Tanglewood Hollow

The bee season is in full swing in Michigan. I did my first bee removal this year on March 31st. My hives have been collecting since the crazy warm-up we had in March (80 degrees? Really?) and are doing well.

If you find yourself with honeybees that you’d rather not have, contact me at the link above or call 269-3400-BEE. I will be happy to remove them for you. Don’t wait until summer!

I cover a large area in southwest Michigan. Counties include: Van Buren, Cass, Berrien, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Barry, Allegan and Calhoun Counties.

Swarm removal is same day and free.

If the bees have taken up residence in a structure there is a charge ($50-120). Refer to my Bee Removal Services page for more info.

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A little taste of bluegrass from a Wheatland of yesteryear. Found this in my old files today. Recorded it while wandering around the campgrounds (in a tent, not on a stage).

Taste of Bluegrass

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Would any of the creative folks I know want a Kickstarter invite? I have one left. Kickstarter is a powerful fundraising tool for artistic/creative projects.

Here’s my caveat: You have to give away at least one of your invites (you’ll get some) to someone in a random way. I will pick a random commenter to this post (on tanglewoodhollow.net).

Check out the guidelines for fund raising. And the FAQ.

This tool can make creative projects take off in a big way. One project raised almost a million dollars. I’ve seen some sweet ideas funded. Everything from albums, to books, to restaurant and brewery start-ups. It’s a beautiful thing.

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I’ve always thought it rather strange that the link between art and science has been drifting further and further apart. To me they are one and should continue to be so. People who do both accomplish the most amazing things. Read the following post to find out more.

Most people are at a loss to be able to identify any useful connections between arts and sciences. This ignorance is appalling. Arts provide innovations through analogies, models, skills, structures, techniques, methods, and knowledge. Arts don’t just prettify science or make technology more aesthetic; they often make both possible.

That cell phone or PDA you’re carrying? It uses a form of encryption called frequency hopping to ensure your messages can’t easily be intercepted. Frequency hopping was invented by the composer George Antheil in collaboration with the actress Hedy Lamarr. Yeah, really.

via The Art of Scientific and Technological Innovations : Art of Science Learning.

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I made a few experimental beehives last year. They are frameless hives, so the bees can make their comb in a natural way. The hives are basically just empty boxes with a couple of thin wooden supports to help support the comb.

One of the hives failed in a cold snap this February. Last weekend we harvested the honey. We ended up with 2 ½ gallons of honey from one failed colony.

Watch the video to see what the inside of a natural beehive looks like.

Harvesting Honey from Jeremy Marr on Vimeo.

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That’s a pretty big word methinks. It’s an attractive word though. It means the study of honey, pollen and the sources of both. Say it with me.. Melissapalynology.

I am on my way to becoming a melissapalynologist. I’ve purchased a microscope and a bit of equipment for cataloging the pollen that is collected by my bees. I hope to be able to identify what flowers they are visiting by examining the morphology of the pollen they bring in. I’ve found several databases so far. If you can recommend any please send me a note.

I hope to eventually create my own database for southwest Michigan. Something that could be useful regardless of your scientific background or lack thereof.

Fun times to come!

Now I’m wondering if I can make a centrifuge into a car’s hub cap…

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I guess it really shouldn’t surprise anyone..

Monarch butterflies use medicinal plants to treat offspring | Michigan Today

Monarch butterflies appear to use medicinal plants to treat their offspring for disease, research by biologists at the University of Michigan and Emory University shows.”We have shown that some species of milkweed—the larva’s food plants—can redu

ce parasite infection in the monarchs,” said Jaap de Roode, the Emory evolutionary biologist who led the study. “And we have also found that infected female butterflies prefer to lay their eggs on plants that will make their offspring less sick, suggesting that monarchs have evolved the ability to medicate their offspring.”

via Monarch butterflies use medicinal plants to treat offspring | Michigan Today.

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Just seems like a good idea.

Aquaponics is a bio-integrated system that links recirculating aquaculture with hydroponic vegetable, flower, and/or herb production. Recent advances by researchers and growers alike have turned aquaponics into a working model of sustainable food production. This publication provides an introduction to aquaponics with brief profiles of working units around the country. An extensive list of resources points the reader to print and Web-based educational materials for further technical assistance.

via Aquaponics – Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture.

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Boo. Just boo. If you want good food you can’t trust institutions. You have to know and trust the farmer.

Just when we thought that buying “Organic” was safe, we run headlong into the deliberate poisoning of our organic food supply by the FDA in collusion with none other than the folks who brought us Aspartame. NutraSweet, a former Monsanto asset, has developed a new and improved version of this neurotoxin called Neotame.

Neotame has similar structure to aspartame — except that, from it’s structure, appears to be even more toxic than aspartame. This potential increase in toxicity will make up for the fact that less will be used in diet drinks. Like aspartame, some of the concerns include gradual neurotoxic and immunotoxic damage from the combination of the formaldehyde metabolite (which is toxic at extremely low doses) and the excitotoxic amino acid.

via USDA Certified Organic’s Dirty Little Secret: Neotame | Farm Wars.

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Mmmm, ginger. Yummy stuff, and so easy to grow really.

Ginger root is sold in a clump that’s often called a “hand.” You’ll want to choose a hand that’s fresh and firm with as many “fingers” as possible. To get as many plants as you can, cut or break the fingers off the main root. Each section with a growing tip will become a plant. Be sure to allow any cut surfaces to dry before planting them in moist soil.

via Garden Article: Growing Ginger.

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