RIBA Members Meeting, June 8, 2008 The June meeting was held at Smiths Nurseries, 225 Douglas Pike, Smithfield RI 02917. (401) 345-3452. The owner Bob Smith is making a solid - and successful - attempt to build a nursery using natural and organic techniques and in that spirit allows Ed Lafferty to use his land as an outyard. They were extremely accommodating and excellent hosts and on a day when the sun was blazing and the temperature in the 90s provided us with an excellent place to put up our tent.
Inspection. Jim Lawson was the guest speaker at the meeting and he discussed Integrated Pest Management techniques. Ed has installed modified screen bottom boards that allow a sticky sheet to be inserted and withdrawn from a slot at the rear. The sticky sheet collects dropped mites and allows the keeper to take count samples.
Ed's outyard
The sticky sheet
Executive board minutes The meeting started with Everett's review of the June Executive Board meeting notes, which were approved by the meeting. The meetings notes are at http://www.ribeekeeper.com/ebagenda080605.php
"How are the bees" The Bee Report - short on detail - but the situations ranged from apiaries in great condition to those apparently short on food and having to visit the rhododendrons. Many reports of swarms though - in fact more swarms collected than colonies lost.
The unofficial "outstanding act of bee awareness" award goes this month to Griggs and Brown who refused to exterminate a swarm reported by a member of the public in Riverside RI. They showed the individual that the insects were honey bees not yellowjackets. http://www.griggsbrowne.com
Membership The e-board meeting discussed membership. Anne, Everett and Mike will contact members not paying dues. We also discussed growing the membership through the events we attend each year and by allowing other members, where appropriate, to give out application forms and in some cases collect new member payments. This will be useful where members attend farmers markets and other places where RIBA does not have a presence. Mike will produce those membership application forms. We also intend to make application - and payment - available online from the website.
"Corporate Identity" Maybe we need a new logo? What do you think? We discussed the idea and ask membership for their thoughts. The logo has to be suitable for letterheads, the website, and usable on caps, t-shirts etc. Different versions are required so we can have full color on the site, but just a single color on letterheads. We don't necessarily intend to commission a designer but we could start a competition to be judged in the fall. What do you think? Email Mike Southern with your thoughts.
On Sunday we presented the bylaws to members. They need to be approved and although we can delay as long as required we would like this to happen at the next meeting in July. Members should review the bylaws and if you have any questions submit them to the executive board before their next meeting on July 10. We will then be able to approve the bylaws on July 13.
Swarm Central The Swarm Central page is proving very useful. Many members have reported being contacted through the page and a number of town Police departments have the URL for reference. If you want to be added to it please email mike.southern@cox.net making sure you give your town and the towns you can cover. http://www.ribeekeeper.com/swarmlist.php
This swarm found and hived by Sanne Kure-Jensen in Portsmouth
Finance Bill reported the cash on hand and the incomes and expenditures so far this year and noted a shortage between income and expenditure for the year so far. This highlights a need discussed earlier to increase membership not only for the subscriptions but because active involvement in the Association - and the events it participates in - is what will grow interest and provide reliable funding. We also noted that some of the larger fund raising events haven't happened yet so we are projecting satisfactory reports by the year end.
Next meeting The July RIBA meeting will be held at Faella Farm 1072 Saugatucket Road, Peace Dale, RI. 401-783-7437 on July 13th.
From the North:
1) Take Route 95 South to Rt. 4 South exit 9 -North Kingstown (left hand exit) GO 10.0 mi through 2 lights
2) Route 4 becomes, Route 1 South, Tower Hill Rd. GO 5.2 mi through 3 lights
3) Turn RIGHT onto Saugatucket Rd. at blinking yellow light just after a Getty Gas station
4) Follow 2 miles go straight at stop sign. 1072 Saugatucket Rd. Faella Farm is on your Left after Field
From the South:
1) Take 95 North
2) Exit at 138 East follow to University of RI
3) Take a RIGHT at light Rt. 108
4) LEFT at Light , Saugatucket Rd. 3rd house on Right
PARKING: is in driveway, field, street and turnaround across street.
