Category: General Club Information

Hello beekeepers and honeybee enthusiasts,

Are you ready for spring yet? Some days it feels like spring already! It won’t be long before the nectar flow is on and swarm season begins. Many of you may be seeing bees bringing in pollen already! If you do not have your equipment ready for spring, it’s crunch time. Pull your boxes from storage, assemble extra frames, apply a fresh coat of paint to the outside of boxes as needed. You do not want to be in the middle of a hive inspection and realize you need equipment that’s not ready to go!

Huge thanks to Dr. Zac Lamas and the Huguenot Beekeepers Association for a great joint meeting. Dr. Lamas shared with us everything we wanted to know about Varroa mites and mite research that we were afraid to ask. We all left with tons of great information.

📢March Meeting

Speaking of spring. For our March meeting, we will discuss the preparations the bees are making for spring and what to look for to stay ahead of swarming. John Davis has a presentation prepared for us and if you have ever spent any time with John, you know that he is a wealth of experience and information. We know that there’s a lot of information and mis-information on social media as folks are noticing how busy their bees are, all the comb and brood that seems to increase overnight, and the impact of the weather on all of this. SO, get in your car, put on some good music and come on out to this meeting and get some valuable information that you can immediately use.

Click here for Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Calendar of Events

Saturday, March 11th – Beginner Beekeeping class Day 4 at Dandelion Springs Apiary

Monday, March 13th – RPBBA Monthly Meeting at Rockwood Park Nature Center (topic: Swarming and spring management with John Davis).

Monday, March 20th – Study Group meeting at Rockwood Park Nature Center

Here are some other meetings that you may like to attend to support your beekeeping journey:

State Apiarist Keith Tignor is hosting a lecture and hands-on demo titled: Starting and Growing in Beekeeping on March 8th at VSU. Click on the link for details https://www.ext.vsu.edu/events/2023/3/8-starting-bees

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)

Mark your calendar now for the VSBA Spring/Summer meeting on Saturday, June 10 & 11th @ Sweet Briar College.

Beautiful Sweet Briar College is the perfect campus for this convening of beekeepers! There are on-site dorm and hotel options, a large vendor area, multiple workshops including apiary workshops, tours of the pollinator meadows and greenhouses, honey show prep, honey bee microscopy, master beekeeper exams and practicals. There’s also a list of fantastic speakers who will engage beekeepers at all levels of knowledge and experience. Mark your calendar, registration opens April 1. More information about the conference can be found on the VSBA website: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/

Bumblebee Jamboree

Join us the next weekend on Saturday, June 17th from 10:30am-2:30pm for Bumblebee Jamboree held at Maymont Children’s Farm. This is a great community event with activities such as planting stations, observation bee hives, storytimes, pollinator games & snacks, children’s crafts and more. This event is sponsored by the Chesterfield Master Gardeners of the Virginia Cooperative Extension and headed up by our own, Rick McCormick. Come on out to volunteer and encourage your friends, family and neighborhood to come on out as well.

2023 Honey Bee Festival Add to Google Calendar

To keep the excitement going, we are having our Honey Bee Festival on Saturday, June 24th from 10am-2pm at the Rockwood Nature Center and festival planning is well underway! Bill Crouch and Keith Ebbeskotte have volunteered to co-chair the 2023 Festival. Huge thanks to Bill and Keith.

We have a terrific team of volunteer committee leads: Emma Cummings, Robert Johnston, Will Wagoner, Holly Monger, Jacob Schwartz, Kyree Tanner, Sherry Giese, Don Osborne, Sherry Kelley, Hollee Freeman, Bill Kusnierz, Donna Eissler, Genelle Pollock, Mr. C, Pam Kimball, and Alice/Walt McIntyre. With such an experienced group leading the charge, this year’s festival is sure to be a success.

As many of you know, space was tight at last year’s festival. Luckily, our leadership teamed up with Chesterfield County for a solution. We’re swarming! Just kidding. More accurately, our hive is growing. The festival grounds will be expanded across Rockwood Park. A rough blueprint is available for those looking to catch a glimpse of the expanded festival grounds. This new Festival footprint provides great opportunities for us to get even more creative on how we use the Festival to support RPBBAs mission.

Sign-ups are open. Here’s an overview (which can also be found on our website)

Call for Volunteers Last year we were blessed to have about 125 volunteers lend a helping hand. With our new, expanded, festival footprint we will need that many and more. Volunteers do not have to be beekeepers or a member of our club or know anything about bees. Volunteers can be kids, family, friends, etc. The only requirement is a willingness to help. We can certainly find a way to use volunteers and are thankful for all the help we can get! Volunteers are provided a free Honey Bee Festival t-shirt. More details, including a signup form, can be found here: rockwoodbeekeepers.com/volunteer-sign-up/

Interested in Bee-ing a Vendor? We are looking for vendors to join us at our 2023 Honey Bee Festival. Space is available for single or double spaces and food trucks. We’re looking for vendors that sell items related to our mission- supporting bees, pollinators, plants and/or nature related– with at least a portion of items hand crafted. Sound like you or someone you know? More details, including fees, and an application form can be found here: rockwoodbeekeepers.com/bee-a-vendor/

ISO Educational Exhibitors Our expanded festival footprint allows us to expand our educational offering during the festival. We are now able to offer a FREE 15’x10 exhibitor space to non-profit organizations with complimentary objectives (e.g. educators, gardening clubs, environmental groups, bee clubs,etc) that support beekeeping and bees, pollinators, plants and/or nature related. More details including exhibitor requirements and an application form can be found here: rockwoodbeekeepers.com/bee-an-exhibitor/

📢 Calling All Swarm Chasers

We have a list of folks on our website (rockwoodbeekeepers.com) who are at the ready to remove swarms. Sometimes swarms can be easily removed; other times it requires an extensive cut-out. Emails are routed to active members in the club who have expressed interest in capturing swarms. These requests are immediate and you should have the flexibility to drop everything and help on short notice. If you are not already on the swarm list and would like to be, signup here. Even if you do not have the experience to go get the swarm yourself, you might want to tag along with an experienced beekeeper to see how it is done.

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Beekeeper: Jody Wienckowski Conway

Q: How long have you been a beekeeper and how many hives do you manage?

A: I have been a beekeeper since 2013 and I help manage about 35 hives.

Q: What inspired you to become a beekeeper?

A: I didn’t see bees on flowers as I walked to and from my job as a pharmacist.

Q: What is the best thing about beekeeping for you?

A: The best thing about beekeeping is there is ALWAYS more to learn!

