Apiary Application
Jilly Bees Apiary
Owner: Jill & Andy CurrinFarm Address:
6410 Wimberly Road
Willow Spring, NC 27592
Wake County
United States
daytime phone: 919-906-4135
Web site: http://www.jillybees.org
Application Date: 2010-03-09
General Information
| Please briefly tell us why you are applying to have your apiary be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program. | We have never used chemicals on our hives, do not use chemicals on our land. We are commited to sustainable beekeeping and agriculture. |
| 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 NC State Beekeeping Association. We went to a workshop to learn more and discovered we have been beekeeping according tot he CNG protocol. |
| 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). | |
| How many hives are in your apiary (or apiaries)? | 9 |
| 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. | 6410 Wimberly Road Willow Spring, NC 27592 |
| Briefly describe the landscape where the apiary is located. What surrounds the apiary? What are the nectar sources? | Our property is 3 acres. East of us is a 60 acre horse farm, north and west is 122 acres of woodland uninhabitated, South of us is 30 acres of pasture used for sweet potatoes or soy and part is bailed for hay. We plant buckwheat, clover, herbs and wildflowers for the bees, there are many native plants nearby. |
| 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? | We prefer to use zero chemicals, but if needed to would use something within the organic/CNG standards. |
| Use this space to describe any land management practices you use to support the honey bee population. | we have an organic garden, plant forage for the bees, and do not use any unapproved substances. |
| 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. | Currently use sharpie to date tops of each frame. Will make it easy to maintain brood comb standards. |
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? | We LOVE feral colonies, raise queens and/or divide strong survivor colonies. |
| 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. | We have fed 2:1 Sugar water in late winter after a drought year when stores were low. In future plan on saving honey for feed or leaving enough stores to avoid supplemental feed. |
Management of Pests and Disease
| Varroa Mite | |
| Please briefly describe what measures you take to suppress the Varroa mite population in your hives. | We use natural Cell and small cell methods. Hives are off the ground in sunny areas. Frames have a starter strip of small cell foundation or a wire guide only. We use Dried rosemary, eucalyptus, sumac berries and pine in smoker. we ONLY use screened bottom boards all year long. We also have a custom ventilated top used in summer. I also put coffe grounds at the base of the hives to keep varroa and ants away. |
| How do you monitor mite population levels? When and how often? | twice a year during spring and summer evaluate.Had apiary inspector out in Aug 2008 only saw 1 or 2 mites on one of the hives. |
| 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)? | We believe if you keep hives healthy and use hygenic bees and do not dope them they will be strong to fight/resist these diseases. If Hives were infected they would be destroyed. |
| Nosema | |
| How do you prevent and treat Nosema? | Good Genetics and clean management practices to prevent. If infected would use apple cider vinegar, essentail oils and honeyBhealthy. |
| 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? | I squish any Small hive beetles, but find the sunny locals and strong colonies keep them in check. We have found out Strong colonies,good genetics and hive management practices keep all pests/parasites at bay. |
| Pests | |
| What measures do you take, if any, to protect the hives against pests such as mice, skunks, possums, raccoons, and bears? | Cats and dogs may help by chasing and barking at critters. Specifically we use entrance reducers in winter. |
| Please describe any other practices you follow to help strengthen the bee population under your care. | We let the bees do what they want to do, bees make better beekeeper than humans. |
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".) | I am in the Yahoo Organic Beekeepers group. I have a handful of informal colleagues using natural methods. We are active members in the Wake COunty beekeepers Assoc, but most members treat hives more than I prefer. |
| 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") | Michelle Barry, 10 + Beekeeper in Apex. She was my initial mentor getting started using natural methods. Jackie & Lou Hough,- Organic farmers have met several times, most recently at CNG workshop. Linda& Dale Klose met at CNG workshop. |
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. | Jill Currin |
| 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. | Jill Currin |
| 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. | Jill Currin |
| 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. | Jill Currin |
| You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm: | |
