Please wait... Dear Gary,
Hi my name is Katie I am a 7th grader and I am doing a research project on bees. I would really appreciate it if you could answer a few questions for me. I will put them below.
How long have you been a beekeeper?
HELLO KATIE, I WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS UNDER EACH ONE IN CAPS LIKE THIS.
I HAVE BEEN A BEEKEEPER GOING ON 5 YEARS NOW.
Why did you get involved in this work?
IT STARTED OUT AS A HOBBY AFTER I SAW A DEMONSTRATION AT OUR CAPE MAY COUNTY 4H FAIR IN 2008.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD FIT IN NICELY TO MY FARM WHERE
I GROW VEGETABLES AND HAVE A BEACH PLUM ORCHARD. CONSEQUENTLY, I
JOINED OUR LOCAL JERSEY CAPE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION WHICH IS ONE OF THE 9 BRANCHES OF THE NEW JERSEY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, TOOK A BEEGINNERS BEEKEEPING CLASS AND STARTED WITH 2 HIVES.
Other than working at the museum have you had any other bee related jobs?
I DO NOT WORK AT A MUSEUM / I JUST DID A TALK ON BEES AT THE WETLANDS INSTTUTE. I DID HAVE A PEST MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR 30 YEARS AND SOLD THAT TO A LARGR COMPANY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ALTHOUGH I DO NOT DO GENERAL PEST CONTROL ANY MORE, I DO USE MY PEST MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE TO FIND / REMOVE AND RELOCATE HONEY BEE COLONIES THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES HAVE IN THEIR HOMES OR BUILDINGS. IT IS NOT LEGAL TO KILL HONEY BEES IN NJ AND MANY OTHER STATES, SO I SPECIALIZE IN THIS SERVICE IN OUR AREA. MY FORMAL STUDIES WERE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY MAJORING IN BIOLOGY SO THIS LINE OF WORK CONTINUES TO INTRIGUE ME.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how important do you think a bees role in the environment is? Why?
9-10!!! ALBERT EINSTEIN SAID THAT WITHOUT THE HONEY BEE, MANKIND HAS ABOUT 4 YEARS TO LIVE. IT IS A FACT THAT BEES POLLINATE ABOUT 1/3 OF THE FOOD ON OUR TABLES AND ABOUT 80% OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE HONEY BEE. THE HONEY BEE COLONY IS A POLLINATING MACHINE! SO WITHOUT THEIR EXISTANCE WE WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE MUCH LESS FOOD AND VARIETIES AVAILABLE FOR MANKIND AND ANIMALS, BUT MANY PLANTS, FLOWERS AND TREES WOULD NOT GET POLLINATED AND CONSEQUENTLY WOULD NOT FARE WELL.
What do you know about colony collapse disorder? Have you had any direct experience with this?
CCD OR COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN NEW JERSEY DUE TO A KEEN INTEREST IN BEEKEEPING AND MANY NEW BEEKEEPERS, WE ARE NOT SEEING THIS PROBLEM AS MUCH. . THE NJBA (NEW JERSEY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION) NOW HAS 1000 MEMBERS. THE HONEY BEE IS OUR STATE INSECT WHICH IS TRUE OF 16-17 OTHER STATES AS WELL. SCIENTESTS THINK THAT CCD MAY BE IN PART ATTRIBUTABLE TO A NUMBER OF THINGS, THESE MAY INCLUDE PESTICIDES, MONO AGRICULTURE, PARASITES, FUNGAL AND VIRAL DISEASES AND RELATED PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT YET HAD EXPERIENCE WITH CCD.
How would you compare the bees in the museum to the bees that live in the wild?
SOME MUSEUMS DO HAVE LIVE OBSERVATION HIVES FOR THE PUBLIC TO VISIT AND OBSERVE. SINCE HONEY BEES MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS TO FORAGE AND SURVIVE IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHEHTER A HIVE IS IN A MUSEUM OR OR OURDOORS AS LONG AS THE BEES HAVE ACCESS TO WATER, POLLEN AND NECTOR, AND CAN TAKE CLEANSING FLIGHTS, ETC.
Have you seen a change in bee population lately? If so why do you think this is happening? Could climate change be a contributing factor?
HONEY BEE NUMBERS MAY BE DECLINING IN THE WILD BUT THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO EVALUATE. THE HEALTHY NUMBERS OF HONEY BEES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN NJ MAY BE ATTRIBUTABE TO AN INCREASED NUMBER OF BEEKEEPERS AND ORGANIC GARDENERS AS WELL AS MORE SELECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF PESTICIDES.
THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON CLIMATE CHANGE. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
EXTRA INFO!!!
ALTHOUGH NORTH AMERICA HAS OVER 4000 SPECIES OF BEES, THE EUROPEAN HONEY BEE IS NOT AN INDIGENOUS BEE. IT WAS IMPORTED FROM EUROPE IN COLONIAL TIMES WHEN PILGRIMS BRINGING ALONG WITH THEM THEIR HONEY BEE HIVES TO SATISFY THEIR SWEET TOOTH, NOTICED THAT THEIR CROPS PRODUCED MORE WHEN HONEY BEE NUMBERS INCREASED. NOW WE KNOW THE SCIENCE BEHIND POLLINATION...
My Busy Bees Photo Albums are here --->
http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/family-farm/beekeeping-1/
THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, KATIE.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECT AND PERHAPS YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF SOMEDAY WITH A BEEHIVE OF YOUR OWN!!!