Q: What’s challenging about beekeeping for you?

A: The weight of the boxes and being allergic to bee stings. The mites are challenging too.

Q: What fun, surprising story would you like to share?

A: I love that the bees have brought me back to plants, native and medicinal plants and being a better steward of our precious Earth.

Q: In what ways do you feel like you are making an impact on the environment?

A: I’m learning to be better for the bees, for us, and for the Earth – not using chemicals, being regenerative, making conscious choices to be better and to do better every day. The best thing is being able to share with others and help others be better stewards as well. The impact of my efforts and continued learning and all of the things that benefit. What a beautiful community that the bees inspire and bring together!

(the pic is Jody with her first swarm in the bucket)

📰Beekeepers in the News

Chestnut Ridge Garden (Carla & Stan) joined the Violet Bank Garden Club during their monthly meeting on Monday, February 20th which included an early showing of spring blooms, including jonquils, narcissus, Lenten roses and flowering quince. After a delicious luncheon with bee-themed decor, Chestnut Ridge Garden gave a presentation on honey bees and beekeeping which was jam-packed with photos of garden blooms and bees with lots of facts and anecdotes. It was a great day of fun and learning all around!

Hollee Freeman had a busy February. She spoke with 60+ 1st graders (who were all in one classroom!) at Carver ES in Richmond about honey bees and beekeeping. She also gave a presentation at Henderson MS in Richmond and was a participant on a podcast talking about the connection between honey bees and crop production.

If you do cool stuff in the community about bees, shoot and email to the Rockwood Club for a feature in the newsletter. rockwood.beekeepers

This Month in the Hive (March)

In March, the days become longer and the queen steadily increases her rate of egg laying. The brood nest will expand and migrate upward into areas where honey has been consumed. The brood nest is now 6-8 inches across, and may extend across several frames. As much as 75- 100 cells of drone brood may be seen at the end of the month. More brood means more honey, nectar and pollen are consumed. A few drones begin to appear toward the end of the month. The bees will continue to consume honey stores. They will also bring in a fair amount of nectar and pollen, but not as much as is consumed.

The hive may consume as much as 7 lbs per week (net of inflow) when cold, rain, snow, or icy conditions prevail. Make sure the hive does not tilt backward. It should slightly tilt forward to shed rain from the bottom board.

Prevent starvation by making certain that food supplies are sufficient. Maple nectar and pollen continue to be very important to population buildup. Willows may bloom in wet, sheltered valleys. In some parts of Virginia, ornamental and exotic shrubs supply small amounts of pollen. Crocus, daffodil, and other flowering bulbs will also supply some pollen. Boxwood, quince, hackberries, forsythia, and elms will supply variety in the pollen sources. Some early dandelions may bloom at the end of the month.

If using a screened bottom board, you should resist the urge to remove the insert. Leave it in until consistent warmer weather arrives in late April. In late March, you may consider reversing the deep brood supers, or the medium supers that some beekeepers use for brood. This will allow for a better distribution of the brood, and stimulate the growth of the colony. If the brood nest extends across the brood supers, do not reverse until there is a large enough population to keep both halves of the brood nest from death due to chilling.

On a sunny day early in the month, when there is little wind and the bees are flying, have a quick look inside the hive. A temperature above 54 degrees should do for this task. Remove frames for a quick inspection. Inspect for disease and see that the queen is laying. Eggs laid in January and February will all be hatched into new workers by mid-late March and the population will be much higher than in January. You may wan to add a pollen patty if you have not yet done so but be careful to add a small piece and watch carefully-you don’t want to entice mites.

Look for drone brood along the bottom edges of frames with brood. Remove some drone brood with a cappings scratcher and look for Varroa mites. If you find Varroa in 30% or more of the drone brood cells, perform a mite count, and decide whether to treat for mites. Be sure to chheck for remaining honey and pollen stores. Food stores can run dangerously low until a heavy nectar flow starts. It may be necessary to continue feeding the hive.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

Bee in the Know with your Bee Vocabulary – “split”

If you have a large, healthy hive, it is possible to create a new colony from it by making what is called a split. The basic concept of making a split is that you take a portion of an established colony and transfer it to a separate hive thereby creating two colonies. There are many reasons for making a split. Some beekeepers make splits to increase their apiary or to sell to other beekeepers. Others use splits as a form of swarm control, mite control or to reduce the size of a large colony.

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

2nd Week: Maple, Elm, Star Magnolia, Cornelean Cherry, Mahonia, Forsythia Pieris, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Crocus, Jonquil, Periwinkle, Pansy, Wildflowers

3rd Week: Maple, Elm, Star Magnolia, Cornelian Cherry, Mahonia, Forsythia, Flowering Quince, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Pieris, Crocus, Jonquil, Pansy, Periwinkle, Wildflowers

4th Week: Maple, Elm, Magnolia, Callery Pear, Cornelian Cherry, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Mahonia, Pieris, Forsythia, Boxwood, Flowering Quince, Crocus, Periwinkle, Narcissus, Pansy, Candytuft, Wildflowers

https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Final Word

If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. Please participate in meetings and volunteer to help with the Bumblebee Jamboree and the Honey Bee Festival.

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

*****************************************************************************
This is the official Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers email. RPBBA will never share your email with anyone outside of the organization or for non-club-related business without your permission. If you wish to update your email or be removed from our email list please complete this form.

Hello beekeepers and honeybee enthusiasts,

February is a busy month full of events for Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers. We have the Beginner Beekeeping Class meeting twice this month, Honey Bee Festival planning, our monthly meeting with Dr. Zac Lamas, and the Study Group all happening in February!

🐝 2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course

The first session of the 2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course was chock-full of information (and people). It truly was “like drinking from a firehose”. For those of you in the class, don’t stress, there are plenty of people and resources to support you on your beekeeping journey.

The next session will be held on Saturday, February 11th at 9am at Dandelion Springs Apiary. The address for Dandelion Springs is:

11011 Beaver Bridge Rd

Chesterfield, VA 23838

The course is full and registration is closed. For those enrolled, if you do not have your calendar marked already, you can Add to Google Calendar now. The class meets twice this month, Saturday, February 11th and 25th.

As a reminder, RPBBA practices reciprocity with the Huguenot Beekeeping Association (HBA). Participants who are unable to make a class at RPBBA, may attend and receive the same instruction at HBA. Both clubs offer the same course on alternating Saturday’s.

