Massachusetts Beekeepers' Meeting
The Massachusetts Beekeepers' Association will hold its Fall Meeting and Honey Show at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Fitchburg on Friday and Saturday, October 29th and 30th. Featured speakers are Dr. John Skinner of the University of Tennessee, and Jennifer Berry, University of Georgia Apiary Manager and Dr. Keith Delaplane's Research Co-coordinator. I invite you all to cross over the bridge and come on Saturday for an educational field trip. A registration form is enclosed, and further details and information, as well as honey show rules, can be found at our website: www.massbee.org. -- Paul


Claire’s Corner
As Indian Summer passes, and colder weather settles in, our beekeeping season is nearing its end. It is certainly not time to put our feet up and forget our girls until March, however. Our final preparations now will ensure winter survival and a bountiful spring in 2005. It is an anxious time, especially after the last few harsh winters. So, what should we do?

Location has long been established, but heavy winds can take their toll on a hive, so a wind break is needed if your hive stands out and alone. And, your hive is the perfect warm environment for all those cute little field mice looking for a winter nesting site. Get those mouse guards in if you haven’t already.

The most senseless loss of a hive is due to starvation. It has been a struggle with many of our hives this year due to lack of stores. Heft the back of your hive. It should be difficult for most of us to lift. The top deep super should be nearly full of capped honey. If not, feeding is in order. Much confusion arises when we need to mix sugar syrup. It needs to be thick for fall feeding, therefore a 2:1 syrup is called for. This is easily remembered by dissolving 5 pounds of sugar in 5 cups of hot water. A batch or two should include a teaspoonful of Fumagillin-B to ward off spring Nosema. Keep feeding till they take no more.

As new beekeepers, we felt the need to tighten up the hive so the girls could huddle and cuddle all winter. Why not, I use an electric blanket (nearly year-round)! But these girls build up condensation quickly. Ventilation is critical! Air flow through the hive and venting out through the notched inner cover will not chill the cluster. It is amazing how much moisture can accumulate on an insulation board or under the inner cover. Very little heat is lost from an adequately ventilated colony. The heat will be maintained in the cluster.

An insulation board can be cut from Homasote or fiberboard (not Styrofoam). It should be the same size as the inner cover. A ten inch long cut is made from the front edge towards the center and placed on top of the inner cover. This will help absorb the excess condensation and provide an upper entrance. Don’t forget the wooden wedge used all season placed between the outer cover and the insulation board. We have had success using several layers of newspaper over our queen excluders which rest on the inner cover. The vent stick is still used. Another successful approach to hive-top insulation is to screen the bottom of a shallow super, fill it with shavings, and place it over the inner cover.

Wrapping a hive is almost as controversial as the use of queen excluders. A single sheet of tar paper stapled around the two deep supers does break the wind and provides a little heat absorption on cold, sunny days. As long as one has access to the inner cover to feed, no harm will be done. On the other hand, there are those who feel that it is unnecessary and that wrapping has little effect on survival.

Feeding with syrup can continue till our first killing frost. Beyond that, it will be difficult for the bees to dispel with the excess liquid. If feeding continues to be necessary after that , one should switch to candy over the cluster. That recipe will be printed in a future newsletter.

One final tip as you ready the hive for winter. Before flipping the inner cover over to the deep side down, scrape the cover clean of all burr comb. It is a real bummer to find your candy won’t fit over the cluster because the cover is so covered with comb and it is 20 degrees in January. Been there!

Interesting Facts
I picked up a flyer that Robert Lichtenstein made up this summer while at the Fair which contained some interesting facts. I asked for permission to use some from time to time. Here are a few concerning beeswax.

In Roman times, beeswax was a major product of commerce in Europe. Taxes, rents and tributes were commonly collected in the form of beeswax.

During World War I, some British beekeepers were exempted from military service so they could continue to produce beeswax for the war effort. Beeswax was used to coat the thin fabric making up plane exteriors.

Farm Festival Day
is a celebration of all farms in the Falmouth area. Leslie Lichtenstien will be at the John Parker bogs in East Falmouth on Saturday, October 9th , from 10 AM to 2 PM with a honeybee observation hive and all sorts of information on how our honeybees help the local farmers produce all that delicious local produce. Tony Andrews Farm and Smithfield Farm will be open to visitors, as will the Cape Cod Winery, and the Coonamesset Farm will have spinners demonstrating their craft, as well as having their animals on display, and enticing goodies at their organic snack bar.

Recipe Corner
Now that your honey is harvested and you are looking for ways to use it, try adapting some of your favorite recipes. A favorite of ours follows having converted it from a chocolate oatmeal cookie recipe.

Oatmeal Craisin Drops

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 ¾ cup flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¾ cup honey
• ½ tsp salt (optional)
• 2 eggs
• 2 ½ cup quick, uncooked oats
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 6 oz Craisins or raisins
• 1 cup chopped nuts