HONEYLOVE urban beekeepers

Join us on our new blog on http://honeylove.org/blog/

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:28:16 -0700

Join us on our new blog on http://honeylove.org/blog/

Bees and Math “Bees…by virtue of a certain...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:41:00 -0800

Bees and Math

“Bees…by virtue of a certain geometrical forethought…know that the hexagon is greater than the square and the triangle, and will hold more honey for the same expenditure of material. — Pappus of Alexandria

Bees have not studied tessellations theory. However, some of their behavior patterns can be explained mathematically. One such phenomena which mother nature instilled in the bee is the nature to use the least expenditure of energy and materials. The bees somehow know that the square, the triangle and the hexagon are the only three self-tessellating regular polygons. Of the three, the hexagon has the smallest perimeter for a given area. So, when bees are constructing hexagonal prism cells in the hive, they use less wax and do less work to enclose the same space than if tessellating space with prisms of square or triangular bases. The honeycomb walls are made up of cells which are 1/80 of an inch thick, yet can support 30 times their own weight. A honeycomb of 14.5”x8.8” can hold more than five pounds of honey. That also explains why they are so heavy. The bees are creating hexagonal prisms in three rhombic sections, and the walls of the cell meet at exactly 120 degree angles. What is even more amazing, is the fact that the bees work simultaneously on different sections forming a comb with no visible seams. It is built vertically downward, and the bees use parts of their bodies as measuring instruments. In fact, their heads act as plummets.”

[view original post here]

Click above to see some fun kids activities - one of which helps to illustrate why bees build hexagons via thedeltacs.com.

PATTERN: Bee Bonnet Hat and Leg Warmers with lace via etsy

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:43:21 -0800

PATTERN: Bee Bonnet Hat and Leg Warmers with lace via etsy

ARTICLE: Insecticide ‘unacceptable’ danger to bees,...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:19:00 -0800

ARTICLE: Insecticide ‘unacceptable’ danger to bees, report finds

“Campaigners say the conclusion by the European Food Safety Authority is a ‘death knell’ for neonicotinoid pesticides

The world’s most widely used insecticide has for the first time been officially labelled an “unacceptable” danger to bees feeding on flowering crops. Environmental campaigners say the conclusion, by Europe’s leading food safety authority, sounds the “death knell” for the insect nerve agent…

Bees and other pollinators are critical to one-third of all food, but two major studies in March 2012, and others since, have implicated neonicotinoid pesticides in the decline in the insects, alongside habitat loss and disease. In April, the European commission demanded a re-examination of the risks posed by the chemicals, including Bayer’s widely used imidacloprid and two others…

“This is a major turning point in the battle to save our bees,” said Friends of the Earth’s Andrew Pendleton: ‘EFSA have sounded the death knell for one of the chemicals most frequently linked to bee decline and cast serious doubt over the safety of the whole neonicotinoid family. Ministers must wake up to the fact that these chemicals come with an enormous sting in the tail by immediately suspending the use of these pesticides.’”

[Click here to view the full article via guardian.co.uk]

COMIC: “I… just wanted… to dance”

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:28:12 -0800

COMIC: “I… just wanted… to dance”

Sweet Honey Display via The Irish Beekeeper

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:30:37 -0800

Sweet Honey Display via The Irish Beekeeper

The Medicine of Altruism - words by His Holiness the Dalai...

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:37:00 -0800

The Medicine of Altruism - words by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

“When I consider the lack of cooperation in human society, I can only conclude that it stems from ignorance of our interdependent nature. I am often moved by the example of small insects, such as bees. The laws of nature dictate that bees work together in order to survive. As a result, they possess an instinctive sense of social responsibility. They have no constitution, laws, police, religion or moral training, but because of their nature they labour faithfully together. Occasionally they may fight, but in general the whole colony survives on the basis of cooperation. Human beings, on the other hand, have constitutions, vast legal systems and police forces; we have religion, remarkable intelligence and a heart with great capacity to love. But despite our many extraordinary qualities, in actual practice we lag behind those small insects; in some ways, I feel we are poorer than the bees…

To me, it is clear: a genuine sense of responsibility can result only if we develop compassion. Only a spontaneous feeling of empathy for others can really motivate us to act on their behalf.”

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Click here to read the full quote on dalailama.com
photo credit: BodhiFest
via Ethnobeeology

Moving in to our NEW OFFICE today!! HoneyLove 5950 W....

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:23:00 -0800

Moving in to our NEW OFFICE today!!

