Event Dates-January 5th, and 6th 2018
The “Alaska Treatment-Free Beekeeping Symposium 2018 IV” event is being held at the new “The Glenn Massay Theater” http://www.glennmassaytheater.com/ , at the Matanuska Susitna Collage, on January 6th 2018, 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., Intertanment until 8:00 P.M.. Mat-Su Collage is located at 8295 College Dr, Palmer, AK 99645. http://matsu.alaska.edu/ Doors will be open at 7:00 A.M. for registration, and check in. Symposium begins at 8:00 A.M., ends 8:00 P.M.
On the first day, January 5th 2018, there will be classroom demonstrations, and discussions by local beekeepers, and by the Symposium speakers next door to the Glenn Massay Theater at the Mat-Su College. If you or someone you know is a beekeeping educator, and you feel they might make a good speaker for the event, please contact me to initiate it.
Alaska Treatment-Free Beekeeping Symposium 2018 IV Event Schedule
2018 Symposium Speakers
Lawrence Connor PhD
Dr. Lawrence Connor (Larry) owns Wicwas Press, is an Author, and Lectures on beekeeping. below are some of the topics Larry will lecture on at the AKTFB Symposium 2018 IV.
Making Nuclei—Reduce mite loads by creating a break in the brood cycle so the bees are able to reduce mite populations. Making nuclei hives fits into my recommendation that all new beekeepers start with at least two colonies and make a nucleus hive their first season.
Using Mite-Tolerant Stocks—Harbo VSH, Minnesota Hygienic, Leg Biters and other stocks demonstrate tolerance against the varroa mite. You have the option of producing daughter queens or drones from these stocks to saturate the area with bees that are less susceptible to varroa mites.This is critical if you plan to overwinter your bees.
Solomon Parker
I am committed to educating beekeepers, young and old, new and….old, in how to keep bees in a treatment-free way which eliminates dependence on chemicals, pesticides, antibiotics, and other nasty stuff found in commercial honey supplies today. I’m also committed to eliminating dependence on the back breaking and time and energy intensive manipulations that have come to be a part of beekeeping which many are indoctrinated into thinking they must perform to keep their bees alive. http://parkerbees.com/index.html
Sarah Souders
Owner of Sarah’s Alaska Honey. Sarah has been milling out the best beehive wooden ware on the Kenai Peninsula for many years, making value added beehive products also during this time. Sarah also teaches Beekeeper classes each spring on the Peninsula in preparation for bees coming out of winter, or new beekeepers learning their new craft. http://www.alaskahoney.com/
Tracey Smith
Beanstalk Honey started seven years ago near North Cooking Lake in Strathcona County. For the first couple of years, I grew organic vegetables and kept laying hens. But when I started keeping bees as well, everyone wanted the honey. My first year I sold out of honey by the middle of September. Over a period of two years, I transitioned to only honey and pollen production. Today I sell honey at the City Market Downtown and the Old Strathcona Market, both in Edmonton on Saturdays. https://northcookinglake.wordpress.com/about/
Nathan Broumley
Local Mat-Su Valley Beekeeper, and owner Ri-Generation Nutrition in Eagle River will Speak about his on going success with wintering bees outside, near his home in Palmer Alaska. Learn the must know information needed to winter your bees Treatment-Free here in parts of Alaska from a beekeeper who has been using his techniques for at least 5 years.
Michael Mott
Mike is a local beekeeper in Anchorage. Will discuss;
Beekeeping equipment, and Simple Queen Rearing for the Hobbyist.
Etienne Tardif
Bio:
I am a 7th year beekeeper, currently using Paradise Honey polystyrene hives. Since switching over I have had great over wintering success (100% in the polys) over the last 2 winters. I limit my hive treatment to OAV (Oxalic Acid Vapourization) when I 1st get new nucs to ensure the mites are knocked out early. My hives currently show no signs of mites after 16 months. I live with my wife, dog and chickens on a small piece of land, approximately 40km from Whitehorse, Yukon. It is located in native “alpine-ish” Boreal Forest with some native Yukon grasslands in the area. This habitat offers great spring to early summer forage in abundance (willow, prairie crocus, soapberries, beard-tongue, kinnikinnick, lingonberries, Labrador tea and alpine vetch to name a few), and our roadside has abundant dandelion. However, my main nectar flow relies almost exclusively on fireweed. I have also been introducing clovers, phacelia and sainfoin to my property to increase the number of frost tolerant forage.
Summary of Workshop:
- Yukon Beekeeping Overview
- Understanding your climate and area before going big
(I will discuss how I approached this problem using a weather station, a Broodminder kit and some field observations?) - Bee yard layout basics (creating a micro climate, wind and bear protection)
- Overwintering approach in the Yukon (Poly and Wood hive setups)
Yukon Article rev. NOV. 22 ET.doc – Google Drive
Beekeeping Basics Rev2.pdf – Google Drive
Craig Smith PhD
Craig is an Agronomist for NRCS in Alaska. Craig will speak about NRCS practices and programs that help to improve Pollinator Habitat. Goals are to help sustain healthy populations of pollinating insects, and thereby increase fruit and vegetable yields from the many crops pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators. Will discuss the NRCS partnership with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Information on how farmers, gardeners and organizations can help pollinators. Will include how plant diversity is a boon for declining bees. Also, how choosing flowering trees and crops in bee buffers and hedgerows can support bees and other pollinators. Craig previously worked two decades in Africa, Asia and Oceania, and can draw comparisons with pollinator habitat in those regions.
Admission pre-registration; $80.00
Email klm@gci.net to register for the Symposium. You can pay by check, or if you prefer I can invoice you through https://squareup.com. There will be an additional charge of $5.00 added to credit card payments to cover credit card service fees per each registration.
10 percent discount for Vets, Seniors (55 years or older), Students, and Beekeeping Association Members.
Any Questions regarding pre-registration please call me at 907-242-0588
Walk-in registration; $100.00
Can accept checks, cash, and credit cards at the door. There will be an additional charge of $6.00 added to credit card payments per each registration to cover credit card service fees through https://squareup.com.
Any Questions regarding walk-in registration please call me at 907-242-0588
Vendor registration; $250.00
There is lots of space for TFB vendors, and exhibitors to set up in the foyer of the theater if you may be interested in promoting your TFB business.
Vendor registration; Price $250.00, no discounts for business’s, includes a space limited to ten feet wide, and Event registration for two people. Vendors must be pre-approved, and pre-registered prior to this Event. All Vendor employees must also be registered for the Symposium that attend. Vendor registration fee must be paid prior to the Symposium. Vendors must have a current Alaska Business License.
To pre-register as vendor email klm@gci.net, or call 907-242-0588.
Symposium brought to you by Alaska Honey Bee.
For more information please call me, Keith Malone at 907-242-0588, or email at klm@gci.net