>Thanks for your observations!

I try to make honest observations and do not want to offend people.

>I am the woman in the videos with Dee.

I was amazed seeing you both handle those deep boxes. Due to three hernia
operations and a rotator cuff surgery I let my help do the lifting. I have
been in the holding yard the last three days and tired even without the
heavy lifting.


>That visit to her bee yards in 2008 was my first experience in a commercial
>apiary.

Our bees are clearly not as aggressive but the actual work is similar.

>Working with Dee's bees can be very intense but I have never felt afraid.

 Bees since fear. My help will tell you I do not fear bees. I work bees with
a mosquito netting most of the time and only wear gloves during certain
operations. Bees always seem to attack to me the less of the group.

My help almost always wears protection which is fine with me. > I feel 
people
need to wear the protection which they feel they need. Then take off (or
add) as needed.

> The intensity is very physical; pinging bees feeling like tiny hailstones,
> mucous pouring from nose due to alarm pheromone (lots of blowing my nose
> through the veil), lots of bees in the air and deafening roar.  I have
> read previous posts from you, Bob, describing the deafening roar in a
> commercial apiary so I know this is not unique to Dee!

We also develop a cough when lots of bees are in the air. The suit you wear
has a blind point for me when running the swinger. I prefer to take some
stings rather than run over my help. The old style tie veils are worn by
many beekeepers which work with forklifts for this reason.

>In all the times I have been with her bees (this last time without gloves
>as we were just checking for deadouts - hardly any!) I have barely been
>stung.

I would wear gloves looking at the video unless handling a queen. I insist
only bare fingers when handling queens.

> Most stings happened when I got the veil too close to my face (the nose
> blowing thing) and a stinger would nip my cheek or nose.

We use similar suits. I place a piece of masking tape to hold the screen
away from my guys nose. Ends the problem.

>his last time we lit the smoker the first of the day but it almost never
>made it off the truck.

I use a smoker all day long. We use a metal box attached to the end of the
flat bed behind the duals. I burn wood pellets which stay lit all day. Smoke
when used at the right time calms the bees from my experience.
I went for a period around thirty years ago when I almost stopped smoker use
but found my bees were getting aggressive. After resuming smoker use the
bees calmed down.
Bees remember rough treatment in my opinion.


>Each year after the Organic Beekeeping Conference, many of us make the
>pilgrimage to Dee's place.

I admire Dee for sticking to her beliefs. I use different methods but one
can not argue with her success.
Horace Bell calls Dee his girlfriend. Dee even planted a kiss on Horace Bell
at a bee meeting and I wished I could have been in attendance to observe his
reaction! Horace has been mentor to me (and vise versa) and Horace has
always had only good things to say about Dee (and Ed ) and their methods.
Their methods are not unlike the methods we both used when we started
beekeeping many many years ago.



>Again, thanks for your words...I do read this list and enjoy many of your
>posts though I seldom post myself.

Many think because many of us (not Dee) use forklifts and special equipment
today's commercial beekeeping is easy. Not so as we deal with large numbers
of hives. Each needing attention. Bending over all day makes for serious
back aches and my help starts dropping boxes and frames late in the day
telling me its time to quit for the day. Bee stings are minor compared to
the strenuous nature of the work load.

I only monitor bEE-L these days and do not belong to face book and other
social sites many do due to time concerns. Tell Dee Horace has dared me to
grab Dee and give her a big kiss if we ever meet.

Thanks for the post Romona!
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison
commercial beekeeper

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