HoneyLove
5950 W. Jefferson Blvd. #8
Los Angeles, California 90016

WATCH: “Andrew Cote, Beekeeper” via The Next...

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:09:00 -0800

WATCH: “Andrew Cote, Beekeeper” via The Next List

“Urban Beekeeping is like crack. It’s an obsession and there’s no turning back.” -Andrew Cote

Click here to view HoneyLove’s January 2013 Newsletter

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:13:07 -0800

Click here to view HoneyLove’s January 2013 Newsletter

Thanks for the sweet buzz Living Homegrown ♥!!! Click here to...

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:56:22 -0800

Thanks for the sweet buzz Living Homegrown ♥!!!

Click here to view the original post on livinghomegrown.com

HoneyLover of the Month: ROBERTA “Beekeeping started out...

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 22:20:00 -0800

HoneyLover of the Month: ROBERTA

“Beekeeping started out just as way to improve my crops. Seemed easy enough to just get some free bees off a tree limb and stick them in a box and voila, more fruit. Well there was something about my first day that was just magical. I went to watch Kirk do a cutout with someone who had some experience. I came from work and they had gotten most of a very old and big hive out of wall. I got to just watch and learn.

The next door neighbor and her kids were watching from a window and I loved being the person explaining what was happening. Kirk was mentoring, the other beekeeper was learning how to do a cutout, I was just learning how to be around bees and the kids were learning about something so new.

Then Kirk took me to a simple swarm capture and we packaged them up into one of his old nucs and there I was with a new hive. With the swarm, it was just a small cute ball of fuzzy bees. They were gently, buzzing but pretty much content to go wherever we put them. Seemed like an innocent experience.

The excitement of being able to work with these little but powerful creatures took a hold and I had bee fever. I couldn’t get enough cutouts and swarms but then I couldn’t keep them anywhere and that’s how the mentoring started. I loved being able to share a first time cutout or swarm with others. It really felt like giving someone a gift.”

WATCH: Fortnum’s Honey Harvest London Rooftop Bees

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 09:49:23 -0800

WATCH: Fortnum’s Honey Harvest London Rooftop Bees

How Are Dying Bees Affecting Our Lives?...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:39:00 -0800

How Are Dying Bees Affecting Our Lives? via nationalgeographic.com

“Bee” 3d animated short by Vladimir Loginov

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:16:00 -0800

“Bee”
3d animated short by Vladimir Loginov

HoneyLove.org featured in 2013 HONEY BEE Calendar created by...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:11:00 -0800

HoneyLove.org featured in 2013 HONEY BEE Calendar
created by award-winning photo-journalist / beekeeper Kodua Galieti.

We are the month of AUGUST ♥ Which you all know is an awesome month ♥
August 17th, 2013 = NATIONAL HONEY BEE AWARENESS DAY!!

ARTICLE — TRAVERSE CITY, MI:Residents buzzing over urban...

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:00:54 -0800

ARTICLE — TRAVERSE CITY, MI:
Residents buzzing over urban beekeeping approval

“Traverse City officials approved a proposal to allow urban beekeeping within the city on Monday night.

Commissioners voted to amend zoning rules which will allow city residents to have up to two honey bee colonies or hives per property. The idea was initially brought up in may by a group of interested community members.

Since then, the commission says they have done a lot of research on the practice. Community members at Monday night’s meeting were very supportive of the idea and are happy with the outcome.”

[via upnorthlive.com]

HoneyLove Beekeepers visit the garden!...

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:13:15 -0800

HoneyLove Beekeepers visit the garden!
via farmkingblog.wordpress.com

“There was a buzz in the air when Chelsea from HoneyLove Beekeeping came to visit Farm King garden this week! Students were educated and entertained by all things bees. So much thanks to Chelsea and HoneyLove for opening up the students’ eyes to the wonderfully exciting and important role that bees play!”

Help Us Save A Million Honeybees!!Your support of our Indiegogo...

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:48:00 -0800

Help Us Save A Million Honeybees!!

Your support of our Indiegogo Campaign will allow us to take bee colonies to a safe haven instead of the city or property owner having them killed! In return you get your choice from a colony of sweet rewards. But the greatest reward is knowing you’ve done something to help the bees and our environment.

Click here to find out more about our plan and inspiration to rescue honeybees!

HoneyLove.org featured in this year’s Edible Flowers 2013...

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:55:00 -0800

HoneyLove.org featured in this year’s Edible Flowers 2013 Calendar