Category: Just for Fun!

Wooden Ware Workshop Feb 24, 2018

Hello fellow Beeks,

Just checking to see if you would join us in Feb 2018 for a combined wooden ware workshop. We have a large enough space where we meet in Sandston to assemble hive parts and frames. In the past we have ordered supplies from Andy Westrich and people picked them up on Saturday. Some stayed to assemble and others took their supplies with them. See info below on prices, etc. We will do the workshop on Sat Feb 24th from 9am-2pm. We’ve had three air nail guns and jigs etc to use. Please let me know if your group would like to join us or if a different Sat that would work for your group.  To see new beekeepers putting things together is refreshing too. Thank you.

Steve Bugnacki

East Richmond Beekeepers

http://www.eastrichmondbeekeepers.org/
I got the price list Andy Westrich will use for the Feb Wooden Ware Workshop on the 24th of Feb. Please send it out to your members that would like to order some things. I realize it is early but perhaps some there are some who would like to at least place an order for the holiday gift season. Any questions on ordering please contact Andy Westrich at  andy@hamptonapiary.com

They can pick up at our location for the workshop…. 13 N Confederate Ave, Sandston,
VA 23150 on the 24th of Feb between 9 am and 2 pm.
If you are interested in helping with the workshop or could lend some assembly equipment please let me know. Our beekeeping family is growing. Let’s make 2018 our best year ever for beekeeping!
PS Andy has kept the 2017 prices for us to take advantage of for 2018.
PSS Also is attached something to sing along to if you want. Share it so
freely if you want.

2016 Mid-Atlantic Organic Honeybee Convention

ATTENTION ALL BEEKEEPING CLUBS IN VIRGINIA !  PLEASE INFORM YOUR MEMBERS AND INTERESTED FRIENDS ABOUT OUR 5TH ANNUAL MID-ATLANTIC ORGANIC HONEY BEE CONVENTION NEAR RICHMOND, VA. ALL DAY SAT., MARCH 5, 2016. MORE INFO AT WWW.MAOHBC.COM

$50 PER PERSON/$90 FOR FAMILY OF TWO.  FOOD PROVIDED ON PREMISES (SMALL DONATION OPTIONAL)–OR DINE OUT IF YOU PREFER.  HOPE TO SEE YOU ON MARCH 5, 2016.  NOTE OUR NEW LOCATION–SEE BELOW.
Mid-Atlantic Organic Honey Bee Convention (5th annual) will be on
March 5, 2016 at new location near Richmond International Airport: American Legion Post 242, 21 J. B. Finley Road, Sandston, VA 23150.  This is located very near Richmond International Airport. Speakers Sam Comfort, Wyatt Mangum, PhD, Virginia State Apiarist Keith Tignor, and John Adams. $50 person, $90/family.
For information, visit www.maohbc.com
DOORS OPEN 7:30 AM /NAME TAG/SNACKS.
SPEAKERS START 8 AM (SEE TOPICS BELOW).
SAM COMFORT of Anarchy Apiaries has hundreds of hives from NY to FL.  He gives bee talks around the country and the world, and just arrived back in Florida this month after giving a talk in Anchorage, Alaska.  His talk to us will include:  “Alternative Bees, Local Queens, and the Future Zombee Apocalypse. That pretty much sums it up.  Let’s stick together!”
WYATT MANGUM PhD:  “How to Catch $100 Dollar Swarms with Bait Hives.” (“Last spring I caught 17 big swarms or 30% bait hive occupancy.  That’s better than paying $2,040 ($120.17) for 17 packages.”)  “How to Catch $100 Dollar Swarms with Bait Hives”

“For a money saving presentation, I’ll discuss bait hives for catching swarms.  A three-pound package is well over $100 now, somewhere around $120.  Last spring I caught 17 big swarms or 30% bait hive occupancy.  That’s better than paying $2,040 ($120*17) for 17 packages.”  Also:

“What’s Hot:  Thermal Top-Bar Hive Beekeeping”

“For a cutting-edge presentation, I have been using thermal cameras for determining a colony’s condition in a top-bar hive.  Commercial beekeepers have started using thermal cameras to save time when inspecting many hives.  I have articles published or in press on thermal cameras in the ABJ and BC.”

