Worcester County Beekeepers Association

ARE YOUR BEES STARVING???

This year's severe drought in southern New England has brought a dearth of bee forage to many areas, and Ken is seeing many instances of starvation on his inspection rounds. Both nectar and pollen are in short supply. Please check your hives and feed them if needed!

OUR NEXT OUTDOOR MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 17

Please join us at Foppema Farm and Orchard in Sutton for Part 2 of How to Prepare Your Hives for Winter, along with Making Hand Cream from your Season's End Wax Cappings. Don't forget your veil, lawn chair, and a refreshment to share! Details below under Events.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED AT THE SPENCER FAIR!

We had a great time educating the public about honey bees and beekeeping. Thanks to everyone who pitched in to make our booth a success again this year -- we could not have done it without your help!

RESULTS OF THIS YEAR'S HONEY AND BAKING SHOW

REQUEST YOUR HIVE INSPECTION! 

In 2016 your hives will not automatically be inspected unless you file a request with the Chief Apiary Inspector, except in the case of a health emergency. YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW YOUR HIVE INSPECTION FORM IN ORDER TO BORROW A CLUB EXTRACTOR. Please submit your form as early as possible to allow for planning of inspection rounds! The form can be found here:

MA apiary inspection request form

You can submit the form by email, snail mail, or phone.

To submit by email: simply click on the form and fill out the fields online, save it to your computer, and then attach the saved file in an email to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The form does not need to be signed.

To submit by snail mail: print the form and fill it out (or fill it out online and print it), then mail it to:

Department of Agricultural Resources

101 University Drive, Suite C4, Amherst, MA 01002

To submit by phone: call the MA Chief Apiary Inspector Kim Skyrm at 413-548-1905

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 our treasurer Phil Gaudette to update your email in our records.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE DUE AUGUST 31

Membership has its benefits!  Quarterly newsletter, discount on beekeeping trade journals (Bee Culture and American Bee Journal), free admittance to the WCBA indoor meetings which include our March and October speaker meetings, discount honey jar ordering, club honey extractor program and much, much more.  Don't delay, renew today!

Membership renewals are due by August 31 every year.  Dues are $15.  You can renew by mail or at any of the club meetings.  The membership renewal form can be found here.

BEEKEEPING BILLS IN THE MASS LEGISLATURE

Watch our fall newsletter for an update on legislative activities related to honeybees and beekeeping!

Saturday September 17 at 1pm

Place:  Foppema Farm & Orchard, Sutton, MA

Program:  Preparing your hive for the winter months Part II & Making hand cream with your season's end wax cappings

Don't miss our last outdoor meeting of the season! This 2 part program will focus on final preparations beekeepers must take care of before the cold sets in and by popular request a hand cream making workshop in the barn where Martha will demonstrate her method of making hand cream from your season's beeswax. Remember to bring goodies to share!

Directions to Foppema Farm & Orchard

Take Rte 146 south from Worcester. Get off at exit 7. Take a left at end of exit toward Northbridge. Go approximately 1/2 mile. Take a left onto Dodge Hill Rd. Go approximately 1/2 mile and take a right onto McClellan Rd. The farm is 100 yards up on the right.

BE SURE TO SAVE THESE DATES FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Saturday October 1, First Indoor Meeting and All Day Conference with speakers Wyatt Mangum, Meghan Milbrath, and Robert Gegear: Thermal Top-Bar Hive Beekeeping and other topics

Saturday November 5, Thanksgiving Banquet

Saturday December 3, Holiday Party

Friday January 13, Chef Supper

Friday February 10, Chef Supper

Directions to the Leicester Knights of Columbus

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.