To bee or not to bee
Shaun Carignan lifts a frame as bees crawl and buzz around the keepers. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
A beehive frame is seen with brood -- unhatched pupae that will emerge as young bees in about 10 days time. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Beekeeper Dan Cass, Sr. talks to fellow members of the Bay de Noc Beekeeping Club at the MSUE Community Gardens in Escanaba on Wednesday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
The Bay de Noc Beekeeping Club tends to hives at the Community Garden in Escanaba on Wednesday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Shaun Carignan lifts a frame as bees crawl and buzz around the keepers. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
A beehive frame is seen with brood -- unhatched pupae that will emerge as young bees in about 10 days time. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Beekeeper Dan Cass, Sr. talks to fellow members of the Bay de Noc Beekeeping Club at the MSUE Community Gardens in Escanaba on Wednesday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
The Bay de Noc Beekeeping Club tends to hives at the Community Garden in Escanaba on Wednesday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
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ESCANABA — People who have home bee yards or are considering starting a hive find other souls with common interests in the Bay de Noc Beekeeping Club. Members with a range of experience learn from each other, share tips, show off their hives and attend informational sessions. They meet the last Wednesday of each month, with the exception of November and December.
“We call ourselves ‘beekeepers,’ but these are wild insects,” Shaun Carignan told a couple of new members on Wednesday. He and most of the others in attendance were decked out in full-body bee suits.
The group met this month at the Michigan State University Extension Community Garden near the intersection of M-35 and 23rd Avenue South in Escanaba. Meetings can consist of a visit to a member’s bee yard or a presentation from a speaker at Bay College.
Veteran beekeepers said that the location at the Community Garden is prime. Desirable positions are those that allow the hives to get plenty of sunlight, which increased the bees’ work time for honey production.
People interested in joining the club may find Bay de Noc Beekeeping Club on Facebook or look for notices in the Daily Press or U.P. Action shopper for notices about future meetup locations.