Warning: Africanized "killer" honey bees found in GA - WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA |

Warning: Africanized "killer" honey bees found in GA - WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA

Message from Ron Papa about bear damage....

Hi friends and fellow beekeepers,




Since this is the time of the year we experience pressure from the bear, I thought I would share some information I recently learned.



As beekeepers you are entitled to make a claim with the PA Game Commission for bear damage. It is my understanding that you can be compensated for equipment loss along with some value for your honey but not your bees. It is also my understanding that you can file your first claim without having an electric fence but subsequent claims at the same location require that you DO have a fence.

If you should incurr damage and wish to make a claim you must leave everything as it is and contact the game commission right away so that your local contact can come out and make a determination.



Your first step should be to contact the Dallas, PA office at 570-675-1143 or 570-675-1144. If you're not getting results through this contact you can call the Commission Biologist(Mark) at 814-625-3597.



Best of luck in your beekeeping endevours.



Regards,



Ron Papa

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Passing this along:

I have a four frame hand extractor, I think it is an old AI Root.... I don't use this extractor, I thought that maybe someone in the club would want it and I could use the $150 to put towards my honey house. Could you put the word out for me? I don't know if I can get to the next meeting or not, but Jim Mislevey said he would bring it up to the meeting, if he goes.



If not, anyone can contact me, and I'll bring it up or meet them somewhere.

Thanks Brad

Anyone can call my cell.. 570-878-9120

APOLOGIES

My apologies to the Wayne County Beekeepers Association and to the WCBEEKA blog followers, life just got really hectic and was not able to keep up with things for awhile. We will be back on track now and posting regularly.

Thanks for your patience.

Did You Know?....

Do you have beekeeping related items to sell or trade? Are you looking for help with your hives or do you have questions? Would you like to be a Mentor to a "newbee"? Would you like to start a discussion? If so please email wcbeeka@yahoo.com with your request comments and or concerns and we will post it up here.

At the bottom of each blog entry there is the ability to comment on that particular post, this option is available to everyone and is a way to communicate with one another. Please feel free to use this feature.

Just a reminder....

This month's meeting is June 7, 2010 at 7:30 at the Park Street Complex in the old Stourbridge School building.

This year's Field Day was another success! Thanks to Robert Hochreither for hosting another informative field day. Below is a picture contributed by Dolores Motichka.....if you have pictures you would like to share please send them to wcbeeka@yahoo.com

WE'RE MOVING!

As most of you know, we've outgrown our previous space and we're moving to 

The Wayne county Cooperative Extension Office 

PARK STREET COMPLEX

648 Park Street Honesdale

Ed Pruss is our contact there. He is a Wayne County Agricultural Extension Educator.

The Extension office phone number 570 253-5970 EXT. 4110

SAME TIME, 7:30

• June 7  

• July 12- NOTE DATE CHANGE 

• August 2 

• September 13 — NOTICE! 2nd Monday because of Labor Day

• October 4

• November 8 - SECOND MONDAY due to elections

BEE CULTURE PHOTO CONTEST....

Remember, if you are having trouble reading the print, just click on the image and it will enlarge.

www.nebees.com - How to Install a Package of Honey Bees

Here's one of many helpful videos on installing packaged bees found on YouTube. I found this video quite helpful but there are many more on the site. You can even make one yourself if you have some helpful tips. If you would like to do that but are unsure, just ask me (Michelle) and I can work with you.

QUICK REMINDER......

Tonight is this month's meeting. Join us at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce @ 7:30. See you there. 

Interesting News Clips

Passed on by Francis Motichka. If you cannot see the print just click on the image and it will enlarge for you.

Interesting Comments About Bees

The amazing thing about all the bee products is that they help NORMALIZE the body functions. If one is too fat, they help normalize the weight. If one is too skinny, they help normalize the store of fat (some of which is essential and desirable).

Apiary products (I use all of them!) help regulate everything. Homeostasis is the word describing how our chemistry is constantly working to keep everything balanced between two extremes.

Health is really about energy. Where there is energy, activity, joy and rest, the body will heal and maintain itself beautifully. When distress comes our way, when we wander off into bad habits etc., disease is close by, but the apiary products always help us normalize our lifestyles if we have the determination to do so.

While the 'magic' is not necessarily in the products (as in specific chemicals to address specific conditions of imbalance) there is always a natural balance in Apiary Products that point us in the remedial direction, but it is our change of mindset, our hope, positive attitude and our defeat of the fears, that performs the greatest magic. It is indeed, our own inherent natural bodily functions that do the healing. We all have it! It was born in us! It is not necessary to import it from afar! It does not cost money nor is it scarce.