VA STATE APIARIST KEITH TIGNOR:   To be announced.
JOHN ADAMS focuses on bait hives with many pictures of newer ideas – an easy way of getting free honey bees – what makes an excellent bait hive – the “how to” of location – what works and what does not – a specialized device that goes into the bait hive that is not a top bar or a frame but has what I think of as incredible potential.  It is very useful if you are one of those beekeepers who never seems to have enough equipment or the right equipment at the right time.  It is simpler, easier, faster and maybe even less expensive.  Also, these same bait hives can be used to gently get an established colony of honey bees out of a building with less work than a normal “cut out.”  A “cut out” is any process of removing honey comb out of a wall or ceiling.  A “cut out,” if you have done one, is not easy work, but with the right equipment many new doors open up.  Pest control operators and beekeepers will be interested in this.
Registration at our website WWW.MAOHBC.COM
(If you prefer to avoid registration over computer, send a check to HSS Inc., 10514 Gayton Road, Henrico VA 23238 & include name, address, phone.)
A personal note from your hosts follows:
Dear Beekeepers,
 
This is our fifth year of another adventure in organic beekeeping.  This year should be our best yet, and that is only possible because of the help  we receive from both our beekeeper & non-beekeeper friends.  Be sure to check out our Mid-Atlantic Organic Honey Bee Convention at our website
WWW.MAOHBC.COM for more details.
 
This year our one day of intense beekeeping will be on March 5, 2016 at the American Legion Hall, 21 J. B. Finley Road, in the town of Sandston, Virginia–close  to Richmond International Airport.  You will experience the newest and most likely the most advanced of gadgets and ideas.  And as usual we will have the best of speakers.  It doesn’t matter what type of hive you are knowledgeable about–after you hear our speakers, you will come away with different perceptions of how to operate in the most effective manner, and hopefully save your bees against almost impossible odds.
 
Hope to see you soon.  If you have Q’s, please send email to martha.brooks27@gmail.com or call us at 804 285-BEES.
 
Your hosts:  John & Martha Adams

February 5/6, 2016 Jerry Hayes Conference In Chatham, Va

Dear Beekeeper Friends,

Our registrations are growing rapidly for folks attending our Friday night February 5th Dinner and Program and the Saturday February 6th All Day Classroom Event with Jerry Hayes at the Chatham, Va. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex.  It is not too late to join in. This will be the premier beekeeping event in our area for 2016 and you don’t want to miss it!!

Click here to view the PDF information sheet on the conference, which will guide you through how to register at the Halifax County Beekeepers Website. If you do not want to use the internet website with credit/debit card, want to pay by check, or just need a little help, please give me a call at 434-376-4490 or reply to this email and I will give you a hand. It’s just a month away and the time is short.

We all lose track occasionally, and we have just passed the holiday season and probably spent more than we should have, but I encourage you to get back in the loop and make arrangements to attend. We will cut off registration for the February 5th dinner program on FRIDAY, JANUARY 29th to finalize meal reservations. We will accept at door registration for Saturday February 6th, but prefer advance sign ups.

This event promises to be a great educational fellowship with your regional beekeeper friends and one of the few opportunities to meet and greet a pre-eminent speaker and apicultural leader like Jerry Hayes. There’s still time, so join in the event.

Jim Zeigler, Program Coordinator

Honeybee Festival

Just a few days until our 6th Annual RPBBA Honey Bee Festival. The club has done an excellent job and it should be a fun event for people of all ages and of all knowledge levels of beekeeping.

If you have volunteered and not heard from a committee leader, please just show up prior to 10 a.m. and ask any RPBBA member for either Gene DiSalvo or Kristi Orcutt and they will certainly find a place for you to assist. Thank you to those that have volunteered the last few weeks too. We need those extra hands and your assistance is greatly appreciated. If you have not yet volunteered and are interested in joining your fellow club members, then just please come out on Saturday and see Kristi or Gene. Volunteers, please wear your yellow RPBBA t-shirt if you have one. Rumor also has it that there will be club t-shirts for sale the day of the event too.

We also always need canopies and folding tables of every size. Every year the club members always come throughon Saturday morning with some extra tables and canopies that they loan us for the day and hopefully this year we can continue that tradition.

Looking forward to everyone joining in on Saturday as we live the mission of RPBBA!!!

Gene DiSalvo

Member Picnic in August

Hi everyone,

I am very excited to tell you about our August Member Picnic. We are lucky enough to be invited by John Sheehan to use Gregory Pond Fishing Club!!! It is right around the corner from Rockwood park and it is beautiful!!! It will be Aug. 22nd from 4-8ish. Save the date! We will be able to fish, and you do not need a license. We are also hoping to have horse shoes, corn hole, and music! You don’t want to miss this great time, so if you haven’t joined the club yet, remember to do so at the July meeting! And also keep in mind, we don’t have a regular meeting in August. That’s all for now! See you at the Honeybee Festival! Thanks everyone for working so hard on this and helping the day of. You all are awesome!!

Sarah Buckley, President