2023 Honey Bee Festival Planning

Planning has begun and the date has been set for June 24th at Rockwood Park. We are finalizing team leads and then we ask for volunteers. As you know, we will need a lot of volunteers to make the HBF a success! Beeeeeeee prepared to get involved, it’s great fun!

February Meeting

This month our meeting will be held in conjunction with the Huguenot Beekeepers Association @7pm at the Powhatan Village Building Auditorium located at 3910 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan, VA 23139. Dr. Zac Lamas will discuss Varroa Mites. This is a presentation that you do not want to miss.

Add to Google Calendar

VSBA Master Beekeeping Study Group

The study group will be held on Feb 21st at the Chesterfield Library located at 325 Courthouse Road at 6:30pm.

For those who have never checked it out, the study group is a great way for RPBBA members to further their beekeeping knowledge. Several members are studying for the annual VSBA Apprentice and Journeyman exams. However, there is no requirement for attendees to pursue certification. The study group is open to all members who want to learn. During the study group sessions, questions from the VSBA Apprentice Study Guide are posed for the group to discuss and answer together. There is much to learn during open discussion with our peers!

Those interested to attend are encouraged to download the guide in advance and start working through the questions on their own. Add to Google Calendar

Have You Reserved Your Bees For 2023?

Whether you’re a 1st time beekeeper, or looking to replace a colony that didn’t make it through Winter, there are resources for you to source live bees locally.

For those looking to purchase Nucs, Packages or Queen’s check out our 2023 Resources* The time is now to start reserving your order(s).

*This is simply a list of local suppliers; RPBBA does not endorse or give preference. Buyers are encouraged to do their own research before making their decision to purchase from any supplier.

Bee Vocabulary – “Pheromones”

Did you know that the Queen gives off pheromones to prevent workers from developing ovaries?!

The queen regulates the goings-on of the colony by emitting chemical blends (pheromones) from her mandibular glands (saclike glands located inside the head above the base of the mandible). The queen’s pheromones are often called the ‘queen signal’. The queen signal is a primer pheromone that keeps the colony in homeostasis (e.g. worker cohesion, inhibition of worker reproduction, and stimulation of worker activities).

When the queen is weak or dies, the low/no pheromonal signal drives workers to rear new queens. If there’s no young brood present in the colony, the workers become disorganized, stop doing their tasks and begin laying unfertilized eggs. The colony becomes unclean and more susceptible to diseases and prey. The hive population dwindles and in most cases, is doomed.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Beekeepers in the News

Gene DiSalvo and Rick McCormick buzzed into the Anna Julia Cooper School (AJCS) at the end of January to speak with students about the importance of bees. AJCS is a K-8, independent, faith-based, full-tuition scholarship school serving students from limited financial resources in Richmond’s East End.

Rick led 50 minute sessions with Kindergarten, First Grade, Sixth Grade girls and Sixth Grade boys classes. The informal learning discussions featured lots of questions back and forth from both Rick and the students. The students were fully engaged and even the classroom teachers commented about what they were learning about bees! Rick was assisted in these discussions by Buzz, his loyal hand puppet, and Gene DiSalvo, who coordinated these sessions with the AJCS staff.

AJCS requested that Rick and his bees return to the school in the Springtime. The school is also interested in getting support with their school garden. RPBBA is happy to help them with a Pollinator Garden Starter pack! It’s great to have beekeepers that are also Master Gardeners 🙂

Hollee Freeman gave a presentation to close to 200 people at Creative Mornings Richmond where she talked about finding sanctuary when working with bees.

Thanks to everyone who talks with individuals, as well as, in small and large groups about beekeeping. Every little bit helps people understand the importance of honeybees in our ecosystem and just may encourage folks to become part of the beekeeping community or become bee-friendly in their gardens.

This Month in the Hive (February)

The cluster is still tight on most days. The cluster will break and move on days where the temperature exceeds 57 degrees in the hive. The queen remains in the cluster, and as the days lengthen, she will begin to lay a few more eggs each day. At this point, there are still no drones in the hive and workers will take cleansing flights on mild days.

As the cluster remains centered around the small brood nest, it will migrate upward as the lowest rows of capped brood hatch. The cluster will not quickly move up into new areas of honey after the brood nest forms, and mild days are important to the bees’ ability to move honey/pollen toward the cluster.

Around mid-February, maples begin to blossom and supply nectar and fresh pollen that are extraordinarily valuable to the growth of the hive. The maple blossom continues through mid-March. In areas of higher elevation, the maple blossoms start and end 7-14 days later. The bees will consume about 20 pounds of honey stores and nectar from maples. Alders may bloom in some locations and provide valuable variety in pollen proteins.

Tip: On a day that exceeds 55 degrees, open the hive and quickly check for sufficient food supplies, signs of disease, and to see if the queen is laying. Place a pollen patty near (but not directly on top of) the brood nest. More colonies are probably lost during this time of year than during all other winter months. A colony that is rearing brood will consume about 7 pounds of honey and nectar per week, and if the weather turns bad, a colony with small food reserves can quickly starve to death. Never allow the food stores to drop below 15 pounds. If they have less than 15 pounds of honey, start feeding stored honey or thick sugar syrup (one part sugar to one part water.) Remember, once you start feeding, you need to continue feeding until the bees no longer consume the syrup, or until the end of April.

Consider whether to sign up for that “Advanced Beekeeper Course.” Attend bee club meetings and get equipment ready for spring. At this time of year, you may be advised to “reverse” the brood boxes on a hive with two brood boxes. It is too early in the year to perform this task with safety, so delay this task until you are confident that warmer weather has arrived. The first week of February may be a good time to add a pollen patty or candy board to a hive that is raising brood. If you enter the hive, you may consider moving a frame of honey from the outside of the hive to an area much closer to the brood nest. Do not place a frame of frozen honey immediately adjacent to the brood nest, however.

Decide now how you are going to deal with the issue of swarms in April, May and June. Read and study the options, and seek advice. Prepare a bait hive now if you are going to use it later in the spring. If you are going to use more equipment to hold queen cells and deal with swarms, then take steps to obtain that equipment. https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

Wintersweet, Witch Hazel, Conifers, Holly in Fruit

https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Final Word

If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

With February full of events,we will probably see a lot of each other!

Don’t forget to check out our Calendar of Events to keep up to date.

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

*****************************************************************************
This is the official Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers email. RPBBA will never share your email with anyone outside of the organization or for non-club-related business without your permission. If you wish to update your email or be removed from our email list please complete this form.

Subj: January Newsletter – RPBBA

Happy New Year beekeepers!

