Bee School Session 2...

Hampden County Beekeepers Bee School January 2013

When: Thursday, January 24th at 7pm

Where:  Willimanset Heights Improvement League (WHIL)

118 Mount Vernon Rd.

Chicopee, MA 01013

This will be our second session of bee school for 2013.

HCBA Members Tom Flebotte and Lee Duquette will cover the topics of PROTECTIVE CLOTHING and HIVE ASSEMBLY.  Hammers are optional!    

All members are welcome to attend. 

Our last bee-school break was a huge success thanks to everyone who brought something!  Those who would like to are again invited to bring a snack to share. 

Bee well!

Jessica Martin

HCBA Secretary

(860) 978-5388

Jessica@pulsetattoo.com

Inner Covers and Notches...

I've been watching a hive that belongs to one of our new members whose vacation coincided with our bee package delivery. This was my first time working with someone else's set up, so it was nice to see some of the differences in hive set- up, from major to subtle. One of the things I noticed was the absence of a notch in the inner cover. My bees use their inner cover notches quite regularly as second exits/entrances, so I thought this was important enough to mention to the vacationing beekeeper. I'm glad I did. Because this is his first hive, he did not immediately notice the notch was missing, and it was not intentional. Upon discussing this with some other new members in class last week, it turns out there were a few other people who received notch-less inner covers. The offending covers came from multiple sources, beekeeping supply companies and local woodworkers. So to make this long story short... New beekeepers, check your inner covers. If your inner cover does not have a notch like the one pictured here, you may want to make one, or have one made. They provide for better ventilation and act as an upper entrance/escape for the bees.

HCBA Member Recommendation (Woodenware)...

This year will be only my second year as a beekeeper, and I decided to add a hive. When I started last year, I opted for ordering all pre-assembled woodenware for my first hive. I used Brushy Mountain and although the price is much higher for both the woodenware and the shipping when you buy assembled, I was very happy with the quality and I felt I had one less thing to worry about when it came to the success of my hive. At least it would be built properly! This year, my friend and fellow HCBA member, Mike Feeney, talked me into saving some money and building my new hive myself (with his help, of course!).

We met Anthony from Old Schoolhouse Woodworks, at our July HCBA Beekeeper's Picnic Anthony makes great quality stuff, and takes custom orders, all for a great price. And he's conveniently located in CT, so you can save on shipping from the big companies by driving down to pick up your order. Mike purchased all the components to build 2 new 10 frame hives, and I got all the components for a new 8 frame hive from Anthony, including a few shims to go between our honey supers, and slotted bottom racks that he custom built for us. Check him out here:
OLD SCHOOLHOUSE WOODWORKS


We also have a new source for assembled frames, also in CT. You can't beat the quality or the price. If you need frames and can pick up in CT, you need to call Armand!

Armand Provost
198 Wagher Rd.
North Grosveno, CT 06255
860-935-5450

Armands frames are only $9.00 for a box (10 frames)!
You can't beat that deal with a stick!
Check out the quality of these frames...

A Lagrant's Recommendation...

One of our new members, Jen Cushman, had a great experience at Lagrant's and I thought it was worth sharing here. It's also great to support a local small business when you can. It's time to put Lagrant's on our bee supply radars!

And now, a message from Jen...
I drove up to Lagrant's Bees in Ware and met with the wife, Bernadette, of the owner, Frank. They have 40+ years of beekeeping experience. At one time, they had a large scale bee business, but have downsized in the past few years to a few hives and their store.

She was super knowledgeable about everything I would need and answered all my questions (no matter how silly). They do sell mostly unassembled kits, but for an additional fee they will put the hives together for you (which is what I asked for). The hives are all wood with beeswax frames. They only sell the 10 frame hives. I also got everything else you need (helmet, gloves, smoker, feeder, etc..) Their prices are competitive with all the catalogs (and for some things, cheaper) and you don't have to pay for shipping! They also sell the bee pollen packets too.

So I guess I just wanted to let folks know that I had a great experience there and if it's not too far for folks to drive.....I would encourage supporting a local bee business!

They can be reached at 413-967-5064, email lagrants@aol.com address: 139 Osborne Rd. Ware, MA Folks should get directions from Bernadette, as the ones off Mapquest are wrong!

Thanks :-)

Jen Cushman


You can also visit Lagrant's online by clicking here

Wooden Hives vs. BeeMax Polystyrene

Wooden Hives versus BeeMax Polystyrene

Does anyone have experience with polystyrene hives? I spoke at length with a customer service rep at Betterbee who uses them and one of the biggest features is that the bees survive the winter better. From their web site (http://www.betterbee.com/) they are: ultra-insulating polystyrene hive equipment to give honeybee colonies a better chance at overwintering in extreme Northern temperatures, while also helping to keep your colony cool in the hot summer months due to the material from which it's made.

Another plus is that they are lighter, so shipping costs would be reduced. However, they do come only with Pierco Frames which are plastic and substitutions are not allowed. When I mentioned that the general sentiment with the class leaders and mentors is that bees prefer wood, the representative said that she uses the Pierco ones and has had better output. She said that she dips them in the sugar water and the bees just take to the frame.

Comments?

~ Roxie Pin

A great question for discussion, everyone please leave you comments below, let's see if we can help Roxie out.

July's HCBA BeeBQ...

A big thank you to Carrie and Arthur Naatz for having us all over to eat and socialize! The food was great and there was plenty of it!

Anthony Trani attended the picnic and showed off some of his great beehive woodenware. He is a local craftsman and if you did not attend the picnic but would like to check out his work please click this link Anthony had a lot of nice stuff at very fair prices!
Some of us ventured down to the Naatz's beeyard. I love Carrie's choices of colors!
That's a good looking bunch of beekeepers! From left to right, Mike, Sean, Jessica, Annette, Carrie, Scott and Arthur.
Thanks again to Arthur and Carrie! See everyone in August!