Worcester County Beekeepers Association

Hobby Beekeepers Wanted for State-Wide Health Survey focused on Pesticides!

Contact Kim Skyrm, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ASAP if you are interested in participating. This is time sensitive given the need to start sampling.

To be eligible, you must have between 2 and 5 hives in your apiary.

NEXT MEETING - Saturday, June 2 - Home of Peter & Carol Hoffman

Time: 12 Noon

Location: 183 Randall Road, Berlin, MA (See directions below)

We will start the meeting at noon with small group hive openings. At 1:00 we will start a series of beekeeping related workshops.

WORKSHOP 1: Betty Mencucci - candles and beeswax ornaments

WORKSHOP 2: Ken Tubman - mead

WORKSHOP 3: Martha Williams - handcreams and lip balm

WORKSHOP 4: Bill Crawford - making splits

KIDS WORKSHOP: Desiree Grace - rolled candles

We ask all to bring a dessert and drinks. We will have ice tubs for the drinks.

Directions: From Rte 140 North or South. Take Rte 70 East toward Boylston Center. Continue on Rte 70 until you come to Rte 62. Right on Rte 62 and follow for 5-6 miles until the STOP sign just before the railroad tracks. Left at the STOP sign and follow for 1/4 mile. Right onto Randall Rd. At the Fork Randall Rd bears right. Follow to 183 Randall Rd.

Saturday, June 16 - MASS BEE FIELD DAY

Time & Place:        All day @ UMass Agricultural Learning Center, Amherst, MA

See Events Page for further details!

Beekeeping experts from throughout New England attend this field day to share their knowledge and experience with fellow beekeepers. The all-day event is free and attendance is highly recommended. 

For more information, to register or order lunch, visit www.massbee.org. The full field day agenda will be posted as it is finalized.

The deadline for sign-up for the WCBA-sponsored bus is May 30 as described on the Events Page.

LOOKING FOR PACKAGE BEES OR NUCS?

Please see the supplier list on page 6 of our winter newsletter:

2017winter.pdf

HONEY BEE SWARM REMOVAL

Honeybee swarms are a natural process where the bees divide their colony and half of them leave home along with their queen, to start a new hive. Before they find their new space, they may hang around in a temporary spot for a few hours. If you see a honeybee swarm, keep your distance and please don’t panic--they are normally fairly gentle. Do call a beekeeper who will come and get them.

A list of Worcester County Beekeepers who are on call to collect swarms can be found here. Most will also travel to nearby towns.

APIARY INSPECTOR POSITION AVAILABLE

From Kim Skyrm, Chief Apiary Inspector / Apaiary Program Coordinator - MDAR:

"I wanted to share an opening in the Apiary Program Team. Specific information and additional details can be found on the MassCareers Job Opportunities webpage by searching for the Keyword: Apiary."

SUPPORT MA BILLS TO RESTRICT NEONIC USE !

WCBA BY-LAWS

We have posted an online video of Dr. Eric Mussen's talk on Advanced Honey Bee Nutrition from our Oct. 7 conference:

Nutrition Needs in the Honeybee Colony

HIVE INSPECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE

The MA apiary inspection service is now available. If you are interested in having an inspector check your hive, or any hive that died, please submit an online inspection request here:

MDAR Apiary Inspection Request Form

You can also call 617-626-1801 to request a visit from an inspector.

MA POLLINATOR PROTECTION PLAN

The MA Pollinator Protection Plan has been released and can be found at http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/agr/farmproducts/apiary/pollinator-plan.pdf

WCBA EXTRACTORS

WCBA has several extractors available for rent to our members. For details see here.

DOES YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS NEED UPDATING?

If your membership is up to date but you are not receiving club emails (quarterly newletter & important announcements), please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  to update your email in our records.

NEXT MEETING - Saturday, June 2 - Home of Peter & Carol Hoffman

Time: 12 Noon

Location: 183 Randall Road, Berlin, MA (See directions below)

We will start the meeting at noon with small group hive openings. At 1:00 we will start a series of beekeeping related workshops.

WORKSHOP 1: Betty Mencucci - candles and beeswax ornaments

WORKSHOP 2: Ken Tubman - mead

WORKSHOP 3: Martha Williams - handcreams and lip balm

WORKSHOP 4: Bill Crawford - making splits

KIDS WORKSHOP: Desiree Grace - rolled candles

We ask all to bring a dessert and drinks. We will have ice tubs for the drinks.

Directions: From Rte 140 North or South. Take Rte 70 East toward Boylston Center. Continue on Rte 70 until you come to Rte 62. Right on Rte 62 and follow for 5-6 miles until the STOP sign just before the railroad tracks. Left at the STOP sign and follow for 1/4 mile. Right onto Randall Rd. At the Fork Randall Rd bears right. Follow to 183 Randall Rd.

Saturday, June 16 - MASS BEE FIELD DAY

Time:        11 AM

Location:  UMass Agricultural Learning Center

                  911 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA

Beekeeping experts from throughout New England attend this field day to share their knowledge and experience with fellow beekeepers. The all-day event is free and attendance is highly recommended. The Massachusetts Beekeeping Association also holds its annual State Bee Smoker Contest at this event, so bring your smoker and secret fuel. Pre-registration is recommended.

For more information, to register or order lunch, visit www.massbee.org. The full field day agenda will be posted as it is finalized.

To make travel easier for everyone, the WCBA sponsors a bus. The bus departs the Auburn Mall at 7:00 AM and returns at 6:00 PM. If interested, fill out the form on page 6 of the WCBA Spring Newsletter and return it by May 30. For $15 a person you can leave the driving to us. A minimum of 25 members is required for us to secure the bus for the day, so register today! We will let you know by June 2 if we have enough people.

BE SURE TO SAVE THESE DATES FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Saturday, July 21 - Home of Scott Malkasian

Time: 11 AM (Early Start)

Place:  Dowd's Lane, Princeton, MA (See directions below)

Annual WCBA Cookout: Scott Malkasian and Brian Faucher generously provide us with hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments and drinks. Please bring a salad, side dish and/or dessert to share. After lunch, Scott will lead a hive opening and talk about his management style and his many hive experiments.

Other reasons to come out and enjoy the afternoon with your fellow beekeepers:

• Annual WCBA Smoker Contest—bring your smoker and favorite fuel
• Tips on preparing your honey entry for the Spencer Fair
• Honey extraction demo by Norm Mercier—great for new beekeepers
• Tour Scott’s log cabin mansion—the view from the top is spectacular

Directions to the Leicester Knights of Columbus

Indoor monthly meetings and many of the Special Events of the WCBA are held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Manville Street, in Leicester, Massachusetts.

From Webster Square in Worcester: Follow Route 9 West into Leicester. Two miles from the town line turn right onto Manville Street, just after Entwhistle’s Garage. Entrance to the Knights of Columbus is 1/2 mile up on your left.
From the Spencer or Leicester area: Follow Route 9 East. Turn left onto Manville Street, just before Entwhistle’s Garage. Entrance to the Knights of Columbus is 1/2 mile up on your left.