Top of mind for beekeepers is–how did the bees do with the sudden cold snap we had a couple of weeks ago? Hopefully everyone’s bees are hanging in there! In the event that some hives didn’t make it, don’t fret, there will be plenty of opportunities to begin again. Several club members will be selling nucs and queens as the spring approaches. There are also quite a few conferences, classes and other events on tap to get us ready for spring. Bring it on!

Jan. RPBBA Calendar of Events

📅 Monday, Jan 9th – RPBBA Monthly mtg @ 6pm. Topic: Pheromones with Dr. James Wilson at LaPrade Library. (note the change in time for this month. Meet & Greet from 6-6:30 pm. Meeting officially starts at 6:30).

📅 Friday, Jan 14th – Last day to sign up for the Beginner Beekeeping class for the low cost of $100. Price increases to $115 after 01/14. This is an important step for new beeks and veteran beeks who would like to brush up.

📅 Tuesday, Jan 17th RPBBA Study Group. 7-8pm @North Courthouse Road Library (note the change in date for this month). Open to all members.

📅Saturday, Jan 28th – 1st day of the Beginner Beekeeping class. 

2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course

The Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Association (RPBBA) is holding their annual Beginning Beekeeping Course over 4 Saturdays from end of January to beginning of March.

Attendees will receive instruction on the

🐝History, Hive organization & location, 🐝Woodenware and equipment,

🐝Dynamics of the Colony, 🐝Diseases, Pests and Predators,

🐝Getting Started, 🐝The Beekeeping Year, 🐝Floral Sources, and 🐝Bee Field Day (hands-on apiary day)

Class dates will be Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25, & Mar 11 alternating Saturday’s with the Huguenot Beekeepers Association (HBA). Participants who are unable to make a class at RPBBA, may attend and receive the same instruction at HBA. The course is $100 through Jan 21st and $115 thereafter. We are limited to 40 registrations; enrollment includes a 1-year membership to RPBBA. For more information, including a signup form, please see our website rockwoodbeekeepers.com/beginner-beekeeping.

Club News – 2023 Officers Announcement (in case you missed it in Dec. 🙂

The Board of Directors’ has installed the following slate of Officers for the 2023. 

Stan Houk, President

Sherry Kelley, Vice President

Theo Hartmann, Treasurer

Don Osborne, Secretary

Hollee Freeman, Communications

John Davis, Membership

Jody Conway, Registered Agent

The Membership role is new. This position was created with the intention of having a club member as a go-to for prospective RPBBA members and new members as well as a familiar face for our more experienced beekeepers to keep in touch. We know there are a lot of questions when you’re new to the club and/or new to beekeeping. Seasoned beekeepers know the learning never ends. Filling in a Membership role will also be a help for our Communications director who is often the first point of contact for many.

The Board of Directors is still on the hunt for a Honey Bee Festival Chair. If you have an interest, or questions, reach out and let us know. The club could use a helping hand to lead the charge. I realize the role is intimidating. Help is available; we promise, we will not let you fail.

Have You Reserved Your Bees For 2023?

Whether you’re a 1st time beekeeper, or looking to replace a colony that didn’t make it through Winter, there are resources for you to source live bees locally.

 

For those looking to purchase Nucs, Packages or Queen’s check out our 2023 Resources for Nucs, Packages & Queens*. The time is now to start reserving your order(s).

*This is simply a list of local suppliers; RPBBA does not endorse or give preference. Buyers are encouraged to do their own research before making their decision to purchase from any supplier. The Virginia Bee Law requires that honey bees on combs, hives and equipment with combs must be accompanied by a certificate of health issued by the Office of Plant Industry Services prior to being sold in Virginia. For information on this, please visit the VDACS website.

ISO RPBBA Members Willing to Bee a Mentor

A Mentor’s purpose is to help other members with things like installing packages/nucs, in-hive help, capturing swarms or general questions.

With the 2023 Beginner Beekeeping course kicking off in January,we will soon have new-bee’s looking for assistance. If you are a RPBBA member and willing to bee a Mentor, please sign up here. You must be willing to have your contact information shared with other RPBBA members.

The goal is to create a current list of willing mentors, with their general location, to share with those ISO a Mentor near them.

Bee Vocabulary – “torpor” as in: I’m not dead (yet), I’m just in torpor.

Friends, please resist the temptation to knock on the outside of your hives to see if they are alive. Torpor is a natural state of decreased physiological activity. By knocking on your hives, you will disrupt their torpor state and you may just kill them off without even knowing it. Here are some interesting nuggets to keep in mind: 

• Honeybees keep the hive temp in the cluster btw 54-57 degrees F.
• When you knock on the hive, the temp rises to about 80 degrees for about 5+ hours. 
• Approx ½ cup of food stores are needed to maintain this temp.

We want our ladies to waste their valuable energy during these cold months. So…buy an inexpensive stethoscope if you feel the overwhelming urge to listen for activity OR just be patient. Spring is coming. 

Beekeepers in the News (This info. was in the Dec. newsletter but we will give it another run since Drs. Wilson and Lamas are coming to speak with us.)

Could Carbon Dioxide Be a New Tool Against Varroa Mites?

If you missed the story, you can read it at:

https://entomologytoday.org/2022/08/02/carbon-dioxide-varroa-mite-management-honey-bees/

Citizen Science: Predicting Varroa Infestation in Virginia

Dr. Zac Lamas and Dr. James Wilson are working together along with Virginia beekeepers in 2023 to see if a new sampling methodology can predict mite infestations months before they actually occur. The project is simple, easily adoptable, and can be done by beekeepers of all skill levels. They need hobbyist beekeepers across Virginia to join in.

More information and a signup form below👇👇👇

Varroa is the leading cause of death of honey bee colonies. Despite years of research there is much we still don’t know about mites. New findings from the University of Maryland and USDA-ARS suggest an alternative sampling method may allow beekeepers to detect Varroa earlier than current sampling methods, nor does the new method require beekeepers to sacrifice handfuls of worker bees in the process. But we need your help!

Here is your chance to be a scientist! Beekeepers across Virginia are invited to join a citizen science project in 2023. Your participation will provide valuable data. We want to know if our new method works in Virginia, and if it in fact, can predict fall mite infestations months beforehand.

You do not need to provide much to participate. All you need is to sample a few of your own colonies each month, and then submit the results on a monthly questionnaire. Our team at Virginia Tech will provide instruction material, monthly zoom sessions, and Q&A support via e-mail.

