Announcements
Next Meeting
Tuesday, April 8th at 7:30 P.M. at the West Barnstable Community
Building on Route 149.
Why did your hive die? Do you know, or have you an educated guess?
Our April meeting will feature a member forum for Q & A. Equipment
or dead-outs may be brought in for diagnosis. Just be careful and
package them properly to avoid any contamination. We welcome all
newbies to the first association meeting and look forward to their
questions before our bees arrive.
Refreshments
Members Joe Miksch and Richard Simon volunteered to bring drinks
to this meeting; and Donna Donovan and Susan Kelley will donate
munchies. Thank You!!
A sign up sheet will be passed around at the meeting for those
wishing to provide drinks and nibbles for upcoming meetings and
bee school sessions as well.
From the President
We are another month closer to spring; if we actually have one on
the Cape. It's exciting to see the crocus in bloom and the daffodils
in bud. At least the plants think spring is in the air and our bees
are taking flight more frequently with the sunny, warmer days. Keep
checking the food supply regularly as it is critical at this time
of the year until there is nectar flowing.
We meet as a board periodically throughout the year to eliminate
the "business" from our meetings so we can have topics
and speakers of interest. Please don't ever hesitate to chat with
any of the Board members regarding our meetings, and Claire always
has the minutes available for anyone to read.. At my last Board
of Directors meeting in March, we had two organizations we voted
to help with their education in beekeeping. They are Cape Cod Museum
of Natural History in Brewster and the Green Briar Nature Center
located in East Sandwich. Green Briar is setting up an observation
hive and we are providing the bees to start them on their way. We
are also donating a package of bees to the Cape Cod Museum of Natural
History for its continuing educational program using an observation
hive there as well. Since it is one of our goals to continually
educate the general public in our love for honeybees, we thought
both were worthy organizations.
I was contacted by the Heritage Museum & Gardens in Sandwich
inquiring if our club would be interested in participating in their
Earth Day program on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
I am coordinating our participation and would like more people to
help work in 2 or 3 hours shifts (longer if you wish). It will be
handled similar to our fair program. Claire will provide the observation
hive and club display material. We will be able to sell our bee
related products also just as we do at the fair. Please contact
me by email or phone if you would like to help in this education
related program.
It is with a little sadness that I write this last "President’s
Message" for our newsletter. The two years have flown and it
has been a pleasure to serve as President. I actually have to say
that my job was easy as we have a great Board of Directors and Officers.
We all worked well together so decisions were accomplished easily.
I have to especially thank Claire, who makes everything run smoothly
behind the scenes as our Secretary with her years of being involved
in our club, as well as Paul. Between the Treasurer and Secretary
they are the backbone to our club. I'll continue to be active in
our club in any way I can. So you'll still see me around. Thank
you for all your support. -- Marte (Mfoura32@aol.com)
(508) 539-1774
Bees, Bees, Bees
Helmets and Veils Should be Worn
LOWER CAPE PICKUP & INSTALLATION DEMO
11 A.M. at Bill’s Bog on Route 124 in Brewster
Take Exit 10 off of Route 6 and head north. Bill’s Bog is
on the left. The bog owner requests that you please park on the
RIGHT side of the road, opposite the bog.
Andy Morris will instruct the proper installation procedure to all
members East of the Dennis/Yarmouth line.
UPPER CAPE PICKUP & DEMO
1 P.M. at 186 Old County Rd. East Sandwich
Take Route 6 to Exit 4, head north off the ramp for approximately
½ mile. Turn left on Old County Rd. 186 is the first driveway
on the left. Befitting our love of bees, a sign hangs above a Rhododendron
proclaiming Rocky Bottum along with a carved honeybee. Parking is
limited, so you are asked to park along the neighbor’s fence
and between our driveway and Chase Road.
Meetings of Interest
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Earth Day at Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich. 10 a.m. to
5 p.m.
B.C.B.A. shall have a display. Could use a few more volunteers to
help Marte. You get free admission.
For more details, call Marte
Saturday, May 10, 2008
1 P.M.
Requeening and Splits
Hhands on in Marstons Mills. Details to follow
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
7:30 P.M.
Pollinating Plants for your gardens – Monthly Meeting in West
Barnstable
Saturday, May 17, 2008
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pollinator Plant Sale
Bring plants to sell, bring money to buy
Sunday, May 18, 2008
1 p.m.
