2017 11 Buzz News

November 2017

Nelson County Beekeepers nelsconcountybeekeepers@gmail.com

What’s The Buzz

Volume 3, Issue 11

Meeting

NOVEMBER 16TH @ 6:30 PM PROGRAM: Open Discussion On Winter Preparation

Officers President-Gene Englert

POT LUCK – THANKSGIVING DINNER – TURKEY'S PROVIDED--Bring side dishes and desserts.

Vice President-Ricky Humphrey Bring a friend who might be interested in keeping bees. All are welcome.

Secretary-Benny Hite Treasurer & Editor-Susan Zhunga Hospitality-Pat Swartz Newsletter Publisher– Georganne Collins

This is the end of our 5th year as a club and the beginning of our 6th year. What an awesome journey!!! We have grown from 12 members at the start to currently almost 100.

Thanks to all the people who have aided that journey. Very special thanks to Gene Englert, who had the vision to start the club, and serve as president for several years. Thanks to (Continued on page 2)

Robbie Smith County Extension Agent for Horticulture

Inside this issue: Upcoming Programs For 2017

2

Minutes & Treasure Report

3

Beekeeper’s Calendar

4

Bardstown Craft Fair Report

5

November Beeline

6

November Club Elections

7

Page 2 UPCOMING PROGAMS FOR 2017 Programs listed maybe subject to change according to guest schedules.

November 16th ................ Club

elections, all positions

December 21st................. Christmas Party and Installation of Newly Elected Officers

(Continued from page 1)

everyone for working to accomplish the best programs, good fundraisers, educational programs, and other offerings to numerous to fit in this newsletter.

We must give a special thank you to Robbie Smith for keeping us on track and focused. Educational programs and speakers are only a few his efforts to assists the club.

Hats off to all – and let’s keep going !!!!

P.S. My personal thank you to Georganne Collins for producing this newsletter over the years. I could not have done it without her.

Page 3 Nelson County Beekeeping Meeting October 19th 2017 Steering Committee Meeting Attending: April Donathan, Gene Englert, Benny Hite, Pat Swartz, Henry Wilkerson and Susan Zhunga.

Discussed: The Arts and Craft Fair was discussed and maybe a bigger booth will be needed in the future. Four people helped with the trash pickup and more help will be needed next year to spread the work out . Election will be coming soon.

Beekeeper's Meeting: Election will be held next month and new members are welcome to take some of these positions. Ricky thanked all that helped with the trash pickup. The Arts and Craft Fair was another success. Dr. Tammy Horn, our State Apiarist, was there to speak about the Kentucky Pollinator Plan. Questions were asked and answered throughout the program. A big thanks to Tammy for the presentation. Mike Vittitow won the door prize and there were 30 in attendance.

Benny Joe Hite Secretary

Financial Statement As Of 11/1/17 Start

$2,429.96

Expense

$1,749.27

Speakers/Fair/Supplies

Income

$1,566.00

Dues & T's Hats Fair

Balance

$2,246.69

Susan Zhunga Treasurer

Page 4 BEEKEEPER'S CALANDAR From Kevin Hale's 2016 Presentation Fall – Winter Preparation If a double hive isn’t very strong, cut down to a single box. • If bees can’t use and can’t protect it, condense them to one box • Easier for small hive to survive in a smaller space • Protect comb from wax moths and hive beetles • Comb is worth its weigh in gold, store and preserve it well!!! • Reverse hive bodies (you must monitor closely and feed quickly) • I have done this with good success • Sometimes in the fall if you have a small population they will completely move up into top box • This also depends on nectar flow coming in and if they can fill the top box • You should plan to feed 4-5 gallon 2:1 syrup unless you have a good nectar flow • 5 gallon of 2:1 syrup can add about 45# feed to a hive • Combine weaker hives with stronger hives • Never combine weak hive with another weak hive • Newspaper combine method best, make sure to remove queen from the one you are combining

• Reduce or block entrance from wind • Keep wind from blowing directly into hive entrance • Mouse Guards • Close bottom board off in SBB • Can monitor bee strength by looking at mite board • Prop outer cover open with stick (I do this year round) • Beetles • Mash them!! • Not much you can do right now, they are not to

bad in winter but they will cluster with bees • Treat for Nosema • Recommend you treat fall and spring. Can be one of the major causes of bee loss in the winter • Looks like expelled waste trail on top of frames and front of hive. • Fumagilin-B • Fall treatment is 2 gallons treated syrup per double hive

(Approx. 30,000 bees) Winter Feed Recipes: Sugar/Protein Patties: • 3 cups protein powder (Brood Builder, Mega Bee or AP 23) • 9 cups sugar • Add enough 2:1 syrup to make consistence of peanut butter and form into patties on wax paper.