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScW3ZUau6kO6G1EQfYhrbBBWtSsTmGKfSx6z5tgIq5y_1Y5Pw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&fbclid=IwAR3hDc800XbRhR6Ud40jlieGrgJ_dTcDhV4sAN-W-efAwNlMEgP72BT5I5w 🐝🐝🐝

Heart of Virginia Beekeepers 1st Annual Conference

The Heart of Virginia Beekeepers are hosting their FIRST annual beekeeping conference for the central region! The conference will feature two seminars from keynote speaker, Dr. David Tarpy, professor and extension specialist of honey bee biology and beekeeping at NC State University. His seminars will delve into diagnosing queen problems and coming out of winter. There will also be a selection of breakout sessions from which to choose, including integrated pest management, varroa treatments, reading the frame, commercial beekeeping, Slovenian style beekeeping, a forum on swarm prevention, and the indispensable nuc.

Sat, January 14th, 8:30am – 4:00pm

@Longwood University 201 High Street Farmville, VA 23909

For more information, including registration, visit

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/heart-of-virginia-beekeepers-1st-annual-conference-registration-440627598007

There are early admission tickets available though Dec 15th.

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)

Save the Date: Spring Meeting

June 10th 8:30am – 5pm &

June 11th 8:30am – 2pm

@Sweet Briar College 134 Chapel Dr Sweet Briar, VA24595

This Month in the Hive (January)

The Hive

This month the queen is surrounded by thousands of workers. She is in the midst of the winter cluster, where the temperature at the center is about 88 degrees F. At the periphery of the cluster, the temperature will drop to 42 degrees on the coldest nights. The worker bees continuously move in and out of the center of the cluster. The bees in the cluster flex their wing and thorax muscles to generate heat, and they consume honey that was stored in the previous year. 

The cluster will continuously move upward into new honey if it is available. On a day that reaches 45 degrees or more in the hive, the bees may be able to move the cluster upward or horizontally into new honey, or they may be able to move honey toward the cluster from other parts of the hive. On a warm day (50 degrees or more) the worker bees will leave the hive to take a cleansing flight, during which they defecate away from the hive. The workers will wait weeks for a warm day if necessary before flying. 

The queen will usually begin laying a small number of worker eggs in the 3rd full week of January (about 28 days after the winter solstice), and some worker brood will begin to appear at the center of the cluster at that time. 

Food Consumption & Storage 

A strong hive may consume 15-20 lbs of honey in January if the weather is consistently cold or wet. Stored pollen will be in demand in the hive after brood rearing commences in the third full week. On a warm day, a few bees may fly out and collect small amounts of pollen from witch hazel and winter aconite. Bees may visit a gardenia in bloom in a garden. These pollen sources are miniscule compared to the bounty waiting later in the year. 

Events to Watch For in the Hive 

If there is heavy snow, make certain the entrance to the hive is cleared to allow for proper ventilation. Check the weight of the hive by placing one hand under the back of the bottom board and lifting it up. If it feels as if most of the honey is gone, you may need to start feeding the hive this month. Once you start feeding, you must continue feeding until the bees are gathering pollen and nectar on their own. Unless you are confident that a hive is starving, do not open a hive at less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit (without wind chill.) 

Tasks to Be Performed 

This is a great time to catch up on reading those bee books you received as holiday gifts, or that you requested on inter-library loan. Don’t forget to attend your next club meeting and start ordering, assembling, and repairing the equipment you might need for this coming season. If you have not done so, go ahead and order that package of bees or a nucleus hive, if needed, from a reputable supplier.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

Wintersweet, Witch Hazel, Conifers, Holly in Fruit

[From: maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/]

Final Word

If you are a member of RPBBA, don’t forget to pay your dues. The amount is miniscule compared to the vast array of knowledge from mentors, study groups and meetings. If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. If you are a honeybee enthusiast looking to get started, check out the Beginner Beekeeping course. It’s worth its’ weight in gold. 

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.  I am planning do feature a member each month starting in Feb. Stay tuned.

I hope to see you at the meeting on Jan 9th at 6pm. Bring your bee stories!

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

*****************************************************************************
This is the official Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers email. RPBBA will never share your email with anyone outside of the organization or for non-club-related business without your permission. If you wish to update your email or be removed from our email list please complete this form.

Hey RPPBA members,
Please take notice that our annual holiday party venue is changing. It will now be at the Nature Center.

The party will still be Monday, Dec 12th at 7pm. The only difference is the venue. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in public parks. We hope that this change does not affect anyone’s decision to attend. We know everyone enjoys when we meet at Molly’s; the space is unexpectedly unavailable.

RSVP link for those that may need it: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044babae2aa5fa7-2022

Thank you!

Michelle Clark
Communications

Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

Good evening beekeepers!

It may be a slow month in the apiary but there is much to share this month. Rockwood Beekeepers, there is much to look forward to. We’ve got a party, study group, speakers for January and February lined up, Beginner Beekeeper classes beginning next month, several signups, a citizen science opportunity, and multiple conferences on the horizon for those interested. I predict a VERY full Spring. Keep your eyes peeled for quite a bit of information and opportunities to bee involved in this months newsletter.

RPBBA Calendar of Events
📅 Monday, Dec 12th – RPBBA Annual Holiday Party @ 7pm
📅 Monday, Dec 19th – Study Group @ 7pm

December Meeting – A Holiday Potluck
In the place of our December meeting we will be having a holiday potluck.

7pm on Monday, December 12th
@Molly’s Bicycle Shop
4515 W Hundred Rd, Chester, VA 23831

The brewery will be closed except for our group. The association will provide fried chicken, tableware, water, & soft drinks. Beer will NOT be available for purchase; this event is BYOB. We plan to have a white elephant gift exchange. To participate please bring a wrapped gift (under $20). Attendees are asked to RSVP and let us know what you plan to bring. To RSVP, go to SignUpGenius. Please leave the dish you intend to bring in a comment. The more the merrier. I hope to see you there! Add to Google Calendar

2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course

The Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Association (RPBBA) is holding their annual Beginning Beekeeping Course over 4 Saturdays from end of January to beginning of March.

Attendees will receive instruction on the
🐝History, Hive organization & location,
🐝Woodenware and equipment,
🐝Dynamics of the Colony,
🐝Diseases, Pests and Predators,
🐝Getting Started,
🐝The Beekeeping Year,
🐝Floral Sources, and
🐝Bee Field Day (hands-on apiary day)

Class dates will be Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25, & Mar 11 alternating Saturday’s with the Huguenot Beekeepers Association (HBA). Participants who are unable to make a class at RPBBA, may attend and receive the same instruction at HBA. The course is $100 through Jan 21st and $115 thereafter. We are limited to 40 registrations; enrollment includes a 1-year membership to RPBBA. For more information, including a signup form, please see our website rockwoodbeekeepers.com/beginner-beekeeping.