GARY G. SCHEMPP
Thank you I really appreciate it
- Katie
Hi my name is Katie I am a 7th grader and I am doing a research project on bees. I would really appreciate it if you could answer a few questions for me. I will put them below.
How long have you been a beekeeper?
HELLO KATIE, I WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS UNDER EACH ONE IN CAPS LIKE THIS.
I HAVE BEEN A BEEKEEPER GOING ON 5 YEARS NOW.
Why did you get involved in this work?
IT STARTED OUT AS A HOBBY AFTER I SAW A DEMONSTRATION AT OUR CAPE MAY COUNTY 4H FAIR IN 2008.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD FIT IN NICELY TO MY FARM WHERE
I GROW VEGETABLES AND HAVE A BEACH PLUM ORCHARD. CONSEQUENTLY, I
JOINED OUR LOCAL JERSEY CAPE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION WHICH IS ONE OF THE 9 BRANCHES OF THE NEW JERSEY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, TOOK A BEEGINNERS BEEKEEPING CLASS AND STARTED WITH 2 HIVES.
Other than working at the museum have you had any other bee related jobs?
I DO NOT WORK AT A MUSEUM / I JUST DID A TALK ON BEES AT THE WETLANDS INSTTUTE. I DID HAVE A PEST MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR 30 YEARS AND SOLD THAT TO A LARGR COMPANY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ALTHOUGH I DO NOT DO GENERAL PEST CONTROL ANY MORE, I DO USE MY PEST MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE TO FIND / REMOVE AND RELOCATE HONEY BEE COLONIES THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES HAVE IN THEIR HOMES OR BUILDINGS. IT IS NOT LEGAL TO KILL HONEY BEES IN NJ AND MANY OTHER STATES, SO I SPECIALIZE IN THIS SERVICE IN OUR AREA. MY FORMAL STUDIES WERE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY MAJORING IN BIOLOGY SO THIS LINE OF WORK CONTINUES TO INTRIGUE ME.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how important do you think a bees role in the environment is? Why?
9-10!!! ALBERT EINSTEIN SAID THAT WITHOUT THE HONEY BEE, MANKIND HAS ABOUT 4 YEARS TO LIVE. IT IS A FACT THAT BEES POLLINATE ABOUT 1/3 OF THE FOOD ON OUR TABLES AND ABOUT 80% OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE HONEY BEE. THE HONEY BEE COLONY IS A POLLINATING MACHINE! SO WITHOUT THEIR EXISTANCE WE WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE MUCH LESS FOOD AND VARIETIES AVAILABLE FOR MANKIND AND ANIMALS, BUT MANY PLANTS, FLOWERS AND TREES WOULD NOT GET POLLINATED AND CONSEQUENTLY WOULD NOT FARE WELL.
What do you know about colony collapse disorder? Have you had any direct experience with this?
CCD OR COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN NEW JERSEY DUE TO A KEEN INTEREST IN BEEKEEPING AND MANY NEW BEEKEEPERS, WE ARE NOT SEEING THIS PROBLEM AS MUCH. . THE NJBA (NEW JERSEY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION) NOW HAS 1000 MEMBERS. THE HONEY BEE IS OUR STATE INSECT WHICH IS TRUE OF 16-17 OTHER STATES AS WELL. SCIENTESTS THINK THAT CCD MAY BE IN PART ATTRIBUTABLE TO A NUMBER OF THINGS, THESE MAY INCLUDE PESTICIDES, MONO AGRICULTURE, PARASITES, FUNGAL AND VIRAL DISEASES AND RELATED PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT YET HAD EXPERIENCE WITH CCD.
How would you compare the bees in the museum to the bees that live in the wild?
SOME MUSEUMS DO HAVE LIVE OBSERVATION HIVES FOR THE PUBLIC TO VISIT AND OBSERVE. SINCE HONEY BEES MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS TO FORAGE AND SURVIVE IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHEHTER A HIVE IS IN A MUSEUM OR OR OURDOORS AS LONG AS THE BEES HAVE ACCESS TO WATER, POLLEN AND NECTOR, AND CAN TAKE CLEANSING FLIGHTS, ETC.
Have you seen a change in bee population lately? If so why do you think this is happening? Could climate change be a contributing factor?
HONEY BEE NUMBERS MAY BE DECLINING IN THE WILD BUT THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO EVALUATE. THE HEALTHY NUMBERS OF HONEY BEES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN NJ MAY BE ATTRIBUTABE TO AN INCREASED NUMBER OF BEEKEEPERS AND ORGANIC GARDENERS AS WELL AS MORE SELECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF PESTICIDES.
THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON CLIMATE CHANGE. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
EXTRA INFO!!!
ALTHOUGH NORTH AMERICA HAS OVER 4000 SPECIES OF BEES, THE EUROPEAN HONEY BEE IS NOT AN INDIGENOUS BEE. IT WAS IMPORTED FROM EUROPE IN COLONIAL TIMES WHEN PILGRIMS BRINGING ALONG WITH THEM THEIR HONEY BEE HIVES TO SATISFY THEIR SWEET TOOTH, NOTICED THAT THEIR CROPS PRODUCED MORE WHEN HONEY BEE NUMBERS INCREASED. NOW WE KNOW THE SCIENCE BEHIND POLLINATION...
My Busy Bees Photo Albums are here --->
http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/family-farm/beekeeping-1/
THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, KATIE.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECT AND PERHAPS YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF SOMEDAY WITH A BEEHIVE OF YOUR OWN!!!
GARY G. SCHEMPP
Thank you I really appreciate it
- Katie
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