SnoKing Bkprs Announcements |
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No meeting until Feb 21st! However, the club mailbox is overflowing and some notices are time critical. So, read on if the winter rain is contributing to cabin fever or separation anxiety for the bees you can't visit in their homes. Items are in order of novelty or time urgency. |
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CALENDAR of upcoming events/deadlines Feb 3 this Saturday - Beginner starts Feb 6 - Apprentice starts Tuesdays Feb 7 - Trophallaxis meets Feb 12 - 6:30PM WASBA Board meeting open to public. You can find the meeting link at: https://wasba.org/q1-board-meeting-2-12-630pm/ Feb 16 - deadline to contact Bri Price to join APHIS hive monitoring Survey Feb 21 - 6:30PM SnoKing club meeting Feb 22 - Beekeeping Around the World - Thailand Feb 28 - deadline - Queen rearing workshop survey |
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Below you will find classes, discussion group meetings and other networking/sharing opportunities of 2024. Some notices are not time-critical, however, this beekeeper "down time" may be the best season to connect and share information. After winter comes spring and summer when so many demands on a beekeeper's time surface all at once, that there may be little time then to take classes or action on these opportunities. If planning community or club service to meet Journeyman certification requirements, remember the Apprentice certificate should be completed before that service. Next Apprentice class starts Tuesday Feb. 6. |
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CONTENTS: CALENDAR items listed above, and IN-PERSON GATHERINGS CORNELL MASTER BEEKEEPER Certificate Program discount for SnoKing Beekeepers members. FEATURE ARTICLE: My Beekeeping Journey Part 2, Carol Moore SNOKING club meeting Feb. 21st will be a presentation on the origin of nucs and packages by David Schiefelbein of Elite Bees. CLASSES, WASBA Certificate "Auditing" classes - free for members Journeyman continues through March 18 6:30PM Mondays Nuc & Package Supplier List updated 1/25/2024 Latest version posted on Home Page www.snokingbka.org Journeyman Opportunities Discussion Groups The Hive Mind 2nd Thursdays Facebook closed discussion group Trophallaxis 1st Wednesdays - Feb. 7 Donations Extractors Calendars Teach Me Bees podcast - service opportunity Club Apiaries - closed for the season until further notice |
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IN-PERSON GATHERINGS - Pat Wehmeyer I would be willing to organize/schedule in person meetings at local libraries if there is an interest among beekeepers. This would be at Sno-Isle libraries because they allow reservations 60 days in advance. King County libraries only allow reservations 28 days in advance. I would schedule at least a 2 hour block of time on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday afternoon between the hours of 1 – 4 pm. We could alternate libraries. Good options are: Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Lakewood/Smokey Point, Mariner, Marysville, Monroe, and Snohomish. |
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I think the topic and conversation would be about what needs to be done for our apiaries in the following month. It would be so interesting to hear what other beekeepers are thinking and doing. Please let me know if you are interested in this type of informal gathering. I could even arrange for coffee and cookies! Pat Wehmeyer, Journeyman candidate email: swehmeyer07@comcast.net |
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My beekeeping journey -- Part 2 Carol Moore, Journeyman Candidate After four years of beekeeping, I’ve had minimal success extracting honey and no success overwintering the bees. As 2022 rang in I was very discouraged. I had purchased so much equipment and put a lot of time and effort into beekeeping. My beginner beekeeping class and internet searches were lacking, and I decided to join a beekeeping club, get a mentor, and retake the basic bee keeping courses. I am nothing if not persistent. I ordered two nucs and set about getting my equipment ready for spring. |
