The Buzz Newsletter

Page 3

Featured Beekeeper of the Month

This month our featured beekeeper is Bill Johnson. He and his wife, Louise, are from Guttenberg, Iowa, and operate Johnson Honey Farm.

Bill says they started keeping bees in 1994 as a 4-H project that lasted until their son got stung. by then dad was fascinated with the bees and took over the beekeeping. Louise has since become allergic to the stings and can’t work the hives. However they do try to maintain 70 hives. Louise and Bill market 14 flavors of creamed honey, comb, chunk, basswood and wildflower honey. This is mostly through Farmers Markets.

Bill says he enjoys working with the bees and learning all he can to help them produce honey, but still has much to learn about diseases and better mite control methods. Louise enjoys the Farmers Markets and they are hoping to start selling their honey products in stores and shops in the area. They have also had some orders through their web site found at, www.johnsonhoneyfarm.com.

Bill and Louise are members of The N. E. Iowa Beekeepers. They meet 4 times a year. Louise is the secretary and mails out about 55 notices to the members.

Louise and Bill Johnson enjoy producing honey for the Farmers Markets.

Louise is the NE Iowa representative for the Iowa Honey Producers Association, and she works with the Honey Queen program.

His answer to beekeeping experiences is, “I captured a swarm of bees from a tree limb. Then placed the box in the back seat of the car. With bees flying all around, it was interesting to watch other driver’s expressions as I was coming home.”

Bill says it is always a joy to talk to other beekeepers and find out new methods others use. Thanks for your story Bill.

Submitted by Ron Wehr

For Sale : Bee Equipment

• 12 Clear plastic cut comb boxes 4½” x 4½”
• Extractor 23” tall x 16” across, plastic gate valve, plastic handle, stainless steel.
• 2 Homemade top lids 16” x 20” aluminum gable roof.
• 14 Metal frame hive separators.
14 ½” long.
• Queen excluder 19 ¾” x 16 ¼” metal with wood frame.
• 1 Wooden bottom board 16 3/8” x 22 ½” reversible.
• 20 Frame sticks ¼” x ½”
• 1 Top flat lid 18 ½” x 22” aluminum on wood.
• 2 supers 20” x 16 ½” x 6 ½” tall with 9 new frames and metal separators.
• 20 New frames 9” x 19” deep box.
• 1 Brood Box 16 ¼”x20“x9 ½” With 10 wooden frames.
• 1 Brood Box 16¼”x20”x9 ½”, empty.
• 1 Observation Hive, used, super size, in good condition.
• 2 Observation Hives, used, 28” x 18”. One has a base the other does not. All wood and plexiglass. Good condition.
• 3 Metal Frame Tool, scissors type. Good condition.
• 1 Smoker “Kelly Smokecloud” smoker. Good condition.
• 2 Frame Tools.
• 1 Bee Suit – “Dadant” durable press bee suit. Size Large. Cloth with 6 pockets. Accepts a zipper veil. Used but in good condition.
• 1 Bee Veil “Walter Kelly” nylon and metal veil. Used but in good condition.
• 1 Bee Veil “Dadant and Sons” zippered veil with white plastic bee hat. Used, good condition.
• 2 Leathered Gloves Large leathered gloves with sewed on nylon sleeves to elbow. Good condition.
• 2 VHS tapes “A Year in a Life of Apiary” ( University of Georgia )
• 1 Book “The Hive and the Honey Bee”
( Dadant Publication )
• 1 Book “ABC and XYZ Bee Culture”
( The A.I. Root Library )

$550.00 Sold as a package.

Contact : Joe Eastman
2525 33rd Street
Moline, IL 61265
Email : djes99@msn.com
Phone : ( 319 ) 797-7008