Local Beekeeping Artist...

Tom Flebotte stumbled upon the works of Gay Gillies when she ordered bees from him this season. She uses bees wax and comb in some of her pieces. He forwarded me a link to her website to share, check it out...

GAY GILLIES ART

Culture & Cocktails...

The Springfield Science Museum hosts a themed evening on the first Thursday of every month. This month, THINK GREEN!

Culture & Cocktails, Think Green
Thursday April 5th
5:30pm-8:30pm
Springfield Science Museum
21 Edwards St.
Springfield, MA 01103

Mix up your weekday with a toast to culture, community and conversation.

*Tour the special exhibit Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly
* Live Bluegrass music by The Boys of the Landfill
*Green fair featuring environmentally friendly businesses and and vendors, including Hampden County Beekeeping Association, Keep Springfield Beautiful, Green Monster eCycling, and Cato Corner Farm
*Featured drink: GREEN Apple Martini

$5.00 at the door includes food and entertainment
Cash bar

March Meeting #2...

Hampden County Beekeepers March Meeting #2

When: Thursday, March 29th at 7pm

Where: Willimanset Heights Improvement League (WHIL)
118 Mount Vernon Rd.
Chicopee, MA 01013


This is meeting is part of our 2012 bee school session. The night's topics will be covered by chapter 8 in your books. Please arrive before 7:00pm as class will start promptly at 7:00pm.

Topic 1: Challenges of Beekeeping
w/speaker Ken Warchol, MA Bee Inspector

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...

Gamma Radiation...

Some very good information came through my email from HCBA member Matt. Matt purchased some used equipment that had been stored for possibly up to 20 years. Though the beekeepers did not lose their bees to disease, it was recommended to Matt by Ken Warchol, that he send the equipment through gamma radiation. According to Ken, American Foulbrood (AFB) spores can lie dormant for 60+ years. The gamma radiation is to eradicate the chance of these spores ruining your hive. I found an article on-line on the subject, called GAMMA RADIATION: A SANITATING TREATMENT OF AFB CONTAMINATED BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT and here's a link.

The following information was passed around at bee school last week, so if you weren't there or were but didn't get your hands on it, here it is again...
Radiation Coordination
George O'Neil
658 Sunrise Ave.
Barre, MA 01005
Cell: 978-434-1200
Home: 978-355-2442
Email: autumnmorningfarm@charter.com

If you think you may need some equipment treated, please contact George.

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

March Meeting #1...

Hampden County Beekeepers March Meeting #1

When: Thursday, March 8th at 7pm

Where: Willimanset Heights Improvement League (WHIL)
118 Mount Vernon Rd.
Chicopee, MA 01013


This is meeting is part of our 2012 bee school session. The night's topics will be covered by Chapters 5 & 8 in your books. Please arrive before 7:00pm as class will start promptly at 7:00pm.

Topic 1: Spring and Summer Management
w/speaker Jeff Rys HCBA Vice President

Topic 2: Bears and Other Invaders
w/speaker Len Elie HCBA Member