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Over the course of the 2022 season, I learned a lot about beekeeping. At times I was able to locate my queens, I knew what I was seeing when I examined each frame, I knew when and what to feed the colonies, and knew when to add boxes to give the bees room to grow. I also knew that the bees needed two full deep boxes before even thinking of putting on honey supers. My Flow Hives were in storage because I wasn’t planning on taking honey from the bees. I ended up harvesting a few quarts with the crush and strain method, but my main goal was to leave enough honey for the bees to survive over the winter. |
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As summer ended, I knew I had two strong hives. I treated them for mites in mid-September, and as the weather cooled, I wrapped, insulated, and fed them. Over the winter my first hive was gone by December. I’ll say it was colony collapse, but that seems to be the catch all when you don’t really know what happened. My second hive survived until early spring. Once it warmed enough to check, my mentor and I went into my surviving hive and found I had a drone laying queen and a very small cluster of bees that couldn’t survive. I had lost all my bees AGAIN! |
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In spring 2023 I decided to order two nucs and a package. My bee storage area was filling up with empty boxes and frames that needed to be put to use. I was so sure I had a handle on beekeeping I bought an extractor because I knew I would get lots of honey with three hives and I hated destroying comb when I scrapped the honey off the frames. The Flow Hive frames were still in storage but I hoped to give them another try. I was determined that this year would be better because I knew what I was doing. I completed the book work for my journeyman level and was ready to conquer bee keeping. To be continued . . . Carol Moore, Journeyman Candidate. |
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Cornell University Master Beekeeper Certificate Program offers a 33 1/3 % discount for SnoKing Beekeepers members who have paid their 2023-2024 dues when enrolling in Cornell Master Beekeeper Program, dropping the price of the 15 month program from $899 to $599. The only prerequisite for enrollment is 3 years beekeeping experience. Email Eli eliochel@snokingbka.org for discount code. More information can be found at: https://start.ecornell.cornell.edu/flyers/CRT-PTRENTC01.pdf |
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Snoking Beekeepers monthly meeting Our February 21st club meeting speaker will be Dave Schiefelbein of Elite Honey https://www.elitehoneyandbee.com/ says he has “a presentation that I have given to bee clubs and other groups that tells a bigger story of where our honey bees come from. It's a bit of a behind the scenes look at how and where the packages, nucs and queens that we receive in the PNW come from. It's all documented with the photos I have been taking since 2011. Most hobby beekeepers just know a package of bees when it shows up at their pickup spot. But most don't know how it got there. My presentation tells that story.” |
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APHIS ANNUAL HIVE SAMPLING SURVEY Message from Bri Price about a citizen science opportunity: "Would you like to participate in the APHIS Annual Honey Bee Survey? WSU Bee Program is looking for beekeepers with 8 or more hives in their bee yards. The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts a yearly survey to document which bee diseases, parasites, or pests of honey bees are present and/or likely absent in the U.S. Specifically, this survey has verified the absence of the parasitic mite Tropilaelaps, small hive beetle, and other exotic threats to honey bee populations. Myself (Bri Price), a person from APHIS, or a person from the WSU Bee Program would travel to your apiary, collect samples, and submit them. |
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What is sampled: Live adult bees Adult bees in alcohol sample A frame will be knocked into a collection pan several times to collect any Tropilaelaps mites, beetles, etc.