FREE Restaurant Movie - Calling all beekeepers to attend Local 121, at 121 Washington St., Providence, is a restaurant featuring local artists and grown in RI produce, is hosting a free showing of the documentary Silence of the Bees on Wednesday, July 23rd at 7pm. The film provides an in-depth look at the search to uncover clues into Colony Collapse Disorder which is killing off huge populations of the honeybee. Silence of the Bees goes beyond the unsolved mystery to tell the story of the honeybee itself, its invaluable impact on our food supply and takes a look at what's at stake if honeybees disappear. It further explores the complex world of the honeybee in crisis and instills in viewers a sense of urgency to learn ways to help these extraordinary animals. Meet with members of the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association, enjoy a sampling of local honey and foods that we would not have if not for the pollination by the honey bee. To learn more, contact Nancy Miller at 401-274-2121 or e-mail: nmiller@local121.com.
Great News! Bonnie Frechette, Marketing Team Leader at Whole Foods Market, was our guest speaker in May. She introduced many of us to helpthehoneybees.com and has started many local initiatives to raise funds for reasearch into CCD.
In addition to that, she reprts: The Governor of RI has officially declared the week of June 22-28, 2008 as "Pollinator Week" in Rhode Island!
Please see the image (below) of the proclamation which arrived in a nice portfolio!
We can thank our pollinators for the bounty on our plates!
Our fundraiser to "Help Save the Honey Bees" continues here at University Heights Whole Foods Market through June 30th.
Donations go to Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences to support research into Colony Collapse Disorder. These donations are tax deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes. If you feel moved to make a donation, please let me know and I can help facilitate that for you!
Thanks!
Bonnie
Honey plants Kit posted some more Honey Plants (trees mostly) in the
Yahoo discussion group picture archive. There are some pictures of Tulip Poplars in bloom. He writes: They are
a sight to behold- especially to beekeepers. When there is a good flow on
you can shake the flower and see the nectar fly out of it! And the honey is
most excellent (to me anyway). It is very light in color, like champagne,
and very fragrant. It seems that you can smell the flowers when you open the
jar. As a matter of fact the Black Locust and Linden produce honey of
similar quality and description. There are also pictures of Bass Wood
(Linden) buds that I am keeping my eye on. They should be blooming soon,
especially if the heat holds up. Also a few pictures of Catalpa (AKA Banana
or Cigar Tree) that will be blooming in a week or two. They don't always
produce a nectar flow, but when they do it can be quite copious and fairly
long. We can always hope and pray! Lastly, I've added a picture of an odd
fellow to show, but interesting nonetheless, Poison Ivy. This picture was
taken at the meeting at Smith farm today (the 8th of June). The vine is at
least6 inches thick and climbing up a tree on the left side of the road on
the way down to where the bees are. When you look at the picture notice the
bee in the center of the frame. Yummy! The honey will be fine for
consumption; just don't rub against the bees delivering the nectar! I hope
that you enjoy these pictures as much as I am posting them. If there are any
local honey plants that you would like to see a picture of in their natural
habitat let me know. If I can get it without endangering life or limb I do
my best to get one and post it! This, to me, is one of the real fun parts of
beekeeping, getting to share with fellow beekeepers and educating myself
along the way as well.
Daddy's bringing home the bees Mike Carpenter was telling us that he went to pick up some bees that had swarmed down the road from his home. He ended up walking the swarm home in his wheel barrel and received some strange looks from passing drivers! The swarm box was full and as you can see several other bees remained on the outside of the box. Enjoy!
Lou's June workshop Gary Slater writes: Had a great workshop with Lou Chasse today. We helped Lou hive a
couple of swarms, tasted some fresh honey, saw two different queens
and asked a lot of questions. Also, saw a mouse that tried to make a
home in one of the hives, but the bees took care of him real fast.
I've posted some photos from the workshop. I'm looking forward to
next month's session. Gary
The next sessions will be held July 19th. Please note this later date! Subject will be "Treating for Varroa". Please call (401) 295-0888 if weather is iffy.
