Beekeeping for Vets Tonight 6:30PM Wed |
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Tony Weller and Jerry transfer swarm collected by pole with wire bucket onto sheet. See photo below of bees then entering the box. |
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Topic: SnoKing Monthly Meeting Time: May 15, 2024 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89412567614?pwd=ekh3SDFSeldlVW5yVXp0cktGVzJBUT09 Meeting ID: 894 1256 7614 Passcode: 984832 |
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Let's gather 6:30PM this Wed May 15 to hear Good Grub tell us how veterans and their families can utilize the various veteran farm benefits, particularly beekeeping assistance. Our speakers are from GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty) www.goodgrub.org . Jennah Kemp, Veteran Program Manager (jennah@goodgrub.org 360-358-1910 and Alex Cumings, Veteran Program Coordinator 360-338-2256 alex@goodgrub.org After the Good Grub presentation, we will continue with club discussion. Does anyone have reviews on nucs/packages already picked up? If you describe the quality of a nuc, give us as many specifics as possible: number of brood frames included, was there at least a frame of stores (honey/pollen), overflowing with bees or just an okay number, etc. |
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Swarm picture above: Tony Weller and Jerry on west side of the Sound letting bees walk from the collection sheet up into a box. Tony is also a successful user of the Taranov swarm transfer method. At the time of writing this newsletter, the temperatures are have been warm enough long enough in most areas of Western Washington for rapid brood buildup, to set off swarming. Don’t neglect followup to a swarm! Don’t say, oh, it’s too late because half or more of the colony population is gone. Check your hives for excess queen cells to avoid after swarms. Those of you with overwintered hives, feel free to boast a little of your bigleaf maple honey production. It’s encouraging to those less experienced to hear success stories. The “buzz” says this was the best maple flow in years. |
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Above photo: Crataegus douglasii blooming everywhere right now. |
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Below you will find classes, volunteer opportunities, discussion group meetings and other networking/sharing in 2024. Spring gets busy fast! Don't delay anything beekeeping related. Try to stay proactive and one step ahead: adding needed space; swarm traps and yellow jacket traps deployed; deciding on varroa treatments, ordering them and other supplies. |
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CONTENTS: Swarm List: to join, call or text Myke Gheparde 425-501-8100, par.none@yahoo.com Apiaries open: Granite Falls - Ron - beebuddy.skba@gmail.com 206-719-3604, alternate Saturdays Maltby - Eli - eliochel@snokingbka.org 206-859-7392, most Saturdays Outreach & Service Opportunities Queen Rearing Workshop Classes: Beginner starts 6:30PM Monday 5/13 today! Apprentice starts 6:30PM June 20th on Thursdays Journeyman starts September 2024 or by appointment Master Beekeeper Certificate at Cornell University 33 1/3% discount for SnoKing members Feature Article: Honey Bee Nutrition, second article of a series by Heidi Goodgion, Journeyman candidate State of the Hive Discussion Groups: The Hive Mind 4th Mondays for novice to experienced – May 27, 6-7PM Facebook SnoKing Beekeepers discussion group – all levels Trophallaxis 1st Wednesdays – June 5, 6:30PM-8PM |
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Swarms Reporting a Swarm: Names and phone number of the 3 primary contacts are on the www.snokingbka.org Home Page. To get on the Swarm Call List if you wish to collect swarms in your area, call or text Swarm List Manager Myke Gheparde 425-501-8100, or email him at par.none@yahoo.com |
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Outreach/Service Opportunities are most frequent at this time of year. If you might be interested in a certain area or type of group presentation, contact Eli 206-859-7392, eliochel@snokingbka.org. Current: Heidi Goodgion – hands-on in apiary with small homeschooling groups weekdays. Contact hgoodgion@gmail.com May 29 2:30-4:30PM in Everett to talk about honey bees and other pollinators with an elementary school garden club – several volunteers are needed to make this event fun. June 22nd noon to 5pm – 3 volunteers needed to staff our club booth for this afternoon at the WASBA FunFest. Details in photo below. |
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Sultan Apiary needs to be re-located this year. Our thanks to Jessica Neiffer for her work on the Sultan Apiary this past year. We have a possible new Sultan location but need another Sultan Hiveside Manager. Contact Rae Shepherd raeshepherd@gmail.com if you are interested in taking over this service opportunity. |
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Volunteer opportunities in Apiaries: Message from Granite Falls Apiary Manager Ron Robinson: “at the Granite Falls Apiary this season, we will focus on how to manage hives with a handicap/disability preventing us from using traditional hives. I will have top bar, long Lang, (possibly bringing back the famed bee barn) as well as using lighter weight Apimaye hives. Due to Ron’s shoulder injury and rehab, he can use help at the apiaries, so see him about volunteer service opportunities. He would greatly appreciate the help and you can learn or mentor, too! Next Maltby Apiary class will be May 25th “Topic of Basic class 10AM- 3PM: “What should I be seeing/doing in the nuc/package I picked up?” We have spare bee jackets and veils. Email eliochel@snokingbka.org to confirm that there are no last minute changes to date and time, and to tell SnoKing that you are attending. If the decision to come is last-minute, text/call to make sure there have been no changes. |
