Author: Janet

Want to learn how to use a natural mite treatment in our bee yard this Saturday? We will use ApiLifeVar and Formic Pro if the weather forecast allows. (Under 85 degrees). 08-17-2019 Mite treatment and feeding during the dearth, 10 AM to Noon The Lord’s Acre is now called Root Cause Farm, same place. All BCBC members and guests are welcome at the Apiary workshops. Bring a veil and some water.  Marshall Mullins, State Certified Beekeeper, Manager of the BCBC/Root Cause Farm Apiary, 828-231-8284 mars1952@gmail.com Questions? If you respond to this email, it does not go to me so be sure to cut and paste my address in you email.   Upcoming workshops at the BCBC RCF bee yard this summer. 10 am-noon 08-17-2019 MiteRead More

Do you want to participate in the whole honey extraction process? BCBC is hosting an educational, honey extraction party for this Tuesday 08/13/2019, 6:00 pm.  We will be extracting the honey of the club’s apiary on Root Cause Farm (renamed from The Lord’s Acre).  Member Brian Friel has generously offered his house to get tagged with stickiness. He lives between Woodfin and Weaverville: 124 Naples Street, Asheville, NC 28804 Parking is limited. It is best to RSVP to Marshall Mullins, 828-231-8284, mars1952@gmail.com You will learn the set up of the club’s extractor (that members can rent), uncap the frames with the hot knife, see the centrifugal force it takes to remove the honey, strain and bottle the honey. Bring a rag, a snack/drink, a smallRead More

08-03-2019 Workshop at TLA This Saturday 08-03-2019 10 am to Noon, at the BCBC Apiary at the Lord’s Acre (directions at the bottom of this page): We will do a quick inspection of all of the hives and talk about feeding your bees during the dearth and I will answer your questions. Always bring some water. We have a mean hive at our bee yard. I have requeened it but it will not calm down until most of the old bee are dead and the new bees take over. I will close up the mean hive the night before the workshop and release them after so they will not pester us during the workshop. We STILL need a volunteer to host an extraction party. WeRead More

 On Saturday 07-20-2019 10 AM to noon, at the BCBC Apiary at the Lord’s Acre: (Joe Jenkins Road, Fairview, NC) Three hardworking people showed up. The weather was sunny and hot. We inspected all of the hives and nucs (A Nuc is a Nucleus hive.) and they are all strong and queen right. There was no sign of EFB. WE ROBBED HONEY FROM THREE HIVES AND HAVE 12 DEEP FRAMES AND 24 MEDIUM FRAMES TO EXTRACT.  WE ARE LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER TO HOST AN EXTRACTION PARTY where the newbees can get some hands on experience. Contact me and I will arrange a time. One of the hives at our yard is mean, too mean for a teaching apiary, and needs to be re-queened. WeRead More

CANCELED This Saturday 07-06-2019 at the BCBC Apiary at the Lord’s Acre CANCELED We realize many will be away for the July 4th holiday. Next workshop 7-20-19 Upcoming workshops at the BCBC TLA bee yard this summer. 10 am-noon until further notice. 07-20-2019 Possible feeding if dearth. Sugar shake/Alcohol mite wash Hive #1 inspections. Raising queens and bees for winter. Do any splits need to be made? 08-03-2019 Sugar shake/Alcohol mite wash inspections all hives. Mite treatment. 08-17-2019 Inspection 08-31-2019 Sugar shake/Alcohol mite wash inspections. 09-14-2019 Inspection, Fall feeding 09-21-2019 Sugar shake/Alcohol mite wash inspections. 09-28-2019 Inspection, Preparing hives for winter. 10-12-2019 Sugar shake/Alcohol mite wash inspections. 10-26-2019 Inspection 11-09-2019 11-23-2019 December 2019 Final mite treatment with oxalic acid gas. February 2020 First spring inspection.Read More

TAKE THE TEST WITH US JULY 10   Dear BCBC Members and invited WNC members of other Chapters on the ladder for the Initially Certified Practical Test in NCSBA’s Master Beekeeper Program. The 30 minute written Initially Certified test (50 multiple choice and T/F) will be given on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 between 5:30-7:30 PM at 122 Lyman St. Asheville in the HomeGuage orange room. For non-members there is a suggested donation of $5 payable upon arrival. The NC Master Beekeeper Program (MBP) Ready for Beginner Certified Status Join the NCSBA ($15) Take a 50 question written test of multiple choice/T/F questions given: YOU MUST RSVP to Education Secretary, Janet Peterson at janetpeterson0@bellsouth.net right away so we know how many tests to print up. YouRead More

Our last Beginner Certified Class at 6:30 at 122 Lyman Street in the River Arts District – June 26, 2019  Week 7  Join us (nominal fee)!   PRODUCTS OF THE HIVE (taught by Brandon and Kimmie Delcambre, Journeymen “A Couple of Bees”)   HONEY, LABEL LAWS, (taught by Scott Davis, Master Beekeeper)   EXTRACTING METHODS -TBA   EVALUATIONS OF HONEY FOR STATE FAIR  (taught by Janet Peterson, Journeyman)   Certified Testing- Written and Practical in July TBA

CANCELLED June 8 BCBC Apiary Inspection Hello all of you wonderful Lord’s Acre volunteers! Due to Mother Nature’s watering schedule, we need to cancel and reschedule our mite check and honey assessment to Saturday, June 22nd. Heavy thunderstorms are expected at about the time we are in the bees. So, mark your calendars for 2 weeks and we will call this one a wash…literally! Marc E Eden, RN, MSN, PCCN, BA, NCBTMB Journeyman beekeeper 2019 President Buncombe County Beekeepers Club Upcoming workshops at the BCBC/TLA bee yard this summer. 10 am-noon until further notice 06-08-2019 cancel due to rain 06-22-2019 Sugar shake/Alcohol mite wash inspection Hive #1. Honey assessment for harvesting. Should be in the midst of Sourwood flow. Checking the queen castle. 07-06-2019 DearthRead More

June 05, 2019 Week 4 June 5, 2019 6:30 General Quiz to help you prepare for Certified test 6:45- 8:25   BEE ANATOMY/ BIOLOGY 8:25-8:30 Assignment/Clean up Wednesday nights 6:30-8:30 pm Meeting Room at HomeGauge, 122 Lyman St, Asheville. Registration online under “Events” on wncbees.org (or just show up), Pay at the door $5/class and you supply the book although we will have 4 more copies for sale. The Beekeeper’s Handbook Fourth Edition Diana Sammataro. Three more classes are scheduled for each Wednesday June 12, 19, 26 to be taught by members who have achieved their certification. Prerequisite: BCBC and NCSBA member, 4 months of beekeeping experience or attendance at 2019 BCBC bee school.