/Bienenreport_FR.pdf

http://www.greenpeace.org/switzerland/Global/switzerland/publications/Greenpeace/2013/agriculture/Bienenreport_FR.pdf

http://www.slowfood.com/network/fr/la-biodiversite-nourrit-la-planete/

http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/news/luxembourg/story/Deux-pesticides-interdits-avec-effet-immediat-28755348

http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/news/luxembourg/story/Deux-pesticides-interdits-avec-effet-immediat-28755348

http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2015/02/10/hecatombes-dans-les-ruches-des-abeilles-forcees-a-butiner-trop-jeunes_4573211_3244.html

http://www.greenpeace.org/switzerland/Global/switzerland/publications/Greenpeace/2013/agriculture/Bienenreport.pdf

http://www.greenpeace.org/switzerland/Global/switzerland/publications/Greenpeace/2013/agriculture/Bienenreport.pdf

bee together newsletter - february 2015

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