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Above: overwintered queen, Maltby Apiary |
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If you are interested in attending the apiary classes at either location, email eliochel@snokingbka.org and we will put your email on a list to notify when the dates and times each of the apiaries will be open. Eli will do most Saturdays April 27 through mid-August and Ron did alternate Sundays in 2023. We will put the dates and times on the Calendar page at www.snokingbka.org in the newsletter and post them occasionally on the FB group discussion page but it is best to get on the email notification list by contacting Eli/Ron. |
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There are also a few opportunities to come by on weekdays during the summer and talk bees and help out, usually because some volunteers are working on the queen rearing project those days. Contact Ron or Eli directly for those opportunities. Stay in touch and stay tuned for updates. Apiary Managers: Granite Falls - Ron - beebuddy.skba@gmail.com 206-719-3604 Maltby - Eli - eliochel@snokingbka.org 206-859-7392 |
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CLASSES offered year-round via zoom with SnoKing Beekeepers Assn. All classes include manual, online testing, WASBA certificate, annual SnoKing dues, and WASBA 2024 dues. NEXT CLASSES START: APPRENTICE weekly on 7 Thursdays June 20 & 27; July 11, 18 & 25; August 1 & 8, 2024 6:30-8:00PM. Please note no class on July 4th BEGINNER weekly on 7 Mondays 6:30PM May 13 & 20, June 3, 10, 17 & 24, and July 1st. Please note no class on Memorial Day. MASTER BEEKEEPER Certificate at Cornell University https://ecornell.cornell.edu/certificates/beekeeping/master-beekeeping/ Before registering, email Eli eliochel@snokingbka.org for discount code because the 33 1/3% discount for SnoKing members is still available. |
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QUEEN PROJECT The queen rearing project is timed to take advantage of the best Western Washington weather for queen rearing. If interested in participating, contact Eli for Maltby workshop. The process runs for almost 2 months and students come when they can, mostly on Saturdays but also there are some mid-week participation opportunities. We are still prepping the apiary an equipment but will soon be setting up the cell builder hive, followed by grafting day, setting up mating nucs, transferring queen cells into those nucs, ending by verifying the productivity of those queens. Contact Eli for more information and precise schedule. Queen Wheel pictured above is available for pickup at the Queen Rearing Workshop. |
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FEATURE ARTICLE The following article is written by one of our members, Journeyman candidate Heidi Goodgion, owner of Honey Products, LLC, hive products and hosting/consulting service. |
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Honey Bee Nutrition Part 2: How can we support Honey Bee Nutrition It’s no secret; the verdict is in: soil, seeds and plants treated with neonicotinoids, insecticides or herbicides is detrimental to pollinators, wildlife and yes, to our own health. Pesticides, insecticides and herbicides are responsible for altering soil health by removing fungicides and micro-organisms that contribute to healthy soil. The toxic chemicals travel through the plants and flowers, finally being consumed by and killing foraging pollinators and honey bees including bees in the hive. These toxins also infiltrate our surface runoff water, travel by air and their hosts, spreading to neighboring sites. When considering to avoid these toxins, note that pets, visiting wildlife, and neighbors will experience an allergic reaction. |
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There are options utilizing organic natural pest control methods: · Selecting cultivars with resistance or tolerance to target pests · Maintaining healthy and vigorous plants with good nutrient and moisture management · Promoting good air circulation within the garden to promote drying of the plants · Roughing or removing plants that are diseased · Using crop rotations to avoid the buildup of pests · Creating habitats for beneficial insects |
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Wild Flowers and Native Plants have naturally evolved in partnership with the Honey Bee nutrition and plant pollination for survival of both species. Native Plants are drought resistant, tend to amend poor soil through their mineral composition from roots, leaves and self-sowing seeds. If your weeds are not so overpowering allow them to thrive. Typically, it is the “weeds” that do make their presence before cultivated plants arrive. The Honey Bees are eager to visit these early arrivals while waiting for other pollinator plants to bloom. Dandelions are one of the first wild flower to arrive after a long cold winter. The Pollinators are attracted by the first arrival by their bright yellow color and easy access to nectar. So let the dandelions thrive until the next pollinator plants/ weeds open their succulent smorgasbord of nectar and pollen to all pollinators and our precious Honey Bees. |
