Minutes of Meeting for February 2010
Monday, March 01, 2010
Long Island Beekeepers Club Monthly Meeting Minutes,
February 21, 2010
Holbrook Ecology Center
A new election was held and board members were named.
· Discussion about beekeeping classes currently being offered for our club: Rich Blohm is currently teaching both a novice class and an advanced class. Ray Lackey has novice classes in Riverhead at Cornell Cooperative Extension, as well as in Holtsville. If he has enough interest (minimum of 10 people) by March, he will offer another novice class in Nassau County.
· Master Beekeeper Ray Lackey of our club gave a presentation about what to expect in the upcoming warmer months as our bees get back to business.
· “Package Bees” will be arriving in April. One package averages 3 pounds, around 12,000 bees. Rich Blohm’s packages should be available around April 10, and Pete Bizzoso’s packages should be available around April 24.
· A nucleus, or “nuc” is derived from an existing colony with a laying queen. Several frames with bees and brood through all stages of development will be the start of a new colony. A nuc has a “head start” over package bees in being ready for the honey flow.
· April 15 is usually when dandelions start blooming on Long Island, and that’s usually considered the official start of the honey flow. Some early bloomers include witch hazel, redbud maple, willows, and skunk cabbage.
· Ray strongly suggests you write down what you see, and when it happens to best learn and plan your strategy. Remember the season starts around 2 weeks earlier on the south shore of Long Island as compared to the north shore.
· Honey flow on Long Island traditionally ends around July 4th, but if you’re lucky enough to live near streams or rivers the season will likely be longer due to late bloomers like Chinese Knotweed.
· Ray reminds us that even if your bees made it through the winter, between now and mid-April is the most dangerous time as the growing hives are consuming their remaining stores quickly. Monitor and consider feeding 1:1 sugar water until then.
· Additional Q&A, snacks, and raffle.
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Sangesland
Holbrook Ecology Center
A new election was held and board members were named.
· Discussion about beekeeping classes currently being offered for our club: Rich Blohm is currently teaching both a novice class and an advanced class. Ray Lackey has novice classes in Riverhead at Cornell Cooperative Extension, as well as in Holtsville. If he has enough interest (minimum of 10 people) by March, he will offer another novice class in Nassau County.
· Master Beekeeper Ray Lackey of our club gave a presentation about what to expect in the upcoming warmer months as our bees get back to business.
· “Package Bees” will be arriving in April. One package averages 3 pounds, around 12,000 bees. Rich Blohm’s packages should be available around April 10, and Pete Bizzoso’s packages should be available around April 24.
· A nucleus, or “nuc” is derived from an existing colony with a laying queen. Several frames with bees and brood through all stages of development will be the start of a new colony. A nuc has a “head start” over package bees in being ready for the honey flow.
· April 15 is usually when dandelions start blooming on Long Island, and that’s usually considered the official start of the honey flow. Some early bloomers include witch hazel, redbud maple, willows, and skunk cabbage.
· Ray strongly suggests you write down what you see, and when it happens to best learn and plan your strategy. Remember the season starts around 2 weeks earlier on the south shore of Long Island as compared to the north shore.
· Honey flow on Long Island traditionally ends around July 4th, but if you’re lucky enough to live near streams or rivers the season will likely be longer due to late bloomers like Chinese Knotweed.
· Ray reminds us that even if your bees made it through the winter, between now and mid-April is the most dangerous time as the growing hives are consuming their remaining stores quickly. Monitor and consider feeding 1:1 sugar water until then.
· Additional Q&A, snacks, and raffle.
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Sangesland