Anything stronger or more potent than what is found in nature will have a skull and crossbones on the label. These products may be dramatic in their effect, but tend to only perpetuate the lifestyle imbalances we have. The apiary products help us normalize our metabolism without massive swings back and forth across the centre line.

A fully energized body is the aim of our subconscious mind. A body full of energy cannot and will not harbor disease. The frequent use of apiary products will promote good energy production (from the food we eat) and that energy will heal us and keep us well. It matters little which disease, which organ, which symptom we have, a normalized metabolism and a healthy mindset will cure it! All chronic diseases are symptoms of low energy.

The Bee works for me.

FLOWER FARM SEEKING BEES.....

Katherine Brown of Fox Hill Farm is looking for a beekeeper that might be interested in keeping their hives on the property. If you might be interested please contact: Katharine Brown Fox Hill Farm 251-9334 or foxhillfarmexperience@gmail.com

GETTING STARTED....

Here's a great article from Father Salnicky and the Monroe County Beekeeper's Association's newsletter; "Propolis" for new beekeepers:

Letter from Beesource.com

Dear Beesource Forums Member,

Beesource generally does not contact its membership by email.  However, I have learned about a situation that justifies making an exception.

I want you to consider helping Christopher Stowell, a young Boy Scout and beekeeper, in his efforts to persuade Boy Scouts of America to reinstate the Beekeeping Merit Badge. There is not enough youth involvement in beekeeping.  Both the involved scouts and the beekeeping community would benefit greatly if BSA will reinstate the merit bage.

BSA discontinued that merit badge about 15 years ago. I don’t think it is a coincidence that, around that time, many beekeepers quit due to difficulties caused by varroa mites.  With the development of the internet, we now have a way to pair up scouts with mentors.  Beekeepers support for this effort will be critical to its success.

Here is what I ask you to do:

1.  Please go to this website and sign Christopher Stowell’s online Petition: http://www.experienceproject.com/beepetition

2.  Please spread the word about the online Petition by asking your friends and contacts to sign it.  For example, you can send an email to your contacts or send a message to your friends on Facebook giving them a link to the Petition and asking for support.  You will find that most people, even non-beekeepers, are happy to support a 13 year old who is on a mission to accomplish something positive.

3.  If you are actually willing to be a mentor, please pledge to BSA that you would be willing to act as a beekeping mentor for scouts in your area.  There are two ways that you can make this known.  The easiest way is to go to the “Pledge To Be A BSA Beekeeping Mentor” thread on Beesource, which is located here: http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?p=521453#post521453

If you do not want to do a public post, you can print, sign and mail this form letter to Christopher Stowell:http://www.beesource.com/files/bsabe...letter.bsa.pdf .

4.  Finally, if you are a member of a beekeeping club, please ask your club to pass this resolution:

http://www.beesource.com/files/bsacl...lution.bsa.pdf

Christopher's goal is to present to the BSA on July 15, 2010. So please keep this in mind and make sure you take action as soon as possible.

Thanks for your help,

Barry Birkey

Beesource.com

Enjoy....

I came across an article on the hives located on the roof of Fortnum and Mason, a famous grocery store in Picadilly. It wasn't so much the article that mesmerized me, but the beautiful pictures of the very unique hives. They are absolutely dreamy. ENJOY!

Reminder.....

Our monthly meeting is this Monday April 5, 2010 7:30 @ the Chamber of Commerce. If you are getting Nucs don't forget to bring your Nuc box(es). Please click here for details. See you Monday.

Beetight....

Here's a great site if you are technically savvy: It's called Beetight You can keep records of your apiary (or apiaries) and hives. Track inspections, keep photos and even blog about your beekeeping online or on your mobile phone. It's free for up to 6 hives, $15 for the "Pro" feature which is up to 1,000 hives. With the Pro version you can get "assets tracking" This will let you keep track of all of your hive components, so you know which hives have got which honey supers and so on, as well as which parts came from where and which need repair. 


I've already signed up for the free version, since I have only 2 hives. It is very user friendly and easy to follow. In my opinion a great tool to help you keep track of your hives and what needs to be done on a regular basis. 


Just click on "Beetight" above


*contributed by Michelle Erbach*

BUZZWORTHY DECOR......

I was flipping through the March Issue of Country Living magazine and on page 34 what did I see? A page filled with home decorating items with bee images! So cute!