Club News – 2023 Officers Announcement
The Board of Directors’ met on November 28th over Zoom. 2023 Officers were discussed and selected. The following slate of Officers will be installed January 1st.

Stan Houk, President
Sherry Kelley, Vice President
Theo Hartmann, Treasurer
Don Osborne, Secretary
Hollee Freeman, Communications
John Davis, Membership
Jody Conway, Registered Agent

The Membership role is new. This position was created with the intention of having a club member as a go-to for prospective RPBBA members and new members as well as a familiar face for our more experienced beekeepers to keep in touch. We know there are a lot of questions when you’re new to the club and/or new to beekeeping. Seasoned beekeepers know the learning never ends. Filling in a Membership role will also be a help for our Communications director who is often the first point of contact for many.

The Board of Directors is still on the hunt for a Honey Bee Festival Chair. If you have an interest, or questions, reach out and let us know. The club could use a helping hand to lead the charge. I realize the role is intimidating. Help is available; we promise, we will not let you fail.

Will you be selling nucs, packages or queens this year?

Ever so often, the question pops up- how do I get started? Where can I get my bees? We’d like to update the 2022 Resources list for sharing with those who inquire (and our incoming Beginner Beekeeping class).

If you plan to have bees for sale next year, tell us your plans.

Click here to have your information added to our 2023 Resources*.

*This is simply a list of local suppliers; RPBBA does not endorse or give preference. Buyers are encouraged to do their own research before making their decision to purchase from any supplier.

ISO RPBBA Members Willing to Bee a Mentor
A Mentor’s purpose is to help other members with things like installing packages/nucs, in-hive help, capturing swarms or general questions.

With the 2023 Beginner Beekeeping course kicking off in January,well soon have new-bee’s looking for assistance. If you are a RPBBA member and willing to bee a Mentor, please sign up here. You must be willing to have your contact information shared with other RPBBA members.

The goal is to create a current list of willing mentors, with their general location, to share with those ISO a Mentor near them.

Bee Vocabulary – “waggle dance”
A series of figure-eight movements performed by a bee to indicate the direction and abundance of a distant food source. In this dance, the bee walks in a circle, turns around, then walks the same circle in the opposite direction. She repeats this many times. Sometimes, the bee includes a little waggle as she’s turning around.

Beekeepers in the News
Could Carbon Dioxide Be a New Tool Against Varroa Mites?
If you missed the story, you can read it at:
https://entomologytoday.org/2022/08/02/carbon-dioxide-varroa-mite-management-honey-bees/

Citizen Science: Predicting Varroa Infestation in Virginia
Dr. Zac Lamas and Dr. James Wilson are working together and with Virginia beekeepers in 2023 to see if a new sampling methodology can predict mite infestations months before they actually occur. The project is simple, easily adoptable, and can be done by beekeepers of all skill levels. They need hobbyist beekeepers across Virginia to join in.

More information and a signup form below👇👇👇

Varroa is the leading cause of death of honey bee colonies. Despite years of research there is much we still don’t know about mites. New findings from the University of Maryland and USDA-ARS suggest an alternative sampling method may allow beekeepers to detect Varroa earlier than current sampling methods, nor does the new method require beekeepers to sacrifice handfuls of worker bees in the process. But we need your help!

Here is your chance to be a scientist! Beekeepers across Virginia are invited to join a citizen science project in 2023. Your participation will provide valuable data. We want to know if our new method works in Virginia, and if it in fact, can predict fall mite infestations months beforehand.

You do not need to provide much to participate. All you need is to sample a few of your own colonies each month, and then submit the results on a monthly questionnaire. Our team at Virginia Tech will provide instruction material, monthly zoom sessions, and Q&A support via e-mail.

Signup to bee involved: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScW3ZUau6kO6G1EQfYhrbBBWtSsTmGKfSx6z5tgIq5y_1Y5Pw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&fbclid=IwAR3hDc800XbRhR6Ud40jlieGrgJ_dTcDhV4sAN-W-efAwNlMEgP72BT5I5w 🐝🐝🐝

Heart of Virginia Beekeepers 1st Annual Conference

The Heart of Virginia Beekeepers are hosting their FIRST annual beekeeping conference for the central region! The conference will feature two seminars from keynote speaker, Dr. David Tarpy, professor and extension specialist of honey bee biology and beekeeping at NC State University. His seminars will delve into diagnosing queen problems and coming out of winter. There will also be a selection of breakout sessions from which to choose, including integrated pest management, varroa treatments, reading the frame, commercial beekeeping, Slovenian style beekeeping, a forum on swarm prevention, and the indispensable nuc.

Sat, January 14th, 8:30am – 4:00pm
@Longwood University 201 High Street Farmville, VA 23909

For more information, including registration, visit
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/heart-of-virginia-beekeepers-1st-annual-conference-registration-440627598007

There are early admission tickets available though Dec 15th.

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)
Save the Date: Spring Meeting
June 10th 8:30am – 5pm &
June 11th 8:30am – 2pm
@Sweet Briar College 134 Chapel Dr Sweet Briar, VA24595

This Month in the Hive (December)
The bees are in a tight cluster now. Egg laying has halted. There will be flights on sunny days with temperatures over 50 degrees. Weeks after the winter solstice, the queen’s egg laying will recommence, but not this month.

The hive may consume 10-12 pounds of honey during this month, depending on the weather. Mild weather may actually cause more honey consumption due to increased movement.

You should stay out of the hive this month. Make sure the entrance and ventilation holes are not blocked. Make sure the mouse guard is not chewed through. Plug any large holes in the brood boxes to prevent drafts.

Read a good book on beekeeping; study the latest research reports on bee health. Review what worked well and what you might want to change next year. Request catalogs.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)
Holly in fruit, Wintersweet, Winter Tree Silhouettes

[From: maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/]

Final Word
If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. If you are a honeybee enthusiast looking to get started, check out the Beginner Beekeeping course. This is where I got my start. 😀

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

I hope to see you at the holiday party on Monday, December 12th at 7pm.

Michelle Clark
Communications

Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

Good evening beekeepers!

Is it just me or has it been unusually warm lately? If you’ve still got some winter prep to do, you’re in luck. Looks like we’ve got a beautiful weekend ahead. Just a few things to consider: remove extra space in the hive, remove any queen excluders, langstroth top entrances should be open to allow ventilation through the hive. I’m simplifying; we know there is more to consider as well. Never fear, our November meeting will be geared toward Winter discussion.

