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KAPAAU – Thanks to small beekeeper farms such as Dawn Barnett and his daughter Mariah, Hawaii is renewing its bee. New methods of hive maintenance and parasite control in Hawaii bees have helped keep hives healthy through untreated techniques.
In a country of beautiful flowers and important pollinator-dependent crops, the dramatic reduction in the bee population since 2007 has raised state-wide concerns. In the last 10 years, we have lost nearly 70% of our bees in Hawaii.
In 2008, Varroa mite arrived on the big island and quickly invaded the hives. Two years later, small hive beetles arrived on some imported bee products, followed by nosema ceranea, a spore-forming bacterium. During the first invasion of these pests, the Kohala region remained without measurable bee population for nearly five years.
Defending yourself
Bees and beekeepers, however, adapt to these new threats. Resistant bees have been found and a group of dedicated beekeepers is discovering ways to keep beehives and bees healthy while avoiding chemical treatments.
When Dawn and Mariah became aware of the loss of pollinators and the collapse of bee colonies across the United States, their interest in the fate of local bees increased. Their research led them to Jen Rasmussen, paradise of the nectar of paradise in Puna. Jen taught intuitive, unprocessed beekeeping courses and sold leading hive boxes. His methodology prompted the Barnet to buy their first two bee boxes. They started taking Jen's classes and began their journey as a beekeepers.
Jen had discovered that by strengthening the natural immune system of her hives instead of weakening them with acaricides and other chemicals, bees became stronger and could withstand pest attacks. From Jen, the Barnetts learned a method of stewardship of the hive, without treatment or input. Today, they are able to manage 30 hives in Kapaau and produce honey and other bee products without chemical contaminants.
More than hiking
Dawn is a person with many interests and skills. She spoke to me of the workshops and guided meditations she's been leading in West Hawaii since 1994 at the New Thought Center in Hawaii and has shown some of the well-crafted drums she's had. manufactured. She has a 36-year career in nursing and now works part-time at the Family Delivery Unit of the Hawaii Community Hospital.
"The reduction in part-time nursing has given me more time with bees," Dawn said.
She now has a dozen hives housed a kilometer from her home in Kapaau and has six hives Mariah on his own land.
We checked them during my visit and found the bees active and healthy and were not particularly interested in us. We approached without protective equipment and the bees remained calm even when Mariah opened one of the hives to show me its structure. The hives on the top bar seem well suited to Barnett's style of beekeeping.
"As a 60-year-old woman, I knew that the heavy Langstroths would be too heavy and difficult to handle," Dawn said of the hives. "The hives in the upper bar are both bees and friendly people."
This type of hive provides easy access, allowing quick removal of small beetles and quick checking of lower bins to detect dead beetles and mites. Filled with diatomaceous earth, the lower trays help capture and kill hive pests. The trays are covered with a mesh net large enough to let mites and beetles pass, but too small to allow bees to enter. These hives also allow bees to make their own wax combs and make it easier for beekeepers to harvest old combs to maintain hive health.
While we were inspecting the hive, Mariah was moving quickly among the bees to kill all the little beetles of the hive that she had found.
"Mariah is a whisperer," says Dawn. "She has the incredible ability to see and understand what's going on in a hive."
Meet Mariah
Mariah supports her bee habit as a part-time message therapist in Hawi, but is expanding her activities to a variety of income producing areas around bees and beekeeping.
The production and sale of honey represent only a small part of its apiculture earnings. Her intuitive ability with bees makes her very good at knowing when a hive is ready to divide. She may then be able to provide a new hive for bees that go out and sell these beehives to novice beekeepers. Its bee sensitivity also allows it to correct wild swarms on demand and direct them to more appropriate locations.
Dawn has also expanded its Bee Divine brand beyond honey to include beautifully molded beeswax candles, as well as propolis, bee bread, skincare gels, tinctures for balms and body products, all created by her from her hive crops. She also builds bar hives for sale and experiments with mead recipes for her own consumption.
At this point, the Barnetts really live their vision by increasing the healthy pollinator population in Hawaii. Through their personal beekeeping experiences and as members of the beekeeper community, they came to believe that beekeeping preservation was one of the most magical practices on the planet. Seeing their enthusiasm and their relationships with bees, I tend to agree that their important work is truly magical.
If you are interested in becoming a local beekeeper, you can contact Bee Divine or visit the Hilo Group on www.bigislandbeekeepers.com or the Kona Group, West Hawaii Beekeeping Association, on Facebook. The more bees there are, the better.
Jen's site contains a lot of information aboutt his techniques. Visit www.paradisenectar.com for more information. In addition to her online sales, Dawn also has a booth at Hawi Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. Visit www.beedivinehawaii.com to see her products and learn more about the ever-growing mother-daughter operation.
Diana Duff is a plant consultant, educator and consultant. She lives in an arid forest north of Kailua-Kona.
Gardening events
Today & # 39; hui: "3rd Sunday at Maona Community Garden" from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in the garden of Honaunau, about one and a half kilometers from Puuhonua Road, which leads to the shelter town, located between 84 and 5097 Keala O Keawe Road. Everyone is welcome. A potluck lunch will be served. For more information, email [email protected] or call Chantal at 937-9800.
On Monday: Monthly meeting of tropical fruit growers from Hawaii, from 7pm to 9pm. at the West Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers office 81-6393, Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. Ken Love will report on his trip to India and will inform members of the Grants in Aid projects and several other upcoming events. White wood building on the Makai side facing the Ministry of Transport construction site. Park in front of or on the north side. For more information, contact Brian Lievens, president of West Hawaii section at 895-8753 or [email protected].
Wednesday: Maona Community Garden Thanksgiving Imu ", deposited at 16h. go to the imu overnight. Pick up Thanksgiving Day on Thursday between 8:00 am and 10:00 am A $ 20 donation is a WHEA fundraising event designed to send college students on their annual trip to Washington. Free participation of Hawaii Ulu Producers Coop to participants. Prior registration required. For more information or to register, send an email to [email protected] or call Chantal at 937-9800.
Saturday: "Amy Greenwell Garden Work Day" from 9:00 to 12:30. Head to the Garden Visitor Center opposite the Manago Hotel at Captain Cook. Volunteers will be able to help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a lunch with a brown bag. Water and snacks provided. Call Peter at 323-3318 for more information.
Next Saturday: "3rd annual festival" Going Nuts for the Holidays "" from 10h to 17h. at Hale Halawai in downtown Kailua-Kona. Celebrate macadamia nuts and coconuts with tastings and demonstrations, handicrafts, food and information stands, live music and hula, and the Hiccup Circus. Fun for the whole family. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.hawaiisanctuary.org.
Direct Farmers Markets
Wednesday: "Hooulu Farmer's Market" from 9am to 2pm at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa in Keauhou Bay
Saturday: "Keauhou Farmers Market" from 8am to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
Kamuela Farmer's Market from 7am to noon at the Pukalani stables
"Waimea Market" from 7:30 am to noon at Parker School in downtown Waimea
"Waimea Homestead Farmers Market" from 7 am to noon at Waimea Elementary and Primary School Playground
Sunday: "Pure Kona Green Market", from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
"Hamakua Harvest" from 9:00 to 14:00 on Highway 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa
Tips lines for plants
At any time: [email protected]
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9am to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu – 322-4893
Mondays and Fridays: 9am to noon at UH CES in Komohana Hilo 981-5199
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