You can expect a report about your bees 6-12 months after sampling. For more information about this program, please see the attachment and this website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/honey-bees/Survey Please email me by Friday February 16th if you are interested in letting us sample from your hives. I will coordinate with you to arrange a date to come sample (sampling from April through May). Thank you! |
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If you want to participate in the project described above, email eliochel@snokingbka.org and I can forward Bri Price's email with APHIS directly to you. There's another citizen science project she may soon be recruiting for, one that has to do with fungi control of varroa, the project on which Jennifer Han was working. Penn State offers a free Beekeeping Around the World webinar series and the next webinar features Thailand, home to other honey bees, close relatives of Apis mellifera. |
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Nosema photo above, Zachary Y. Juang, cyberbee.net Tracheal mite life cycle diagram, The Beekeeper's Handbook, Sammataro and Avitabile |
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PUBLIC OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY: Are you a Journeyman candidate or other beekeeper looking for service opportunities? We have a request for a beekeeper to talk with grade school students down at Clover Park Elementary, Lakewood, Washington, the last week of this school year. If interested, email eliochel@snokingbka.org and we’ll forward the contact information to you. If you are interested in future such opportunities, also let us know. |
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Art of the Bee, 50 videos by Robert L Page, Jr. can be found at this youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn95YGwvayJU5LovmuOPfZA The channel accompanies the book of the same title, available in Kindle and in print form. The videos range from basic to advanced topics. This is an outstanding series of concept videos, all the more amazing because they can be viewed for free. Usually, this kind of quality is behind a paywall. Above is a screenshot from the explanation of genetics and phenotype in a colony. Below is an illustration of how polyandry could confer viral resistance. |
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Jan. 17th MEETING discussion focused on packages vs. nucs. We proved the adage "10 beekeepers in a room will have 11 or more opinions." Recorded portion of the meeting can be viewed on the SnoKing Beekeepers Youtube channel at this link: https://youtu.be/boA4awCfJsg?si=Qrbg24bl9GGctBkk All monthly meetings can be found on the SnoKing monthly meetings playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhRtis-X187EgV3puPw2ZZGr5YWkbIjCQ&si=jzn-tDpY8bBwB5Od |
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The 2024 Nuc & Package Supplier List has been updated. Newest version can be found by clicking on the button on the www.snokingbka.org Home Page. See the following screenshot: |
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MEMBERSHIP - Please join or renew to support our club activities in 2024. SnoKing Beekeepers membership year runs from October 1 to September 30 of each year. Our thanks to those who have already renewed. If you have not already done so, please join or renew by completing our membership application at www.snokingbka.org/join and payment of $30 via paypal to snokingba@gmail.com or to the Donate button at the top right of our webpage header: |
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CLASS COMPLETION: If during this rainy season, you have time to think about finishing a class you started, even if it was months ago, call or email Eli to see where you can pick it up again. AUDITING CLASSES: Remember that a member can audit a class for free for any level already achieved. Email eliochel@snokingbka.org to be placed on the weekly class email list at no cost for current members. In those weekly class emails you receive the zoom link, class handouts and other information. We have room at all 3 levels, Journeyman is in session now, and Beginner and Apprentice start this coming week. This is of particular benefit to those who took classes pre-2019, before the major rewrite of the manuals. |
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CLASSES are offered year-round via zoom by SnoKing Beekeepers Assn. All classes include manual, online testing, and WASBA certificate plus WASBA 2024 membership upon course completion. Please register as far in advance as possible so that print manuals can be ordered and mailed to you before the beginning of class. BEGINNER starts 8:30 to noon Saturday Feb 3 and continues for 3 additional Saturday mornings. Registration and more information at www.snokingbka.org/beginnerapplication APPRENTICE starts Feb. 5, Tuesdays 6:30 PM and meets for 7 sessions, ending April 2. Registration and more information at www.snokingbka.org/apprenticeapplication JOURNEYMAN starts January 15, 2024. Registration and more information can be found at www.snokingbka.org/journeymanapplication Questions? Call or text 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingbka.org. |