Hard Sugar Blocks: • 1 pint water • 6 lb. sugar (12 cups) • 6 teaspoons HBH • Two 7”x7”x1.25” cake pans or two 9” pie pans (makes two 3 lb. pans) • Heat water to boil, add HBH, add sugar and mix, heat to 245 deg. mixing occasionally, remove from heat and let cool to 190 deg., stir quickly and pour into pans, let harden (don’t let it get to hard while cooling or you can’t pour it) Hard Sugar/Protein Blocks: • 1 pint water • 6 lb. sugar (12 cups) • 3 cups protein powder • 6 teaspoons HBH • Two 7”x7”x1.25” cake pans or two 9” pie pans (makes two 3 lb. pans) • Heat water to boil, add HBH, add sugar and mix, heat to 245 deg. mixing occasionally, remove from heat add protein powder and mix in quickly. Once mixed, pour into pans, let harden.

Page 5 BARDSTOWN ARTS & CRAFT FAIR The Fair was a big success thanks to the effort of April and David Donathan. They were able to both sell product and educate the consumers about buying Local Honey and supporting beekeeping in general. Thank your again for you hard work. Also thanks to all who volunteered their time to help at the booth.

Below is a financial report of the proceeds from the Fair.

Nelson County Beekeepers Bardstown Arts & Crafts Festival 2017 Income: Honey, Honey Sticks, T-Shirts, Candles, Key Fobs $ 2,752.00 Expenses: Honey Sticks

$85.00

Consignor payout (as seen below)

$2,420.00

Total Expense

$2,505.00

Net Income

Janet Brown Doug Brink Darrell Hester Henry Wilkerson Mike Vittitow Ricky Humphrey David Donathan Total Payout

$247.00

$ 73.00 $140.00 $230.00 $285.00 $299.00 $630.00 $763.00 $2,420.00

Congratulations to all for a great day in sales for both your honey and other related products. We hope this inspires other members to participate in both next years Arts and Crafts Fair, and also the Nelson County Fair.

JUST A REMINDER

Test kits for American Foul Brood (AFB) and European Foul Brood (EFB) are available for purchase from Extension Office for $14.00 each.

Please call me (Susan 507-8789) for availability.

There are 2 extractors complete with all that you need to extract honey. It comes with a refractometer to test you honey. $10.00 for usage, with a 2 day maximum.

Page 6 State Apiarist’s Report November Beeline Bee Maintenance: This time of year, you want to eliminate unnecessary moisture in the hive. Here is Ann Harman’s candy recipe, which creates a supplemental sugar source without heating the mixture.

Mix 10 pounds of white granulated sugar in one cup of water. (Quantities are correct, it can be done.) Do not use powdered sugar; it contains cornstarch, which does not agree with the bees. Shape into slabs on wax paper, allow to harden, and place inside the hive.

1 lb. = 2 1/4 cups cane sugar = 22 1/2 cups for 10 pounds

$$$$$ MEMBERSHIP DUES $$$$$$$$ Don't forget!! You need to pay your 2018 membership dues. Either mail them to me (Susan Zhunga 555 King Rd. Coxs Creek, KY 40013), or I'll see you at the meeting. This will keep you active on our Facebook page and also on the mailing list for the newsletter. Dues are still $12.00 per household.

These dues and other fund raisers help to pay for speakers, assist in pot luck, and beekeeping education for both our members and the public about the importance of beekeeping and buying LOCAL honey.

Page 7 November Club Elections Message from our President Gene Englert It's nearing that time of the year for the changing of the guards. Nelson County Beekeepers is a volunteer organization dedicated to educating Beekeepers, the general public, and service in our community. I think we are one of, if not the best beekeeping groups in the state doing this quality of community service. It is not accomplished by any one person. It's achieved by a group of people all contributing a small piece to the puzzle. That being said, some of those people are looking for a break and that's where you come in.

We need some new

members to step up and bring a few new pieces to this puzzle. These jobs aren't hard to do and as long as everyone contributes a little, so that the overall result is the well run club we all enjoy every month. So please consider running for a position this November so that our club will continue to run successfully every month.

Please put your name in the hat for any of the positions available.

President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Hospitality. Outgoing officers will assist in any way we can to help the new officers make a smooth transition.

BEEKEEPING ITEMS FOR SALE SWAP MEET – YARD SALE @ Every Meeting Janet Brown - is selling NCB Hats and Visors for $10.00. The club gets $2.00 from each sale.

Janet and Leon Brown are also selling their beekeeping equipment. Boxes, Frames, Bottom Boards etc. Call for pricing @ 502252-7831.

Susan Zhunga & Mary Ellen Marquess – are selling “Sue B Healthy” which is the Bee Ladies formula for Honey Bee Healthy - $8.00 for an 8oz jar.

Mike Johnson – Will be make wooden ware to order. Boxes, frames and wax dipping. Contact Mike for information and pricing @ 502-249-2007.

Larry Marks - is selling the Marks' Frames for $12.00 for a set of three frames.

Comes with instructions.

The Club - has NCB T Shirts Prices are: $8.00 for children $10.00 for Adults and $12.00 for Adults 2x & 3x.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Bardstown KY 40004

317 S Third St

Nelson County

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