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 Marc Thiel at beehive systems event 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
Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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.
beekeeping demonstration session
with Roger Wenkin on right in blue 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. beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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. beekeeperfriendly, bee-friendly), races of bees, beehive systems, what equipment to buy and where, Get Fit by Nature event with natur&ëmwelt where to set up and the in Trintange, November 2014 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.
beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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 Hubert von Dewitz at beehive systems event with my bees: without a mentor I had to learn the hard way. Once I lost my colonies beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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.
beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos Š Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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).
Chavdar Aladzhov
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 beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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. Bee Together at natur&ëmwelt's Nature Festival, June 2014
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 beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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. Pierre Kusnierz Jardins de Luxembourg
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 Englishspeaking 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 beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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. Bee Together at FUAL's Stand Depending on demand and places at Bee Day, October 2014 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.
beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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 soAndreas Reichart 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.
beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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 photo © John Park
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. beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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.
Marque Nationale Honey
Benefits of joining a club include the following: The monthly Luxembourg beekeeper magazine “Lëtzebuerger BeienZeitung” (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 beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
Luxembourg City Beekeepers' Club, please contact Hubert von Dewitz vdewitz@pt.lu. 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!
beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos Š Bee Together
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Bee Together - Newsletter February 2015
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
beetogetherlux@gmail.com photos © Bee Together
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