Updated Schedule

[Ramona]

Updated Conference Schedule

Friday, July 31, 12 pm (exact times of programs TBD)

Lunch - 12 pm
Weather permitting, we can bring our lunches to the bee hives. (No bananas, please...)

Talks begin - 1 pm

Conference Overview and Synopsis – Dean (deknow) Stiglitz
Dean will give a comprehensive overview of the conference including a discussion of current problems beekeepers and the beekeeping industry face, the importance and significance of zero treatments, treatment free management practices and possible futures of beekeeping. We hope that as many attendees as possible will be able to hear this talk as it will provide orientation for the conference as a whole.

Microbes and the Honeybee – Laurie (Ramona) Herboldsheimer
Honeybee associated microorganisms are necessary for the health and proper functioning of the honeybee and hive. Ramona will discuss the relationships between these microorganisms with each other, and with the bees, as well as how the use of any treatment in the hive interferes negatively with these complex adaptive systems.

Politics of the Africanized Honeybee (AHB)
Dee Lusby will speak authoritatively on the history and politics of the Africanized honeybee. This talk is must for the education and empowerment of all beekeepers.

Dinner ~ 6 pm

Talks resume at 7:30 pm

Breeding Bees, Africa, Brother Adam and more- Erik Osterlund
In conjunction with his work with Brother Adam Erik has traveled extensively collecting genetics from bees from as far away as Africa (the Monticola Honeybee).

From Commercial Migratory to Stationary Top Bar Hives – Sam Comfort
Sam will share his journey through diverse worlds of beekeeping. If we’re lucky, we’ll hear his songs about bugs accompanied on what is rumored to be Brother Adam’s ukulele (!).

Program for Friday ends at 10 pm

Saturday, August 1, 8 am on…

Breakfast - 8 am

Talks begin - 9 am

Regression, Retrogression and Acclimatization – Dee Lusby Dee will give an in depth talk on the importance and significance of proper cell size, breeding, and management of honeybees in a natural system. Practical steps will be outlined to help all beekeepers establish bees that are appropriate for their geographical area.

Breeding and Preparation for the Varroa Mite – Erik Osterlund
Erik will present his experience and advice with regard to selecting stock, breeding and management practices in preparation for the arrival of Varroa to his area in Sweden.

Lunch 1:15 pm
Weather permitting, we can bring our lunches to the bee hives. (No bananas, please...)

Talks resume at 2:45 pm

Overwintering Nucs and Beekeeping in New England – Michael Palmer
Michael runs a highly respected commercial operation just south of the Canadian border. He will share the details of his many years of beekeeping experience dealing with long, cold winters and the unique environment we enjoy in New England.

“Everything Works If You Let It” – Michael Bush
Michael is well known on the internet for his elegant yet simple communication style. In this presentation he will share his philosophy and some of the more important lessons and practical tips he has learned in his many years of keeping bees. For all of us whose beekeeping “to do” list is too long, this talk will bring a welcome relief

Dinner ~ 7 pm

Talks resume at 8:30 pm

Top Bar Hive Management - Sam Comfort
Sam is well on his way to running more top bar hives than anyone else in the country. He will share his experiences and expertise on the unique issues that apply to top bar hive management.

Saturday program ends at 10 pm

Sunday, August 2, 8 am on…

Breakfast - 8 am

Talks begin at 9 am

Observation Hives – Michael Bush
Many important discoveries about bees have been made through the use of observation hives. Michael will present the history and evolution of the observation hive and its influence on modern beekeeping. He will also share his own experiences with observation hives and practical tips for setting up one of your own. We heard this talk in Arizona and loved it so much that we want to be able to hear it again.

Bee Photography – Dean (deknow) Stiglitz
Photography is a way that we can see learn things about our bees that are impossible to experience in real time with our naked eyes. Dean has been capturing some amazing images of honeybees and other pollinators that co-exist with them with a digital point-and-shoot camera. This talk will feature his photographs and some of the incredible things we’ve been able to learn about these insects with the aid of the camera and the computer. Most importantly, Dean will share some valuable “bee specific” tips and techniques for taking pictures of bees with the ubiquitous digital point and shoot.

Question and Answer Panel – All Speakers
While we will have the opportunity to ask questions throughout the conference, this will provide us with a chance to ask any final questions.

Conference is officially over at 1 pm on Sunday. We will vacate the conference building at that time but we have permission to continue on the grounds of the estate. We plan to serve leftovers as a picnic lunch and weather permitting, we can visit the bees and open the hives. We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to spend the afternoon with us!

Hive Openings
Six hives have been installed on the venue property and will be available for viewing throughout the conference, weather permitting, schedule TBD.