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BAZETTA -- Keeping three large beehives at the Trumbull County Agriculture and Education Center is a local teacher's way of helping to educate students and the public.
David Murduck, a Champion teacher who takes part in many programs with the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District, said he always has been interested in nature and the environment. He has programs on bees and pollination for the annual Envirothon, and for other programs.
A grandfather of a child who plays sports with his son told Murduck that he builds beehives, and would be glad to help build some. "That is how locally I got started with bees. We built the hives, and because I do so much with the Envirothon it seemed a perfect place to have the hives at the agriculture center," Murduck said.
He said the honey is heavy to carry, and the hives would have to be off the Champion school grounds. It would have been a challenge to carry the honey back and forth, he added.
So having the three hives at the agricultural center works well, Murduck explained.
The hives have been at the agriculture center for the past seven years.
He said each fall an Envirothon event for students is held at the agriculture center property with various nature stations. In addition to having programs on bees at the Envirothon in October, he also leads hikes for science students.
Amy Reeher, district administrator / watershed coordinator for the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District, said having the hives available for educational purposes especially at the Envirothon-benefits students and science teachers who attend.
"He really cares about the students and wants them to be able to learn in the outdoors. He is a very dynamic person in the way he teaches about bees and other topics," she said.
Reeher said Murduck has a passion for what he does and gets others involved.
"He said taking the classes outdoors is a key to learning through hands-on activities in nature," she said.
HIVE CARE
Murduck said it is best not to bother honey bees, so he goes four times during the summer to check on the hives. He makes sure they are safe from other insects that can be harmful to them such as mites, wax moths and beetles.
Murduck said he wears a special suit when checking the hives to avoid getting stung. He gets honey in the summer every three to four weeks. "The only problem is on days when it is really hot and humid, you usually sweat a lot," he said, indicating he next will be preparing the hives for the fall.
"You can gather honey only for so long and you have to make sure there is enough honey in the hive so the bees will be able to survive the winter. This year has been excellent for honey. It is sweet honey," Murduck said.
Murduck has bottled 250 12-ounce bottles of honey this summer. He said it is sold as a fundraiser.
Murduck said the students who take part in the Envirothon and science clubs help sell the honey and also help bottle it.
"While they sell the honey, the students help educate the public about honeybees. They sell it at conferences," Murduck said.
NATURE AREA
Also being worked on is an outdoor nature area on the Champion schools property.
Murduck said plans are to have the area completed for use by the students later this school year.
"It will be able to be used by the elementary school students who can come here and have a learning day," he said.
For the science area, native plants have been put in, chimney swift towers have been placed and pollinator flowers, fruit trees and a garden with vegetables were planted.
Murduck said when the old schools were torn down, the chimney swifts were left. He said many people cap their chimneys to keep birds and bats out.
Being built is a handicapped accessible trail for people in wheelchairs and a sensory garden for autistic children.
"When the fruit and vegetables are ready, I let local families in the community know they are available," he said.
Murduck said tomatoes and corn were planted this year, and plans are for pumpkins and melons next year.
Two Boy Scouts did a project at the science area with one building benches and other creating raised garden beds.
Murduck said the school district purchased recyclable tables.