RPBBA Calendar of Events

📅 Monday, Nov 14th – RPBBA Meeting @ 7pm

📅 Monday, Nov 21st – Study Group @ 7pm

November Meeting

Our November meeting will be 7pm Monday, November 14th at the Rockwood Park Nature Center. Does everyone remember the wheel from our May meeting at Molly’s? Well it’s back and loaded with more questions. This time the questions will all be Winter related. Come, give the wheel a spin, and put your bee knowledge to the test. Reducing the hive, Winter feeding, insulating the hive, reducing moisture: Where will the wheel land? Never fear if you don’t know the answer; your fellow beekeepers will be there to add to the discussion. Come join us at the Nature Center on Monday, November 14th 7pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Add to Google Calendar

2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course

The Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Association (RPBBA) is holding their annual Beginning Beekeeping Course over 4 Saturdays from end of January to beginning of March.

Attendees will receive instruction on the

🐝History, Hive organization & location, 🐝Woodenware and equipment,

🐝Dynamics of the Colony, 🐝Diseases, Pests and Predators,

🐝Getting Started, 🐝The Beekeeping Year, 🐝Floral Sources, and 🐝Bee Field Day (hands-on apiary day)

Class dates will be Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25, & Mar 11 alternating Saturday’s with the Huguenot Beekeepers Association (HBA). Participants who are unable to make a class at RPBBA, may attend and receive the same instruction at HBA. The course is $100 through Jan 21st and $115 thereafter. We are limited to 40 registrations; enrollment includes a 1-year membership to RPBBA. For more information, including a signup form, please see our website rockwoodbeekeepers.com/beginner-beekeeping.

Club News – Board of Directors Results

The elections for the 2023 Board of Directors have concluded. A quorum was met. With all 37 votes in favor and none opposed, please join me in saying congratulations to Theo Hartmann, Jody Conway, Sherry Kelley, and Don Osbourne for their election to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of a maximum of 9 members with appointments for 2-year terms per our Bylaws. A full list of Board members, including those elected last year, is listed below.

1. Jody Conway

2. Theo Hartmann

3. Stan Houk

4. Sherry Kelley

5. Don Osbourne

6. Dennis Marshall

7. Rick McCormick

8. Steve Syrett

9. Kyree Tanner

Next up, the Board of Directors will meet to select Officers. If you have any interest in a position within the club, now is the time to make that known.

It’s been said once and I’ll repeat: Leadership positions are not limited to experienced beekeepers or long time RPBBA members. New-bee’s are welcome and encouraged to bee active within the club. I got my start beekeeping in 2020 with the Beginner Beekeeping course. I had 2 classes under my belt and 1 club meeting before everything shut down due to Covid-19. In Fall of 2020, I volunteered. At that time, I was a stranger to most RPBBA members but the club gave me a chance anyhow. For me, volunteering was a way to be active in a community that interested me and gain a mentor. I gained several. Our club is 100% run by volunteers. I strongly bee-lieve that you get back what you put in. When you volunteer, you become a familiar face. Others see the help you offer and in-turn are willing to help you. I’ve always had members willing to assist with my hives and answer questions when I needed it (constantly, lol). Had I not volunteered, my web of assistance would be much smaller. I don’t think I can express enough the value in bee-ing an active member. New members, do not be afraid. Support is available for any role of interest to you. Your fellow members will not let you fail.

Anyone interested to volunteer can send an email to rockwood.beekeepers or talk with a Board member. Once Officers for 2023 have been selected, the announcement will be sent to the club membership.

Thank you all for another successful year of elections. I’d like to give a special thanks to Rick McCormick for his time serving on the Nominating Committee. I really appreciate you leading the way and partnering with me on the communications.

Will you be selling nucs, packages or queens this year?

Ever so often, the question pops up- how do I get started? Where can I get my bees? We’d like to update the 2022 Resources list for sharing with those who inquire (and our incoming Beginner Beekeeping class).

If you plan to have bees for sale next year, tell us your plans.

Click here to have your information added to our 2023 Resources*.

*This is simply a list of local suppliers; RPBBA does not endorse or give preference. Buyers are encouraged to do their own research before making their decision to purchase from any supplier.

Bee Vocabulary – “candy board”

A candy board is a hardened sugar mixture that’s made to be emergency feed during times of cold weather. Think of it as a large sugar cube. It is placed inside the hive, sitting on top of your frames, just below the inner cover.

Beekeepers in the News

Bees Shown to ‘Count’ From Left to Right for First Time

If you missed the story, you can read it at:

https://www.rawstory.com/bees-shown-to-count-from-left-to-right-for-first-time/

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)

Reminder: VSBA Annual Meeting and Master Beekeeper Testing

Make your plans now to join VSBA for the Fall 2022 VSBA Meeting in Weyers Cave Virginia at Blue Ridge Community College on Friday, November 4th and Saturday November, 5th.

Registration and more information: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/event-4906021

Presenters Include

• Dr. Zachary Lamas

• Dr. James Wilson

• Mark Dykes Maryland Bee Squad

• Kristen Clark, DVM, MPH, DACVPM

• Karla Eisen, EAS Master Beekeeper

• RPBBA Honey Bee Festival Chairs Gene DiSalvo & Rick Beaudet

• Kristine Smith, VA Master Beekeeper

RPBBA members: plan to wear your green Honey Bee Festival shirt on Saturday, November 4th. Mark your calendar for the VSBA conference: Add to Google Calendar

More information about the VSBA programs can be found on their website: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/

This Month in the Hive (November)

The cold weather has arrived and will send the bees into a cluster that is broken open only when the temperature inside the hive rises above 57 degrees. The bees take cleansing flights on warm days. The cluster moves very slowly into empty honey cells and toward food sources when temperatures inside the hive exceed 42 degrees.

This is the month to make certain of sufficient winter stores. On a warm day, heft the hive and add honey frames or supers to bring each hive up to 40 pounds of stored honey. It is probably too cold to feed syrup. If the summer and fall were drought-stricken, and you have a starvation problem, consider feeding a pollen substitute in the form of a patty.

Stay out of the hives in November unless there is an emergency. The queen should stop laying by the end of November. The population is steady, with a few bees lost each day.

