February 26, 2008 Volume 2, Number 2

 

The next Club meeting of the Bristol County Beekeepers Association will be on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 7:00 PM at Bristol County Agricultural High School.

 

President’s Message

Happy February to you, People,

As we begin the 2008 bee season, it seems like a good idea to tidy up some business. At the January meeting, elections were held and basically a new slate of officers was elected. First, Thank You to the former board members. Many were on the executive committee in one capacity or another for quite a while. Ray and Eunice Michaud, Bill Russell and Chris Jerome have all moved back to a seat with the Members. Thanks to each of you for your service. The Club has benefited from what you’ve done and how you have helped.  Thank You very much.

            To the new board members, Welcome!  And thank You for signing up. I’m psyched, and I hope you are too!

            Also at the January meeting, Don Adams presented and discussed his Solar Wax Melter, another interesting facet of the art and world of beekeeping. The information Don presented was relevant and interesting. Also, during the Club meeting after his talk, the course of discussion came around to pests of various trees in the area.  That entered into another of Don’s forte’s, i.e. moths and butterflies. He was thus able to add his perspective about what is being done about the various tree pests. All of these things are related.  It worked out well. Thanks very much to Don for taking the time to talk to us.

            Also, in the course of events, as many of you have seen in the Club newsletter, Mass Bee is sponsoring a bee equipment radiation program. The primary target is foul brood and, aside from burning the equipment, is the other foolproof method of eradicating this disease.  Thanks to Everett for volunteering to be the contact person/organizer for that program.  Statewide there was a good response so perhaps it will be run again, maybe in a year or two.  Stay tuned!

            Also, as you’ve seen in previous newsletters, the Beginning Beekeeping Course began Wednesday, February 20. Once again Bristol Aggie HS has been very generous to allow us to hold the classes at the school.  We are very fortunate to be working with a group, over many years, of like-minded people.  Thanks to Bristol Aggie!  If there’s an area that you’d like to brush up on, please stop by!  Wednesday nights, 7-9 in Room 108, mais oui!

            If you are interested in purchasing packages of bees, it’s a good idea to do so sooner rather than later.  There are quite a few sources listed on the Club web page.

            On February 9, the board members of Mass Bee met in Worcester. Please see elsewhere in the letter for a report on that meeting.

            At this month’s meeting, Club member Everett Zurlinden will be speaking about Feeding: What to do When in Feeding Your Bees. Timely, relevant information.

            Good for now. Speaking of feeding, I recommend you check your bees and verify that the bees are eating.  There may be honey near the cluster, but if it’s cold and there’s brood they won’t leave the brood to go for the food.  Put food right over/on top of the cluster, i.e. bring the mountain to the bees.  Then they have food and still be able to keep the brood warm.

            I hope this finds you and yours doing at least pretty well.  Isn’t it nice that we’re seeing more of the sun these days?!   Cheerio,  Greg

 

 

 

Sources of Package Bees

The following names have been identified for Club members to purchase bees:

David Hayden 781-749-3032

Fred Magee 508-583-4270

Andy Card 798-667-5380 (MVABeePunchers.com). Mark Rober, Trail’s End Farm - tefarm.com

Roger Robitiaille  (401) 732-6599 or (401) 378-3578

Andy Reseska 508-429-6872  

 

 

                            

 

 

                                      

 

 

 

 

Bristol County Beekeepers Association Video Library

The club has eight videos in its’ library. Members are reminded that the club will retain them and will be viewed during our monthly meetings.

 

Title	Company	Time
Finding The Queen When You Must	Bee Culture	1 hour
Getting Started	Bee Works	1 hour
Honey Bee Queens Marking and Installing	Bee Culture	25 min
Medication and Pesticides	Mabesoone Apiary	1 hour 30 min
Queen Rearing	Bee Works	1 hour 30 min
Small Scale Honey Harvesting	Bee Culture	56 min
Spring to Summer	Bee Works	1 hour 25 min
Summer to Winter	Bee Works	1 hour 15 min
Your Smoker and Reading Frames	Bee Culture	30 min

 

WEB Sites of Interest to the Beekeeper

As spring approaches, now is the perfect time to prepare for the coming bee season. Here are some sites to help with planning, repairing, or replacing equipment that needs help. These are some sites; by all means not a complete listing. For instance Humble Abode is not listed.  It’s intended to be a starting place.

 

http://www.MannLakeLtd.com

http://www.BeeSource.com        

http://www.Dadant.com

http://www.BeeEquipment.com  

http://www.Maxant.com

http://www.Allergysa.org/bee_2.htm

http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/cellplugbox.html

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FeralBeeProject/

 

                           Mentor Program

Bristol County Beekeepers Association has members who are willing to answer your questions, discuss beekeeping techniques, or even go to your apiary to look at your hive.  Take advantage of their assistance to help make your beekeeping experience better.  Feel free to contact any of the following people:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Jerome     Westport           508-636-7258 CedarLedgeApiary@cs.com

 

Ray Michaud     Westport           508-675-0236 raymm36@aol.com

 

Lucy Tabit         Westport           508-636-5564 LucyTabit@charter.net

 

Fred Magee       West Bridgewater          508-583-4270

 

Joseph Tardif     South Dartmouth            508-636-2128 Tenconnex@aol.com

 

Wayne Andrews            Dighton             508-824-8469 Wayne@Andrews.net

 

Greg Boyd         Berkley             508-823-6836 GGBoyd@tmlp.com

 

 

 

ITEMS FOR SALE

Ray Michaud has the following items for sale:

1. Honey jars: 8oz, 1lb and 2lb Classic jars
2. Bee Boxes (brood boxes) with NEW frames and wired foundation.  Frames are glued and nailed.  Foundation is cross wired.
3. Deep crimp-wired foundation and Medium crimp-wired foundation.
4. 1000 pound stainless steel tank with a 1-1/2 in. valve and cover (Maxant)
5. Stainless steel sink, which will make a good uncapping tank.

Call Ray at 508-675-0236 for more information.

 

 

 

Beekeeper’s Calendar for FEBRUARY

·         CRITICAL to Check hive stores and FEED if they are light.  Feed 1:1 sugar:water syrup or add dry granulated sugar on inner cover.

·         Queen is starting to lay eggs-make sure there is food for the new brood!

·         Check that the entrance is clear.  Clear away any dead-bee accumulation.

·         Check for dead-outs.

·         Place order for package bees.

·         Clean and prepare equipment for the coming season.

As the days get warmer, bees will start to fly.  If bees return with pollen, that is a good indicator there is brood and good chances the hive is queen right.  Make sure there  is enough syrup.