Master Beekeeper Program
By ekpeach in General | 2 comments
As some of you know, I am enrolled in the Master Beekeeper Program (MBP) sponsored by the University of Florida. This program is designed to help beekeepers learn parts of the beekeeping industry that they would otherwise ignore. It also helps in public relations skills as well as teaching and presenting the story of honey bees and their products.
Dr. Jamie Ellis, a professor and research leader in the entomology dept of UF, is the instigator of this program and with the help of the Florida Dept Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspections, and the Florida State Beekeepers Association (FSBA), can conduct the annual classroom training and administer the exams at the FSBA annual meeting. There was so much interest and applications that the FSBA offered to put on a mid year program so the students of the MBP could be spread out to keep from overcrowding the facilities. This has also helped some of the students that for one reason or another did not get to attend the annual classes and test. I happen to be one of those students.
The first year test is administered to those beekeepers that have had bees for a year or more. There was no study period other than what they learned during that year of keeping bees. To become an Apprentice Beekeeper, the student had to go to the beeyard and show the queen, drone, and worker bee as well as show the egges and larvae. Know the difference in sealed brood and capped honey. Then to the lab to identify parts of the hive bodies, tools, and equipment. There was a written test that was part of the class. Upon satisfactorily completing all this, the student was elevated to the Apprentice Beekeeper level. I received this level in March 2008. March 2009, I didn’t get to attend as that was the time my wife was convalescing from her surgeries in January. However the college said that I could take all the time I want to complete this course. That means I could take 10 years if necessary. I don’t think I will stretch it out quite that long.
When I found out my wife would be able to make the FSBA meeting this November, I decided to start studying again. I had to have read some bee books on my reading list and completed some computer modules, which meant I had some computer websites I had to have read and/or watch some videos to gain that information. There were six modules and each one had a minimum of five websites to study. In addition, I had to have a minimum of five public service points (teaching/explaining about bees to non beekeepers). I had more than that but I was told by several classmates that I could not get more than necessary and bank them for the next year’s quota. I stopped getting them signed. Later I found out that I needed to send in all public service points I could just for the panel to review to see if we were doing our assignments!!? Hummmmm———.
I can see that this is going to take a lot of reading so I will break it down to several smaller posts.
TO BE CONTINUED———
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Lois Merritt | Nov 10, 2009 | Reply
Hey Peaches!
Glad you’re back among the living. Had quite a summer, I see.
I’ve been getting involved w/Facebook, reconnecting w/old friends from HS, etc. There are several folks that are quite taken w/my beekeeping. 1 guy was going to come over to help me pull my 2 short boxes. He was 24 hrs. late, but I got it done! Abt 2 gal, all frames capped well. Put another ckmite strip below as the beetles are back. The split never took either time, you or Doug’s efforts. Think I’ll just get a pkg next spring. I took that hive, set it in the corner by the fig tree and put some cedar balls on the bottom board and blocked the entrance to discourage wax moths. Of course, the roaches love it, but whatever. Not using anything else.
What I’m getting to here is that some are showing interest in learning. I could set up a date in my yd to just let them look things over and see if they want to class in spring.
Would love it if you came by as well. This is just an idea that crept into my brain today, so I’ve done nothing further. So far, they’re just asking questions about misinformation and my honey.
BTW, where do u get ur plastic bottles? I have been saving, but mostly glass and I need to mail some to friends. Not interested in selling @ this point ’cause I don’t have that much. My friend in Ak even wants some to do a taste comp there. Mine was darker this fall, but good flavor. And I have your fireweed honey for ya. They had a horrible season last year, this year was so much better that they’re getting $16 a lb. in Fairbanks! Have a bottle for Doug too. You guys do so much for me and I really appreciate it. Lo