HONEYBEE WINTER LOSS SURVEY......

Fellow PA Beekeepers,

Dennis vanEngelsdorp has asked me to forward this request to all PA beekeepers. The survey is very short and will take only a minute or two to fill out. Please forward this to fellow beekeepers in your organizations and on your mailing lists.

Thanks,

Jim Bobb

EAS Chairman

Dear Beekeeper:

The Apiary Inspectors of America and the USDA-ARS Beltsville Bee Research Laboratory are seeking your help in tabulating the winter losses that occurred over the winter of 2009-2010. This continues the AIA/USDA survey efforts from the past 3 years which has been important in quantifying the losses of honey bees for government, media, and researchers.

This year’s survey is faster, easier and does not require your time on the phone. It is all web based and automatic, just fill and click.

Please take a few moments to fill out our winter loss survey at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/beeloss0910

This survey will be conducted until April 16^th, 2010.

We would also appreciate it if you would forward this email to other beekeepers. The more responses the better.

If you have any questions or concerns please email beeloss@gmail.com., orHoneybee.Survey@aphis.usda.gov

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Jeff Pettis; USDA-ARS Beltsville Bee Research Laboratory

Dennis vanEngelsdorp; Penn State University

Jerry Hayes; Florida Department of Agriculture

Dewey Caron; University of Delaware and Oregon State University

Receiving NUCS......

NUCS are just the 4 or 5 frames that have a queen, bees and brood. The beekeeper is responsible for bringing a nuc box/boxes.

You could also use a a deep super with some frames removed to make space for the (nucleus) [frames of queen, bees and brood.] Just remember, there will need to be a total of 10 frames in the super during transport.

This is a bit cumbersome/unwieldy but can be done. Bottom board & super will need to be strapped tightly together after frames are put inside. You must have a screen taped or stapled over the front entrance.

If you have ordered nucs through Charlie, you should come to the next meeting with your empty nuc box clearly marked with your name.

If you do not have a nuc box one can be purchased from Larry Tuttle. (or a bee supply place)

I think Larry's charge for the bottom, box and insulated metal cover is 25.00

I hope this clears up any misunderstanding that may have occurred.

Thanks, Dolores

Catch The Buzz........

CATCH THE BUZZ Let's Make Every City, Town and County, Street, Rooftop, Balcony and Backyard A Legal Home For Honey Bees! New York City, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Denver…There’s no telling which city or county will be next to allow bees, beekeepers and beekeeping in backyards, on rooftops and vacant lots. But there are still a host of cities and towns and other places that haven’t seen the light. They’ve put up that NO BUZZ ZONE sign and have no intent of taking it down anytime soon. The Dailygreen.com and Bee Culture magazine want to find those cities and towns and make a list. We’ll make a map and we’ll get it on our web pages for all to see. But we need YOUR help with this. Know a city or town that doesn’t allow beekeeping yet? Let us know. Help us identify those burgs that don't want bees. If you know a city or town…maybe it’s yours or one nearby…send me an email and let me know. But so I can identify what it’s about put NO BUZZ in the subject line. Then, put in the city, and the state and your first and last name (or just your first name if you want). Then we’ll start mapping them and get the map up for everybody to see. Send your emails to Kim@BeeCulture.com today! Help us help the honey bees, the beekeepers and beekeeping. Let’s make every beekeeper legal! This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, and our Publisher The A. I. Root Company.

EYE CANDY

Came across a beautiful website: "Le Peuple Des Abeilles" or "People of the Bees", it's a French website but many ISP have translators. Even if you don't have a translator, you have to visit just to see the photos of bee keepers and bees from all over the World. Just click on the title above.

GOT NUCS?

Need Nucs?

One of our members; Jim Mislevy will have Nucs available this Spring. If you are interested please contact Jim @ 570.836.4108

LUKANS LUNCH

FINAL CALL FOR RESERVATIONS.....join us for a nice afternoon of socializing and bee talk.

DETAILS, DETAILS!

PLEASE RSVP ASAP

dmotich@ptd.net or 570 253 2203

COST $25.00 per person

(which is paid after the lunch)

1/2 price for children under 12

Lukans Farm Resort

Long Ridge Road, Hawley, PA

Sunday March 28, 2010

12:00 to socialize, family style meal will be served at 12:30

Thanks, Dolores Motichka

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN

Our monthly meetings are starting again. Time to gear up for the upcoming season. Join us at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce on Commercial Street in Honesdale March 8, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.