North Central PA Beekeepers Assoc.
Minutes for meeting on 02/21/2018
21 members attended, one new member and one guest – total of 23
John Bradley called the meeting to order and Guests and new members were introduced and welcomed.
October 2017 Minutes – Ken Collins made a motion to accept the minutes as written, Leon Hess Second, all approved,
Treasurer’s Report – Ken Collins made a motion to accept the treasurers report as it is written, Brooke Wolosewicz second it, all approved
No Old Business
New Business –
Emails only
Will go to members apiary ( list maximum miles you will travel)
Will have people at their apiary
The meeting was adjourned
The program consisted of three parts: But also other related beekeeping questions were addressed.
Make sure to add fondant if they are getting low on their food stores. Keeping them out of drafts and not opening on a cold winter day is very important.
Other Topics discussed:
Several members mentioned that they had had good luck with NUCS from Bob Brockmann, (sold out – Russians)
Chad Draper, Kevin Young, and Dave Smith.
Queens – it was suggested people had had good luck with Queens from Mike Johnston in NY and also Better Bee, Northern Raised Queens
Tom had used the Swarm Commander that is a spray and a gel. He used it in his swarm boxes and had set the swarm boxes in locations where there were feral hives. He actually was able to attract 7 colonies to his swarm boxes last summer.
John and Joan used the plastic swarm commander on a post outside their apiary and also in their swarm box. In both situations they attracted swarms from their own apiary. They had never had a swarm go to the swarm box before.
This year Swarm Commander can be purchased at many locations, Blythewood Company, Amazon, Dadant and most of the other companies.
Tom had talked to Blythewood and found out that the Swarm commander can be stored and used another year.
Make sure you double wrap it if it is going into the refrigerator so your food does not pick up the scents and taste. Do not leave it in the sun, can store it in the refrigerator but you don’t have to.
While using it do not keep it in your pockets etc. as it will attract the bees.
Special thanks to all that participated in answering questions and helped with all the good suggestions. Also, thanks to Lucille Hoppe for the delicious cookies she bakes and brings to our meetings.
Respectfully submitted
Joan Bradley
Minutes for meeting on 02/21/2018
21 members attended, one new member and one guest – total of 23
John Bradley called the meeting to order and Guests and new members were introduced and welcomed.
October 2017 Minutes – Ken Collins made a motion to accept the minutes as written, Leon Hess Second, all approved,
Treasurer’s Report – Ken Collins made a motion to accept the treasurers report as it is written, Brooke Wolosewicz second it, all approved
No Old Business
New Business –
- Program for September Meeting – Michele Colopy, Pollinator Stewardship Council – Her cost would be $235.04 for mileage and $130.54 for hotel. Fee of $100 is waived since we are a member of the PSBA. Program is Creating your own Pesticide Free Pollinator Habitat.
- Gerald made a motion to approve payment for our club to have a booth at the Potter County Fair, Fair add and Honey sticks purchased to hand out. Dan Second it, all approved.
- Seminar sandwiches, it was decided we would continue to use Subway to provide the sandwiches for the seminar.
- There are posters available for anyone who can put them up for the Basic Beekeeping class and for the March Seminar.
- Swarm and Bee Rescue list. – Anyone who is on the list will remain on the list as long as dues are paid by March 21st. You do not have to reapply.
- Mentors – We have a list of mentors and if you want to join that list please contact Joan – categories are:
Emails only
Will go to members apiary ( list maximum miles you will travel)
Will have people at their apiary
- Summer Club Picnic : Tom Kolb has offered to do another chicken barbeque for the club. Date and time to be determined.
- Newsletters : We need articles for the newsletters. If no one sends in items for the newsletter we will discontinue it for this year. Please contact Joan if you have something.
- Request for Bees in Roulette – Does anyone want to place bees near Roulette. We have a request from a couple who have 118 acres and are looking for someone to place bees on their property. Contact Joan if interested.
- Speaker Needed : - Mount Jewett Rotary is looking for a speaker for any Wednesday night, 6:15 PM. They meet at Routes 6 and 219. At the Barrel House. Please contact Joan.
The meeting was adjourned
The program consisted of three parts: But also other related beekeeping questions were addressed.
- Getting your bees through the rest of the winter.
Make sure to add fondant if they are getting low on their food stores. Keeping them out of drafts and not opening on a cold winter day is very important.
Other Topics discussed:
- To try to keep wax moths out of your comb – make sure your frames have been frozen for a few days. Either in the frozen weather or in a freezer.
- Definitely use your honey from your dead outs for your other hives or on your new hives in the spring.
- Canadian Beekeepers are over wintering their bees in one Deep. They feed the bees heavily in the fall with sugar water, so they have a full hive of honey going into the winter.
- A good recommendation came from a member who had insulated hive covers made by Joel. They said the hive covers have really kept moisture off the bees.
- NUCS where to buy them locally.
Several members mentioned that they had had good luck with NUCS from Bob Brockmann, (sold out – Russians)
Chad Draper, Kevin Young, and Dave Smith.
Queens – it was suggested people had had good luck with Queens from Mike Johnston in NY and also Better Bee, Northern Raised Queens
- Swarm Commander:
Tom had used the Swarm Commander that is a spray and a gel. He used it in his swarm boxes and had set the swarm boxes in locations where there were feral hives. He actually was able to attract 7 colonies to his swarm boxes last summer.
John and Joan used the plastic swarm commander on a post outside their apiary and also in their swarm box. In both situations they attracted swarms from their own apiary. They had never had a swarm go to the swarm box before.
This year Swarm Commander can be purchased at many locations, Blythewood Company, Amazon, Dadant and most of the other companies.
Tom had talked to Blythewood and found out that the Swarm commander can be stored and used another year.
Make sure you double wrap it if it is going into the refrigerator so your food does not pick up the scents and taste. Do not leave it in the sun, can store it in the refrigerator but you don’t have to.
While using it do not keep it in your pockets etc. as it will attract the bees.
Special thanks to all that participated in answering questions and helped with all the good suggestions. Also, thanks to Lucille Hoppe for the delicious cookies she bakes and brings to our meetings.
Respectfully submitted
Joan Bradley