Learn how to make candy boards and pollen patties in case they are needed in January and February. Order bee gifts for yourself and friends for the holidays. Take your long-suffering spouse out to dinner to say thank you for tolerating the bees all year. Store and organize extra equipment for the winter. Keep snow and ice from blocking entrances and ventilation holes in the hives. Reserve packages or nucleus hives for next April if not already done.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

Elaeagnus, Holly in fruit, Bamboo, Abelia, Annuals, Perennials, Fall Foliage

[From ://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/]

Final Word

If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and be active. You can join on our website. If you are a honeybee enthusiast looking to get started, check out the Beginner Beekeeping course. This is where I got my start. 😀

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

I hope to see you at the meeting on Monday, November 14th.

Michelle Clark
Communications
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!

Hello beekeepers and honey bee enthusiasts,
Our bees are finally settling down as we ease into cooler weather. Our hive pests, like the small hive beetle and wax moths, seem to be doing the same. For those who attended the September meeting with Keith Tignor discussing Winter prep, I hope you feel comfortable and have all your questions answered. If anyone out there is still looking for guidance, the club is here with many smiling faces to help. The RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group (Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Group) is a great first start for those who use Facebook. You can also come out to a meeting or email us! There is time for some last minute preparations and questions.

RPBBA Calendar of Events
📅 Monday, Oct 10th – RPBBA Meeting @ 7pm
📅 Saturday, Oct 15th – Last Day to Cast a Vote for Board of Directors
📅 Monday, Oct 17th – Study Group @ 7pm

October Meeting

For October, our club meeting will be 7pm, Monday, October 10th at the Rockwood Park Nature Center. Our very own, John Davis, will be giving a presentation. RPBBA is lucky to have John, a master beekeeper; he has a wealth of knowledge and is always helping others with their hives. John will be talking with us at the October meeting on clues to look for in the hive now to prepare for Spring. Spring will be here before you know it. Let’s learn to read our hives, find clues the bees are giving us, and use the Winter months to bee ahead of the bees come Spring. Meeting will begin at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Add to Google Calendar

Club News – Board of Directors Nominations
Members Theo Hartmann, Jody Conway, Sherry Kelley, and Don Osbourne have been nominated, and willfully accepted, to serve on the Board of Directors of the Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Association. Following this newsletter, a separate email will be sent to RPBBA members with a link to cast their vote. The Board asks that members approve the slate as shown. Please vote once for the slate of candidates. Voting will continue until midnight, Saturday, October 15, 2022.

🐝 VSBA Master Beekeeping Study Group
For those who have never checked it out, the study group is a great way for RPBBA members to further their beekeeping knowledge. Several members are studying for the annual VSBA Apprentice and Journeyman exams, however there is no requirement for attendees to be pursuing certification. The study group is open to all members who want to learn. The study group is an informal group setting. During their sessions, questions from the VSBA Apprentice Study Guide are posed for the group to discuss and answer together. There is much to learn during open discussion with our peers!

The study group meets monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month. They’ll next be meeting Monday, October 17th, 7pm, at the Nature Center. The group will continue to go through the VSBA Apprentice Study Guide questions, provide answers, and discuss. Those interested to attend are encouraged to download the guide in advance and start working through the questions on their own. Add to Google Calendar

Beehive Distribution Program
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is offering their Beehive Distribution Program again this year. Applications for the Beehive Distribution Program (Program) will be accepted October 26, 2022 through November 10, 2022. When the application period opens on October 26, a link to the online application will be made available on this webpage, under a section titled “APPLICATION.” Recipients of beehive units will be selected at random from qualifying applications. Individuals are encouraged to provide a valid email address with their application since notifications regarding the status of an application will be sent by email. Applications from individuals who were not selected to receive beehive units this year, will not be carried forward to next year’s Program.

For more information, including how to apply, visit https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-beehive-distribution-program.shtml?fbclid=IwAR2fxdAUa35rbxPp0BWsvbKSwDkALAuNm0rr1M3DZSTOYpA0xAD-6HeeO5Q

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)
Reminder: VSBA Annual Meeting and Master Beekeeper Testing
The Fall VSBA meeting will be November 4 & 5th at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, VA. This is also when testing for Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Beekeeper certifications is completed. If you’re behind on your studying, consider coming to join the RPBBA Study Group mentioned above. Mark your calendar for the VSBA conference: Add to Google Calendar

More information about the VSBA programs can be found on their website: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/

Bee Vocabulary – “Corbicula”
Also known as the Pollen Basket. This is a flattened depression on the outside of the bee’s back legs. It is used to carry collected pollen from flowers back to the hive. As the bee returns to the hive the beekeeper can often see full pollen baskets in a variety of vibrant colors.

Beekeepers in the News
What Genetic Sequencing Can Reveal About The Secret Lives Of Bees
If you missed the story, you can read it at: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/how-bee-genomes-can-help-answer-questions-from-conservation-to-climate-change

This Month in the Hive (October)
The bees are settling down for the winter. Varroa mites should be under control. The bees are reducing entrances and drafts with propolis and consolidating stored honey from the outer reaches of the hive to the center. The brood nest is about 8 inches across and egg laying has slowed to 200-300 per day. On cold nights, the cluster forms around the queen, and may remain tight until temperatures rise. Drones are gone by month end in almost all hives.

It is unlikely that the frost will hold off enough to permit much nectar-gathering. In some years, the frost does not come until after October 10 and some gathering of nectar may occur. Asters, daisies, and goldenrod may provide substantial amounts of pollen for winter brood.

Watch for robbing on warm days. Wax moths work diligently to enter the hives at night and lay eggs until a hard frost kills the adult moths. Look for continued egg production and capped brood, as new bees are needed to keep the population strong for the winter.

Combine weak hives. Watch out for robbing this month. Finish feeding for the winter. Remove all honey supers not intended as a source of honey for the winter. Remove Apistan or other chemical strips if you used them, assuming you have had them in for 42 days. Attend your bee club meeting. Install mouse guards, after making sure there is no mouse inside the brood boxes. Reserve packages or nucleus hives for next April. Install the plastic insert on the bottom of the screened bottom board if you use screened bottom boards. If you use solid bottom boards, decide whether to reverse the boards to utilize the small entrance on the “winter” side of the bottom board.
[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)
(Camillia) Tea, Osmanthus, Elaeagnus, Rose, Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus, Abelia, Fall Crocus, Sternbergia, Annuals and Perennials, Fall Foliage
https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Final Word
If you are a member of RPBBA, you will receive a separate email with the Board of Directors election ballot. Please bee on the lookout for it! If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and be active. You can join on our website.

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

I hope to see you at the meeting on Monday, October 10th, 2022.

Michelle Clark
Communications

Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!