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Create a watering trough (example above) with nutrient rich supplements for pollinators. During a dearth Beekeepers supplement Honey Bees with 1:1 or 2:1 sugar water or place pollen patties inside the hive. If you do not own or lease a hive on your property, there are many options to help keep Honey Bees hydrated. Consider a sponge or cotton cloth material soaked in water a Pollinator watering trough, just as you would for your Humming Birds or wild birds that visit your pollinator garden. Just like Humming Birds like their sweet water, so do Honey Bees. Create a “Bee Tea” feed collecting herbal leaves the Bees love to visit, and add 2:1 sugar water ratio. Just a note of caution: there is a risk to attracting the more aggressive pollinators such as wasps and hornets. |
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Herbs and Spice plants partnerships are a great place to start to naturally repel pesky garden pests by planting Marigold, Nasturtiums, Peppermint, Oregano (see chart above). The essence of these plants actually repels pests that can damage fruit and vegetable gardens. Adversely Honey Bees and pollinators love to pollinate and collect the nectar from these plants. |
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State of the Hive Pictured above is the hive logsheet listing hive inspection steps in the order that we usually take them, and as covered at last Saturday’s Basic Maltby Apiary class 10AM. First, we judge the weather. Then we check ground in front, activity at entrances and debris on sticky boards. Next, we smoke to judge temperament, we raise the outer cover to check, note the sound, smell & appearance of the hive, and then continue. Remember to KISS - Keep IT Simple in Spring! All we have to do is keep our hives well-housed, fed, treated and “do no harm.” Feed: Keep in mind that nucs and packages, splits, and any weak hive need a feed boost to raise population as fast as possible to take maximum advantage of the June Blackberry flow, which looks to be on schedule. 2024 is promising to be a great honey production year. Robbing screens: Also, some of our hives need protection from each other! Time to get robbing screens on! Stronger overwintered hives “wake up” and become active earlier than weaker “sleepy” hives or nucs and packages just installed. Be aware of forage availability in your area. |
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DISCUSSION GROUPS: The Hive Mind is a group for beekeepers who want to share information, ask questions, and learn from each other throughout the beekeeping season. All beekeepers are welcome; no experience is necessary to join. The plan is to meet once per month via Zoom for an hour. I (Gina) will be scheduling it on the fourth Monday of each month from 6-7pm. Let me know if there is interest in meeting more often. I’m also happy to meet in person occasionally if anyone wants to come to Woodinville. We could discuss bees over mead, wine, or the beverage of your choice. will move to fourth Mondays. To join, email Gina at ginacuff@gmail.com SNOKING BEEKEEPERS Facebook discussion group is open to all Western Washington Beekeepers and continues throughout the year. Ask to join on Facebook or by emailing beebuddy.skba@gmail.com Ron Robinson with the email that you use on Facebook and he can invite you to join. |
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Next TROPHALLAXIS zoom meeting Wed June 5th at 6:30PM is open to WASBA Journeyman candidates, Journeymen, and Master Beekeepers. Topic is probably Pests and Diseases, or maybe just Varroa. Although hosted by SnoKing Beekeepers, this discussion group is open to all Washington State Beekeepers who are Journeyman or Masters, and those who are taking or have taken the academic course of WASBA Journeyman certification. Other groups such as The Hive Mind can meet the needs of beekeepers not yet taking Journeyman. See that information elsewhere in this newsletter. |
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FREE for pickup by SnoKing members at the Maltby Apiary. Free cinder blocks and quart glass canning jars donated to our club by fellow beekeepers. Text Eli 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingbka.org . |
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Policy Statement: There will be one essential rule at Trophallaxis and at any meeting or activity hosted by SnoKing Beekeepers. Ron Robinson stated it best for our Facebook discussion group, when he said: "SKBA prides itself on the fact we are not like other groups on Facebook. We have become known as a safe group for keepers of all levels to comfortably ask questions and opinions without being blasted or publicly humiliated for asking what may seem like a very basic question to others. Any harassing, bullying, demeaning behavior, or such will not be tolerated. We have a zero tolerance policy and such behavior will result in immediate removal from club and all club activities." |
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We look forward to talking bees with you at 3rd Wednesday monthly meetings. Zoom link for the next meeting: Topic: Beekeeping for Veterans Time: May 15, 2024 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89412567614?pwd=ekh3SDFSeldlVW5yVXp0cktGVzJBUT09 Meeting ID: 894 1256 7614 Passcode: 984832 |
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The mission of the SKBA, a 501c3 member club of WASBA, is to provide educational opportunities, networking and support to beekeepers and people interested in honey bees, particularly those involved in small-scale beekeeping in Washington State west of the Cascades. |
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"We talk bees!" at SnoKing Beekeepers Association. Best wishes for 2024: keep your hopes high and your mite counts low! |
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