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Local Items: Any beekeepers on Bonaire?
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives 2007: Archives - 2007-01-01 to 2007-06-30: Any beekeepers on Bonaire?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ross Canant (BonaireTalker - Post #69) on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 1:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would like to chat...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #137) on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 3:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Ross,
My wife and I are Dutch (hobby) beekeepers and did a long search last year, asked around. It seems that there are no conventional beekeepers on the island, but that there is actually local honey available. We coudn't find it last time, but we're going to search again. It seems that local people just take what they want from the wild swarms that are around. We were taken to a "bee tree", and haresting the honey would involve demolishing the tree and destroying the colony. The bees we saw were small and not too aggressive - I think they aren't africanized "killler" bees. Local honey should be great, it usually is from dry areas. We were thinking in the past of maybe starting a bee farm on Bonaire, but I think it would not be feasible - Bonaire is too dry and the iguanas would probably raid the hives.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ross Canant (BonaireTalker - Post #70) on Monday, January 22, 2007 - 3:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, I was curious about the African bees that have taken over much of the Caribbean and southern US. I too thought that conventional beekeeping might be good on Bonaire. There seems to be something blooming everytime I'm there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #263) on Monday, January 22, 2007 - 5:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

There used to be a person in Hato that kept bees. I am sure if he still around - but a friend of mine use to get honey from him.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #141) on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 12:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the tips. We got some info on the island as well (thanks for trying, Richard!), but we didn't get to meet a beekeeper. We did go to the bee tree at Dos Pos. You can find a picture of it in my trip report.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #153) on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 3:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

On Bonaire we received a few tips as well, but to no avail: the Bonaire beekeeper(s) keep well hidden! Someone said someone at WEB keeps bees, someone else said someone else who is a friend of a Dutch beekeeper who is sometimes on the island keeps bees, but we weren't able to trace or contact them. Maybe next time...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Thorpe (BonaireTalker - Post #64) on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 11:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi
As far as the humidity goes, I don't think you'd have a problem on Bonaire. I live in Las vegas, the high desert of Nevada and we have many beekeepers. Now the iguanas might be a problem--does anyone have any info on that aspect?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #156) on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 5:10 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

No, humidity will certainly not be the problem. I think finding good foraging plants for the bees all year round might be a bigger problem, along with a source of sweet water near the hive.

your image
bee tree near Dos Pos

your image
bee gathering water to cool the nest at Dos Pos

your image
bee gathering nectar on local basil near Dos Pos

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #970) on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 11:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alex, great pics:-) I did hear that the bees on Bonaire are 'friendly'...but I still freaked when there was one on Susan and Lisa's front walk...Lisa walked gently over, put it on her hand and took it over to a flower bush...then there was the time I was talking to Rona, and a small leaf fell in the drivers side window...I thought it was a bee and let out a very loud shriek! I do admire Danielle and you for your passion:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #157) on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 11:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde, I don't know about the bees on Bonaire being friendly - for all I know they could be Africanized "killer" bees, though I very much doubt that, seeing that I could get very close to their nest without being attacked. By the way, the best way to get stung is to cry out loud and make wild moves!
I would suggest you find a hobby beekeeper in your area and get him to take you to see his bees and explain all about them. I guarantee you'll be fascinated and less scared afterwards. Another option would be coming to Amsterdam in Spring or Summer and have Danielle show you her bees (they used to be "our" bees but due to my allergies not anymore).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #978) on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 1:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alex, I'll go for option number two:-) When we come to see Martin and Angela (hopefully sometime over the next couple of years) I'd love to see Danielle's bees and get over my fear and phobia!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4447) on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 8:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

He Cynde, feel free to come! We might even go for a dive here in the Dutch waters. Just make sure you come in this time of year, the vis. is stunning at the moment... :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #992) on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 9:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Martin, 2009? ;-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #159) on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 3:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde, Martin: due to Dutch weather conditions in winter, the "vis" might be perfect at this time of year, but is simply impossible to open a beehive - far too cold! So Cynde will have to chose... or dive in murky waters. We have a pond in the bee garden that stays clear in summer as well, and it has some nice frogs in it, but it's only big enough for half a diver.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4448) on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 5:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde, sounds like a plan!, but considering the previous posting, You might consider summer, I'll take you to a fresh water lake for diving then...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #994) on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 11:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hmmmm, the pond sounds fun though...half a diver, I wouldn't have to get completely wet...lol! Alex, I forgot about the bees hibernating! Martin, fresh water sounds good, are there things in the lake to see?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #169) on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 11:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you're in the lake, it's the Lady in the Lake -I love a good thriller!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #170) on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 11:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Which definitely sounds much better than the Lady in the Pond.

The bees will probably not be hibernating where you live.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1001) on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 2:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alex...lol..."1/2 a Lady in the Pond"...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4450) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 2:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have Fish in the lake and several items placed esp. for divers, like a Coach and several wrecks. I'll show you...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #173) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 2:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ook vroeg op, Martin! Ga zo door en we krijgen ze wel zo ver dat ze een keer komen.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4451) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 5:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Best wel ;) Ze komen wel, geen probleem. Wij gaan eerst daarheen en daarna komt er vast wel een tegenbezoekje... :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1029) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 11:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

huh? I know, I know Martin, I need to learn Dutch:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1030) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 11:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I don't think the online translators are so good...this is what it said Alex said:


quote:

Also early on, Martin! Go so through and we get they well so far that they a time come.




and martin:

quote:

Best well;) They come well, no problem. We go comes fast firstly that way and after that there well a tegenbezoekje


 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1032) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 11:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ok, another translation:
Alex


quote:

Also asked, Martin! Continue this way and we get them, however, this way far that them a time comes.




Martin

quote:

Best, however;) They come, however, no problem. We go firstly daarheen and afterwards come there fixed, however, tegenbezoekje


 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4452) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 11:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well, my in head translator says differently... LOL

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #175) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ich verstehe wirklich nichts davon! Mais c'est évident, mon ami. Lei vuole sapere che cosa dicono in holandese. Pero no es facil traducir tegenbezoekje in Inglès. Tja, tegenbezoekje, da's vast net zo onvertaalbaar als gezelligheid of taaitaaipop. I'm lost for words.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1049) on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 8:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Alex, since you know like, what, eight languages? I see Spanish, French, Dutch, German, I know there has to be Italian in there...oh, and English! I wonder what it would give me if I put it in the translator!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #176) on Saturday, February 24, 2007 - 6:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde, it's just six, and some rather rusty at that. And the output of your translator, well, some smoke maybe, but nothing spectacular otherwise.

 


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