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Next TROPHALLAXIS zoom meeting Wed Feb. 7, 2024 6:30PM is open to WASBA Journeyman candidates, Journeymen, and Master Beekeepers. Call 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingbka.org for the zoom link.The Feb. 7 topic will be polyandry. Masters, Journeymen and Journeyman candidates: Trophallaxis, a Journeyman and Beyond online networking and sharing group for all who have taken or are taking the academic portion of the WASBA Journeyman, is meeting by zoom on first Wednesdays. 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. To join Trophallaxis, you must have taken or currently be enrolled in the Journeyman class. Call 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingkba.org for the zoom link. This is a closed group because we do need to limit this group to beekeepers in Washington State with Journeyman or Master Beekeeper certification or working on Journeyman so that we can concentrate on meeting the networking and information sharing needs of the intermediate to advanced beekeeper. Other groups such as The Hive Mind can meet the needs of beginners. Sharing can be on a formal or informal basis. |
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NOTICE: 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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Above: WS-5000 Ambient Weather Station report at Maltby Apiary, 15324 228th ST SE, Snohomish, WA 98296. 5.9 degrees F was lowest recorded temp so far this winter. Since that day, no yellow jackets have been spotted, however, day time temps are occasionally in 50s, so we are taking no chances at the Maltby Apiary. We will catch those overwintered mated queens as they come out of dormancy! Here's hoping that the yellow jackets will finally stop flying and sneaking past the clustered bees into the hives! To that end, we are using bait packet, sugar water, fruit juice and fish cat food bait in the attempt to find something that will lure those emerging queens away from yummy bees, brood and honey stores. |
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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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DISCUSSION GROUPS: SnoKing club ASK A BEEKEEPER sessions will pick up again in spring; dates and times TBA. THE HIVE MIND networking group for beginning (and advanced!) beekeepers continues on 2nd Thursdays. Contact Gina Cuff ginacuff@gmail.com for information and zoom link by monthly reminder email. 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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JOURNEYMAN OPPORTUNITIES to earn service credit point during the winter can include writing articles of interest to beekeepers (2 service credits per article). Suggested article topics: -- personal evolution as a beekeeper -- scaling up your beekeeping operation, or down, or both -- review of a favorite speaker or research source/topic you have researched -- summary of the beekeeping season just ending (your experience or a general perspective of 2023) More journeyman service possibilities: -- Teaching WASBA Beginner* -- Moderating or presenting at discussion groups or meetings. *We are aware that WASBA allows anyone who has completed Apprentice with one year beekeeping experience to teach Beginner, as long as they are under the supervision of a Journeyman or Master, but SnoKing limits teaching to beekeepers that have completed at least the academic portion of WASBA Journeyman. |
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TEACH ME BEES podcast The following announcement is included here as a Journeyman candidate service presentation opportunity, or a chance for any of us to talk bees. 2 of our members are involved in the podcast described: “Teach Me Bees is a podcast from Honey 4 Hope in Monroe, Washington. Teach Me Bees is co-hosted by Dave Wescott and Scott Calentine. Teach Me Bees is a great place to bring guests on throughout the bee industry: backyard beekeepers, honey sellers, apiary experts, professors, professional beekeepers, and just about anyone with bee experience. Our episodes are 30-40 minutes long where we talk about something bee focused and we like to have fun and joke around and sometimes get off topic, but we always come back to teaching people about bees! We have things to learn as well, so we want to bring people on to teach us with our audience. Honey 4 Hope is a new beekeeping company with the goal to give our profits away to charitable causes that change the world. Dave's goal is to use bees to change the world. Teach Me Bees is our way of passing along the beauty and greatness of bees to the world. We hope you will listen and consider joining us for an episode. We record audio and video so give us a view on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, LinkedIn on Dave's page or Honey 4 Hope's page or listen on your favorite audio podcast app every Thursday at 10 am PST. If you're interested in joining us email us at scott@honey4hope.org and we can get you scheduled and answer any questions you may have!” |
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DONATIONS: Donations are growing our club; thank you to all who donate equipment, money and time. Please continue to help us in 2024 as well, including by payment of annual dues via paypal after completing membership form at www.snokingbka.org/join . If you need a donation letter as receipt, SnoKing Beekeepers is glad to provide one as a 501(c)3. Contact Eli 206-859-7392, eliochel@snokingbka.org |
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EXTRACTORS: Three extractors are now available for use by club members. Get more information at the meeting or contact Ron 206-859-7392 or Eli. |
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CLUB APIARIES: Closed until April/May except by appointment Maltby - Eli - eliochel@snokingbka.org 206-859-7392 Granite Falls - Ron - beebuddy.skba@gmail.com 206-719-3604 |
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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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