WSBA Newsletter - January 2022
A collection of recent events, upcoming opportunities, informational articles, and points of discussion. You are receiving this newsletter compliments of the West Sound Beekeepers Association because we sincerely want to share our love of bees and useful information with you. For more information visit our website: http://www.westsoundbees.org/ or join the group's Facebook page at West Sound Beekeepers Association (WSBA) Group Page! Link to the Washington State Beekeepers Association newsletter: www.wasba.org. Feel free to share the newsletter or unsubscribe at any time. (Links at the bottom).
2022 Board Members & Appointed Positions
Treasurer: John Sasser, Treasurer@westsoundbees.org
Secretary & Newsletter Editor: Lauren Funk, Secretary@westsoundbees.org
Trustee A (-2024): Kirsten Johnston, TrusteeA@westsoundbees.org
Trustee B (-2022): Jason Sanko, TrusteeB@westsoundbees.org
Trustee C (-2023): Bob Finley, TrusteeC@westsoundbees.org
Apiary Director: David Leger, Apiary@westsoundbees.org
Education Director: Sandy Fanara, Education@westsoundbees.org
IT Director: Mike Stalnaker, Webmaster@westsoundbees.org
Volunteer & Mentorship Coordinator, Deborah Schmidt, Volunteer@westsoundbees.org
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WSBA CALENDAR
UPCOMING CLASSES, MEETINGS, AND INFORMATION
- Saturday, February 12 - Beginning Beekeeper course, day 1. Online via Zoom. $80. Register HERE. Contact Sandy Fanara for more info.
- Tuesday, February 15, 7pm - February membership meeting. Online via Zoom. In-person option TBD.
- Saturday, February 19 - Beginning Beekeeper course, day 2. Online via Zoom. Contact Sandy Fanara for more info.
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Message from our President
Gordon Cromwell
Happy New Year to all members of West Sound Beekeepers Association. 2022 will hopefully be a steady return to a more normal time. However, due to current Covid conditions our January meeting will be on Zoom. We look forward to a probable in person/ hybrid meeting in February.
We are excited about our education plans that include monthly programs, the Beginning Beekeepers Course, and in person hands on Apiary experiences. New and more experienced beekeepers will have opportunities to advance their learning and skill levels.
This year we have new Board members Lauren Funk- Secretary and Kirstin Johnston -Trustee 2022-2024. Lauren also produces our monthly newsletter.
Additionally, WSBA Directors are: Education - Sandra Fanara, Apiary - David Leger, and IT - Mike Stalnaker. Our Volunteer/Mentor Coordinator is Debra Schmidt.
Thank you to everyone who helps to make WSBA a great organization.
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Education Committee Report
Sandy Fanara, Education Director
The Beginning Beekeeping Class will begin in February with a meeting at Stedman's and then two separate Saturday classes.
Apprentice level beekeepers that want to earn points towards their journeymanship are encouraged to contact Sandy ASAP for scheduling of teaching online classes, mentoring, apiary workshop classes, etc.
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Remember to Renew Your Membership!
Our programming at WSBA is supported by membership fees. Membership with WSBA gives you access to our monthly meetings, work days and classes in our Silverdale teaching apiary, and mentorship opportunities. At $20 for an annual membership that covers the whole family, it's a great deal!
Membership can be purchased on our website HERE. We now have an option for automatic membership renewal, so you'll always be up-to-date. If you purchased the Beginning Beekeeper course membership is included, so no need to purchase a separate one.
Please contact Lauren (secretary@westsoundbees.org) if you need to check your membership status. Thank you for your support!
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In case you missed it:
Congratulations to our current President
Gordon Cromwell
on being voted WSBA's 2021 Beekeeper of the Year!
We appreciate all your hard work last year.
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December - January Apiary Report
David Leger, Apiary Director
Winter bees are hopefully conserving resources and the brood nest is almost empty. The winter Solstice is the perfect time to use OAV (oxalic acid vapor) to clean up mites since they can't hide in the capped brood.
It is also a good time to start lifting the back of hives to check weight, lighter hives may need supplemental feeding with dry sugar or candy boards. Winter is also for planning and preparation for spring, the club apiary got a great deal on Black Friday 40lbs of pollen patties and 100 frames, with black foundation for spring splits.
Every nuc we sell takes 5 frames: two brood frames (with enough young nurse bees to keep the brood warm), one food frame, one bare foundation and one empty comb. The early nucs will use mated queens (we are looking at WSU Caucasians from John Jacobs at Old Sol), the later nucs will use locally mated queens (from our survivor stock).
We like to see a full brood cycle before the nucs leave the apiary to assess the laying pattern and increase nurse bee population as needed.
By the time they are ready to go to new homes, many nucs are on the verge of swarming and need more space in their brood nest. This spring management is key to controlling swarming, replacing lost colonies, rotating in new frames and generates some income for the beekeeper to buy sugar and more boxes from Stedmans.
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