Hive Opening for “Newbees”
location T.B.A.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Queen Rearing – hands on with Larry Connor
Members - $15. and bring bag lunch & Protective clothing. Limited
attendance, contact Claire.
Monday, June 16, 2008
7:30 p.m. – NOTE DATE & LOCATION CHANGE FOR MONTHLY MEETING
Honey Bee Biology Essentials with Larry Connor, PhD at the Cape
Cod Museum of Natural History
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Massachusetts Beekeepers 3rd Annual Field Day, sponsored by the
Franklin County Beekeepers, in South Deerfield, MA. There is NO
ENTRY FEE. More info to come.
www.massbee.org
August 4-8, 2008
Eastern Apicultural Short Course and Conference, Murray State Univ,
Murray, KY
www.easternapiculture.org
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Massachusetts Beekeepers Assoc. Fall Meeting and Honey Show
Claire's Corner
As promised, here is the recipe for propolis tincture,
an all-natural alternative to iodine. Like iodine, it stains. Use
it on minor cuts, rashes and abrasions. Some folks even use a few
drops in a glass of drinking water to relieve sore throats. The
shelf life of this tincture is several years.
Measure the crumbled propolis and add an equal measure of 100
proof vodka or grain alcohol (1 to 1). Place in an oven proof bottle
with lid.
Heat the closed bottle in a 200 degree oven. Shake the bottle
every 3 0 minutes. Continue until the propolis is completely dissolved.
Strain the mixture thru a paper coffee filter or nylon stocking.
Bottle the tincture into dropper bottles, which you can get at a
pharmacy.
Propolis Ointment can be applied to minor cuts,
bruises and abrasions.
Melt the following ingredients in a microwave or a double boiler:
1 tsp of beeswax, 4 teaspoons of liquid paraffin, 1 teaspoon of
propolis granules, and 1 teaspoon of honey
Remove from heat and stir continuously until the mixture cools
and thickens; then pour into suitable jars.
Current information online suggests that we return to the practice
of feeding a teaspoon dose of fumagillin-b to our new packages.
In addition to the Nosema apis that has been around for years, we
now could be exposed to a more virulent Nosema ceranae. B.C.B.A. currently has a small
supply left, in single dose packaging, for $1 per dose, but due
to the recommendations, it is currently on a back-order situation,
so we would not have enough for all. What we do have will be available
at the April meeting.
We have received our shipment of Honey Bee Healthy, and the price
remains at $20. See Claire at meetings.
Annual Meeting
April is the time of our annual meeting. A short business session will find us nominating and voting on our 2008 officers. There are positions open on the board of directors as well. Please consider stepping up to the plate and assisting those that have come forward to keep our 200 or so member organization functioning as one of the best in the state.
Pollen Patties
This year with each new package of bees a pollen patty (1lb Bee Pro, Mann Lake) will be included. More and more information is coming our way regarding poor nutrition in the hive. Poor nutrition can compromise the new package as they struggle to build their new nest, especially here on the Cape where our season is later than most. This pollen patty should give our packages a much needed spring boost as the dandelions blossom and we watch for other spring blooms.
As our hive develops, the queen lays, and workers build comb to keep ahead of her, pollen is a very basic component. Not only is it the protein portion of the honeybee diet, but, it is the major component for the worker to make royal jelly. The hypopharyngeal gland in the young nurse bee's head produces an enzyme invertase. Include this enzyme with nectar and pollen and the production of royal jelly results. As we know, all freshly laid eggs rest on a spot of royal jelly. More pollen should result in more brood, healthier brood, and a stronger hive. And as the season progresses, we will be amazed at the spectrum of color of pollen here on Cape Cod.
Need a location for a hive
Dan McMillan of Marstons Mills is looking for someone to place one
or two hives on his property. If interested, Dan can be reached
at (H) (508) 428-4545, or Cell (508) 265-7305.
Gerry Tutten of Hyannisport is looking for a hive in his location.
Marte has his contact info.
And, there is a new Community Garden being developed on Route 130
in Sandwich that is looking for a hive or two. Contact for that
is Bob Johnson at Housing Assistance Corporation, (5080 771-5400,
Ext 204 or bjohnson@haconcapecod.org
