Apiary Application
BEe Healing Org.
Owner: Lady Spirit Moon CerelliFarm Address:
443 West Rd
Hot Springs, NC 28743
Madison County
United States
Mailing Address:
443 West Rd.
Hot Springs, NC 28743
United States
daytime phone: 828-622-0241
Web site: http://www.BEeHealilng.org
Application Date: 2010-02-12
General Information
| Please briefly tell us why you are applying to have your apiary be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program. | I am a Nutrition Consultant and understand the healing aspects of bee hive products. The CNG is for public awareness and ethics. |
| Is the land on which your apiary sits currently certified (by CNG or another organization)? | no |
| Has the land on which your apiary sits ever been Certified in the past? | no |
| How did you hear about Certified Naturally Grown? | Through the Buncumbe Co. Bee Club and school |
| Please check all markets where you sell your honey. |
Farmer's Market Farm Stand Local Resaurants CSA's Coops Health Food Stores Groceries Wholesalers LocalHarvest.com Word of Mouth Other (please specify below) |
| You may use this space to specify where customers can purchase your honey (this will be displayed on your profile to help customers find you). | On line at www.BEeHealing.org |
| How many hives are in your apiary (or apiaries)? | 6 now, 15 by end of 2010 season, more next year. |
| Before continuing, please take a moment to review the 5 steps to Apiary Certification. (You may do this by clicking the link below.) Are they clear? | yes |
Apiary Location and Position
| Some beekeepers seek certification for more than one apiary. Please provide the location (or locations) of the apiary (or apiaries) for which you seek certification. | Presently at 443 West Rd. and 75 Davis Cove Farms. Spring of 2010 more at Mountain Harvest Organics - CSA, 77 Wyatt Lane. All Hot Springs. |
| Briefly describe the landscape where the apiary is located. What surrounds the apiary? What are the nectar sources? | We are in the Southern Appalachian mountains of North Carolina farm lands. Water everywhere very few beekeepers. We have two organic growers, on which I shall have my bees. Davis Cove farms have a few hundred berry bushes being treated organically. Creeks at all three sites. Apiaries located on their own sites on each property. |
| Do you own or manage the land on which your apiary is located? (If at least one of your apiaries is on land you own or manage, answer yes.) | yes |
| Do you agree not to use on this land any synthetic materials that are not allowed under the CNG produce or honey programs? | Yes |
| Use this space to describe any land management practices you use to support the honey bee population. | I'm also a Certified Herbalist and will continue to plant herb plants and shrubs on the property. Already have a rich organic garden. |
| Within each apiary for which you seek certification, do you manage any hives "conventionally", using practices or substances that are not allowed under the CNG apiary standards? | no |
| Are all hives in the apiary at least 6 inches off the ground? | yes |
Hive Construction, Components, and Comb Removal
| Do your hives have any paint or chemical treatment on the interior surface of the hive? | no |
| Do you have, or will you develop, a labeling system and schedule to ensure removal of at least 20% of brood frame per year, such that there is never brood comb present that is more than 5 years old? | yes |
| Please breifly describe your comb removal practices to date, and your plans for the coming seasons. | I am a 1-yr beekeeper with 3 mentors with 67 years of combined beekeeping. Thus far, I plan to follow the advice of two of the organic beekeeper mentors. I belong to local bee clubs and attend their meetings and 1 state meeting a year. |
Apiary Transition
| Does your hive contain brood comb that A) is from another beekeeper (including from purchased nuc), or B) has been exposed to Tylan, or C) has been exposed to three or more treatments of fluvalinate (Apistan, Mavrik) or amitraz (Miticur, Taktic, or Mitak)? | no |
| Has any wax or comb in your apiary ever been exposed to coumaphos (CheckMite+) or fenpyroximate (Hivastan), or more than six indirect exposures of coumaphos (CheckMite+), hydramethylnon or fipronil (Max Force Gel roach baite) as closed trapping for SHBs? | no |
General Bee Maintenance and Care
| Describe how you maintain your bee population from one season to the next. Do you rely on survivor colonies, incorporate feral colonies, purchase new bees every year, or some combination of these and/or other practices? | My bees last year 4 nucs were feral and 2 nucs of Minnesota Hygenics. This year I plan on 2 new packages and splitting what I have and swarms when possible. From here on I split and keep my own, queen my own hives. I plan to go into a queen rearing program. |
| Do you sometimes feed the bees when honey supers are on the hive, or within two weeks before honey super addition? | no |
| If and when your bees require supplemental feeding, what do you feed them? Please be specific and include all ingredients. | White sugar and honey syrup. Last year was a very bad year for honey. What honey I took off late fall I fed back to the bees with 1 feed of minute amounts of Thymol and wintergreen oil and keep feeding them until Dec. l. I do not use harsh chemicals. Presently, my hives are strong, and they still have some stores left. |
