BEELINES. March 2016 NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION. MARCH 8TH MEETING Jeff Steenbergen - The Pros and Cons of Top Bar Beekeeping

Transcription

1 NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION March 2016 BEELINES Our mission: to promote interest in honey bees and beekeeping through the Northwest District of Western Washington, and, in particular, Snohomish County. MARCH 8TH MEETING Jeff Steenbergen - The Pros and Cons of Top Bar Beekeeping Jeff has been successfully keeping bees, treatment free, in downtown Seattle for 5 years. His preferred hive style is the top bar hive and he currently manages top bar hives around the city. He also teaches several top bar classes every year through Puget Sound Beekeepers Association (PSBA). He is the current VP of PSBA and has been a board member since He has been working to encourage planting of forage shrubs and trees that benefit pollinators outside of the flows with particular focus on the late summer dearth. He is also a strong advocate for propagating our locally adapted genetics, and is working on a breeding program to help distribute treatment free genetics. He currently has a Washington State Beekeepers Association Journeyman certification and is pursuing the Masters certification program. Regularly scheduled meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at: Christ the King Lutheran Church 1305 Pine Avenue Snohomish, WA A beginner's Q&A session starts promptly at 6PM. The regular meeting begins at 7PM. All are welcome, from new-bees to experts. Please drop by and join the conversation. Share your experience and bring your questions! If you would like to become a member, mail in a completed membership form or bring one to the next meeting. We look forward to seeing you. You can learn more about Jeff and his thoughts on beekeeping by visiting his blog at: What is a top-bar beehive? It is a single-story frameless beehive in which the comb hangs from removable bars. Top-bar hives are rectangular in shape and are typically more than twice as wide as multi-story framed hives. They are usually not portable, and allow for beekeeping methods that interfere very little with the colony. Top-bar hives are popular with some beekeepers who believe it is a more natural form of beekeeping, and beekeepers with little access to materials and machinery to manufacture complex bee hives that require precise measurements.

2 PAGE 2 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION Presidents Buzz Mark Salser, NWDBA President It feels like Spring might just be here early, though it has definitely fooled us in the past! Thank you to the club members who have shown up to meetings during the winter doldrums - I know in the cold wet months it often feels like the exciting part of beekeeping is so far away, so we appreciate people keeping up the enthusiasm. I m expecting that our meetings are going to start getting packed as people realize that it won t be long before their packages are here, and perhaps they better learn something about how to keep those darn bees alive. The Speakers Committee has been hard at work putting together a list of speakers for the club. We ve been drawing on our own members over the last few months and they have given some wonderful talks, and now we have finally gotten organized with our speakers coming in from outside of the club. Our schedule isn t completely full yet, but here is a list of what we have so far. Jeff Steenbergen talking about the Pros and Cons of top bar beekeeping in March, Dr. Brad Weeks talking about the medical uses of venom therapy in April, Dr. Megan Taylor coming from WSU to talk about Old World Honey Bee Populations: A Genetic Resource for US honey bee breeding in May, Everett Chu from Azusa Farm and Gardens in Mt. Vernon talking about beneficial plants for bees in June, Gerry Saw from the Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board talking about their control program in our area in July, and finally Sue Colby talking about the collection trips they have done abroad in September. It s an exciting list, and we will continue to try to improve it and fill the empty slots! APPRENTICE LEVEL CLASSES: We are in the process of teaching one apprentice level beekeeping class, and we are going to be teaching a second class on March 19 th and 26 th. Class will run from 9AM-4:30PM with an hour and a half break for lunch, and you must attend both days. The class will be held at Beez Neez in Snohomish, and space is limited to the first 18 who sign up. If you are interested in taking the class please me at president@nwdba.fatcow.com. This is probably about your last chance to take the class until after the Evergreen State Fair when we are planning on offering at least one more class.