Online discussion groups RIBA has it's own discussion group at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ribeekeeper/join where members can ask questions or post their own information, photos etc. There are many other online resources but I'll mention three here as they are established discussion groups with a wide and experienced membership. Organic Beekeepers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Organicbeekeepers/ talks about organic beekeeping methods - no treatments etc. BEE-L http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm is a very technical group discussing much of the science of beekeeping. Beekeeping http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Beekeeping is a general information group with discussion on many situations of the daily beekeeping experience.
Extractor The association has 2 extractors. The charge is $10 for 3 nights and 2 days. Make reservations with;
Bernie Bieder (401) 463-8654 or beeman604@verizon.net in the Warwick & South County areas.
Ed Lafferty (401) 353-6644 or FruitHillApiary@Verizon.net for the North Providence and Woonsocket areas.
In the News! In the news twice this month!
Honey Cider From Celeste - a Honey Cider recipe cider.pdf
News from Wales! Moves to protect bees for future`
by Steve Bagnall, Daily Post
PROPOSALS to protect honey bees in England and Wales have been announced by the Government.
Numbers have been falling for several years and the measures aim to make sure a healthy population is sustained to ensure plant pollination as well as honey production.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Welsh Assembly Government outlined their proposals yesterday.
But they have already faced criticism from the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) which said it had "no confidence" that enough extra money would be provided for research.
The consultation document said action was needed to minimise the risk from pests and disease by identifying and acting upon threats.
It also suggested beekeepers could be offered training, with the help of principles to be defined by the National Bee Unit.
The June meeting was held at Smiths Nurseries, 225 Douglas Pike, Smithfield RI 02917. (401) 345-3452. The owner Bob Smith is making a solid - and successful - attempt to build a nursery using natural and organic techniques and in that spirit allows Ed Lafferty to use his land as an outyard. They were extremely accommodating and excellent hosts and on a day when the sun was blazing and the temperature in the 90s provided us with an excellent place to put up our tent.
Kit posted some more Honey Plants (trees mostly) in the
Yahoo discussion group picture archive. There are some pictures of Tulip Poplars in bloom. He writes: They are
a sight to behold- especially to beekeepers. When there is a good flow on
you can shake the flower and see the nectar fly out of it! And the honey is
most excellent (to me anyway). It is very light in color, like champagne,
and very fragrant. It seems that you can smell the flowers when you open the
jar. As a matter of fact the Black Locust and Linden produce honey of
similar quality and description. There are also pictures of Bass Wood
(Linden) buds that I am keeping my eye on. They should be blooming soon,
especially if the heat holds up. Also a few pictures of Catalpa (AKA Banana
or Cigar Tree) that will be blooming in a week or two. They don't always
produce a nectar flow, but when they do it can be quite copious and fairly
long. We can always hope and pray! Lastly, I've added a picture of an odd
fellow to show, but interesting nonetheless, Poison Ivy. This picture was
taken at the meeting at Smith farm today (the 8th of June). The vine is at
least6 inches thick and climbing up a tree on the left side of the road on
the way down to where the bees are. When you look at the picture notice the
bee in the center of the frame. Yummy! The honey will be fine for
consumption; just don't rub against the bees delivering the nectar! I hope
that you enjoy these pictures as much as I am posting them. If there are any
local honey plants that you would like to see a picture of in their natural
habitat let me know. If I can get it without endangering life or limb I do
my best to get one and post it! This, to me, is one of the real fun parts of
beekeeping, getting to share with fellow beekeepers and educating myself
along the way as well.
Mike Carpenter was telling us that he went to pick up some bees that had swarmed down the road from his home. He ended up walking the swarm home in his wheel barrel and received some strange looks from passing drivers! The swarm box was full and as you can see several other bees remained on the outside of the box. Enjoy!
Gary Slater writes: Had a great workshop with Lou Chasse today. We helped Lou hive a
couple of swarms, tasted some fresh honey, saw two different queens
and asked a lot of questions. Also, saw a mouse that tried to make a
home in one of the hives, but the bees took care of him real fast.
I've posted some photos from the workshop. I'm looking forward to
next month's session. Gary
The next sessions will be held July 19th. Please note this later date! Subject will be "Treating for Varroa". Please call (401) 295-0888 if weather is iffy.