Management of Pests and Disease
| Varroa Mite | |
| Please briefly describe what measures you take to suppress the Varroa mite population in your hives. | The essential oils last fall helped to break the cycle. Minnesota Hygenics and small cell bees have a better ability to handle the Varroa Mite. |
| How do you monitor mite population levels? When and how often? | I have a plastic bottom board I pull out and I open up the hive whenever I can and as often as necessary. |
| Before treating any hive for Varroa mites, will you monitor the Varroa mite infestation level to determine whether it exceeds the treatment threshold set by your local network? (If you run a survivor colony, and you never treat, please answer Yes.) | yes |
| If you choose to treat colonies infested with Varroa mites, will you keep records of treatment methods, along with pre- and post-treatment monitoring results? | yes |
| American and European Foulbrood | |
| How do you prevent and treat American Foulbrood (AFB) and European Foulbrood (EFB)? | Once found, you burn the equipment. The spores can last 70 years. There is no treatment. |
| Nosema | |
| How do you prevent and treat Nosema? | I would use Tea Tree or Nosema. Thus far, there has been any signs of it. |
| Other Diseases | |
| What has been your experience with other diseases (such as chalkbrood, viral diseases, wax moths, small hive beetle)? How have you dealt with them? How will you deal with them if they recur? | Thus far, I've not had to treat for anything other than the possibility Varroa mites, which was the essential Thymol and Wintergreen. Tea Tree can be used for Viral diseases. I've watched my bees take care of the small hive beetle. But if the hives are up on large PVC pipes and diatomaceous earth is placed at the bottom, every thing is kept to a minimum. Hive components also need to be kept clean even if replacing is needed. Wax moths are deterred by freezing the wax foundation frames. |
| Pests | |
| What measures do you take, if any, to protect the hives against pests such as mice, skunks, possums, raccoons, and bears? | We haven't had any bear issues yet, but the apiary on 443 West Rd is surrounded by Hawthorn Trees. The other two apiaries are fenced in from bottom up. |
| Please describe any other practices you follow to help strengthen the bee population under your care. | Minimal treatment is the key. Feeding them their own honey and pollen is also critical. Letting the bees do their thing while providing them a private and protected space has worked thus far. Thus far, they've let me know what they need. |
Colonies Engaged in Pollination Services
| Are your colonies engaged in pollination by contract? | no |
Local Networks
| Are you a part of a local network of beekeepers using natural methods? This could be a formal network like a county beekeepers association, or it could be an informal network of beekeepers in your area with a commitment to using natural methods. | yes |
| If this is a formal network please indicate the name of the network below. (If it is not a formal network, please simply write "informal".) | OrganicBeekeepers@yahoo.com has a 3,000+ followers of no-treatment keepers, some of whom date back to the 60's and are large commercial beekeepers. This form allows questions, answers, sharing from people around the world. They are passionate about organic beekeeping. |
| If this is an informal network, please indicate below the names of at least two other beekeepers who participate. They do not need to be CNG beekeepers, but they do need to have some commitment to and knowledge of natural practices. (If you're part of a formal network, please simply write "see above") | The informal network are those who have formed a small group out of the Buncombe County Bee Club. Our Intermediate Bee School last month was based on organic beekeeping. |
Agreements
| Please indicate your agreement with the following statements by entering your name/s in the spaces following the statements. | |
| I/we will only use the Certified Naturally Grown name and label on apiary products (honey, pollen, propolis) that are in fact from the CNG apiaries described in this application. | Lady Spirit Moon Cerelli |
| I/we understand that CNG beeswax certification is a separate process (not yet available in 2010), and that the basic Apiary Certification doesn't confer CNG status on beeswax. | Lady Spirit Moon Cerelli |
| I/we understand the CNG work requirements: A) To complete at least one certification inspection of another CNG apiary in my area each year. B) To arrange at least two annual inspections of my/our apiary, to be carried out by qualified inspectors as outlined in CNG informational materials. | Lady Spirit Moon Cerelli |
| I/we have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown standards, understand them, and will abide by them. I/we understand that if I/we have any questions I/we may contact CNG for clarification. | Lady Spirit Moon Cerelli |
| You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm: | |