3 Page 3 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS Northwest District Beekeepers Assn. March-April To-Do List for the Puget Sound Calendar vs Weather: It s important to remember decisions are more dependent on prevailing weather conditions than calendar dates! 1. Clear Hive Entrances: (March) 2. Check Stores: (March-April) Poor weather can be a problem for foraging. A) If Hive is light, use 1. dry sugar, 2. sugar blocks or 3. candy boards. It is suggested that syrup is not used until the weather becomes consistently warmer. Once weather is consistently warmer, and if the colony requires feeding, use 1:1 Syrup. B) Decide whether you choose to add pollen patties 3. Dead-outs: Clean frames; store equipment in a dry place & protect against rodents. 4. Order new equipment now!! It takes time and planning to receive, build and paint new equipment. (Bees prefer boxes that do not have tacky paint!!) Always consider having extra equipment: i.e. boxes, Nucs, bottom boards, lids, etc., because swarm management & hive expansion requires it!! 5. Order Bee Packages and replacement Queens now! Suppliers typically fill orders on a first come, first served basis. For those who are new to beekeeping, it is advisable to begin with a minimum of 2 hives! 6. New Bee Yards / New Hive Locations: Whether you are intending to establish a new yard, or new hives within an existing yard, now is a good time for making these arrangements-well BEFORE the new Bees arrive!! Install new Bee Packages. 7. First Hive Inspection: (March at the earliest) This should only be done if weather is over 60, sunny and little to no wind!!! A) Check for Eggs, Larvae & Queen. Begin checking for Supersedure and/or Swarm Queen Cells (late April). B) Check for location of the colony within the hive. If the colony is located in the upper brood box, Reverse the Hive Bodies. Avoid doing this if the colony is straddling the two hive bodies because it is inadvisable to split or dislocate the cluster. C) Clean the Bottom Board. D) Reverse Brood Chambers: Do this only if the entire brood has migrated to the upper chamber. This might be done twice, 3-4 weeks apart. 8. Pests, disease & Management: (March-April) Whether you have hives that have survived the winter, or are receiving new packages, it is important to be vigilant about possible pests and diseases. Are your Hives healthy? If there is a concern...what are the more common pests and diseases that Honey Bees face in the Puget Sound? Have you researched the most likely symptoms and tests available to Beekeepers to diagnose possible problems? Have you researched the pros and cons of treating your hives? Have you researched the various treatment options? NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO DO THIS RESEARCH!! 9. Hive Entrances: (March) As the weather improves, and your hives are growing, there is a time where mouse guards can be removed. However, depending on hive strength and health, you might consider whether to keep entrance reducers at the entrances. 10. Bait Hives (aka Swarm Traps): If you plan to use traps, it is probably prudent to place them by the end of April! 11. Register your 2016 hives with the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture: (Larry Brainard, Northwest District Beekeepers Assoc. March, 2014)

4 PAGE 4 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION MARCH REMINDERS 1. Pay NWDBA dues 2. Register my bees with Washington State 3. Check beehives on next sunny day. 4. Check out the mentor program 5. Order bees 6. Next meeting March 8 Bee Notes: 2017 Calendars: A Fun Raising Event! Help NWDBA create a calendar for 2017 by submitting original bee themed photos to helhil@msn.com. Profits from the sales of calendars will benefit our club, and we all benefit by having fabulous photos with monthly to-do lists for our wall. Visit Us nwdba.org 2016 NWBDA Board Members Mark Salser, President Mike Kossian, V-President Lori McConnell, Secretary Mary Rider, Treasurer Tim Ade, Board Member Helen Crozier, Board Member Joe Canfield, Board Member

5 The Northwest District Beekeeping Association (NWDBA) is offering an apprentice level beekeepers class: Date: March 19 and 26 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM There will be a 1 ½ hour break for lunch each daystudents can walk or drive to a number of restaurants in the area. Location: The Beez Neez Apiary Supplies 403-A Maple Avenue Snohomish Cost: $75.00 and includes a copy of the Apprentice Beekeeper Handbook, a one year membership for the individual in NWDBA, and the apprentice level beekeeper certification test and certificate through the Washington State Beekeepers Association (WSBA). You MUST pre-register for the course by contacting the club president at president@nwdba.fatcow.com or by calling The Beez Neez (360) (Please state that you are interested in taking this course and provide your name, address, and phone number.) Enrollment is limited to 18 students due to space restrictions. If you have already paid for membership in NWDBA this year, $15 will be deducted from the $75 class fee.