Busy as a Bee Mary Lynne Spazok Busy as a bee, Kimberly Frantz Brown and her husband, Ken, are now empty nesters. After dedicating herself to four children and an entrepreneur husband, Frannie is now free to pursue two personal goals. Volunteering her service at Faith Lutheran Church as a religious educator keeps Fran hopping. However, when the aura of Gilfillan Farm beckons, the intrigue of beekeeping is paramount. Decades ago, she was introduced to beekeeping by her grandfather, Edward Luketic. Back then, many family members lived on the same street, or in the same borough or city. The family’s beekeeping originated in Ambridge (named for American Bridge), then spread throughout Economy Borough, Freedom, and Aliquippa. Every fall, Edward, dedicated to bee keeping, harvested an average of 1000 pounds of honey. To produce one pound of honey, two million blossoms must be visited. Fran states, “I was always fascinated by my grandfather’s hobby and grew up eating honey straight from the comb. I wrote many academic papers on the topic of honeybees with the help of library research.” Her first hive kit was a family birthday gift, which she painted and built. Today,
two new bee Frannie Brown puts es. colonies into hive box
Fran, the ecologically-committed gardener, lives just across from Gilfillan Farm. With support of mentor and fellow apiarist Bill Dawson, her keeping dedication 18
allows the honeybee tradition to flourish in Upper St. Clair. To purchase stamps, mail packages, or pick up vacation mail most of us visit our neighborhood U.S. Postal Service. However, in March, Fran has a very special delivery from the Kelly Bee Company of Kentucky—bees. It’s hard to imagine, but these sweeties are shipped in a sealed cage with the queen housed in a small plastic box. In 2008, the cost of one colony is $60, which includes one queen and three pounds of bees. The queen lives an average of Frannie Brown h one to five years and can lay 1500 olds Ma rgaret’s bee hive eggs daily. Worker bees live two to six artwork . months and perform laborious duties such as housekeeping, nursery, pollen foraging, bees seek and destroy. A healthy hive area building, guarding, and, of course, attend- must be free of tall grass, brush, and vines. ing to the queen. Mating male bees make If the legs of the hives are contained in up a small percentage of the hive popula- cooking oil, it will trap crawling creatures tion. Overall, bees fly a three-to-five-mile that attempt to raid. Mulch is a “no-no” radius for nectar gathering. At the source, since it attracts ground-nesting bees. The they communicate eagerly by dancing in bordering environment must exclude the “round” or “waggle.” When outside insecticides. On the bright side, a steady activity slows during the winter months, succession of color intense blooms such the bee cluster maintains a 45-degree as aster in early spring and goldenrod in Fahrenheit interior temperature while the fall ensure contented bees. Vivid floral clusters of the same variety work best. For relentlessly shielding the queen. Considering beekeeping as a leisure America’s most important pollinators, vigipursuit? Keep in mind that neighborhoods lant planning for a controlled, but natural, have city and county ordinances, as well ecosystem is vital. In 2007, the bee mystery death in 36 as restrictive covenants. The location of a hobby hive must be carefully chosen states was devastating and continues to be with regard to climatic conditions such as alarming in 2008. Colony Collapse Disorwind, shade, and sunrise. The bee’s flight der devastates a cultivated honeybee hive path must be free of people, pets, and in a matter of days. Non-domesticated or pesky predators. Most bees are gentle and wild bees are suffering as well. A bee’s inwill only sting if provoked. For instance, nards are blemished with black scar tissue. surrounding privet hedges will force bees This complex pathogen, thought to be a upwards and away from the populace. virus, is suspected to have entered the U.S. Proper drinking water is a must. Caretakers through imported or vigilante bees. If this provide fresh water for the Gilfillan live- virus is indeed the killer, several outcomes stock, while natural springs are plentiful are possible. Resistant bee strains may around the homestead. Pets are usually emerge while the virus burns itself out. not compatible with bees. Dogs and cats In the meantime, man may have to assist quickly learn not to snap at the bees in with drugs. But, farmers can no longer rely flight or wander too close to the hives. Rac- solely on bee pollination. They must emcoons and opossum will greedily plunder ploy diverse pollinating insects to ensure a hive. Fire ants will swarm and steal the continued natural crop cultivation. In the meantime, though, you can rest assured stored honey. Good news though. Vigorous colonies that honey is safe to consume and will not avoid foreign invaders since vigilant guard cause illness or death to humans.
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY Spring 2008