Elizabeth M. Bowles wrote:
>
> I'm interested in making a very simple observation hive for my Biology
> degree seminar.  Can you give me any pointers?
 
In may a added (for the second year) an observation hive in a
schoolclass
(children about 9/10 years) on the second floor of an old
schoolbuilding.
 
There is a drawing on my site
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jtemp/ob_kast2bk.html (in Dutch language)
but the  best drawing is on BARRY's site
http://www.birkey.com/BLB/index.html
 
It is a two frame-hive with two queencells and the bees from 4 frames.
 
Control after two weeks  wether the queen is laying, if not,replace the
lower
frame in a new frame with eggs.(A two frame hive will never swarm)
Here in Holland, when the weather is not too good, you have to feed
sugarwater. (one on one)
 
I  have attached the hive flat agains the wall between two windows, and
with a
plexiglas tube on the corner straight trough the wall. Outsite I have
done
nothing.
 
The teacher was delighted in moments she wanted the class to be
quiet.She only
has to mention the bees.
 
In June, I went with one super and the extractor to the class
Uncaped and croped the honey, all childeren went home with a jar of
honey.
All the children had to make their own label.
In return I got a little book with drawings of bees and a little poems.
I can recommend having a hive IN classrooms.
Never seen kid's so dedicated to the bees.
 
--
Jan Tempelman / Ineke Drabbe     |     EMAIL:[log in to unmask]
Sterremos 16               3069 AS Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Tel/Fax (SOMETIMES) XX 31 (0)10-4569412
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jtemp/index3.html