Buncombe County Beekeepers Club (BCBC) A Website by Beekeepers in Western North Carolina, for Bee Keepers everywhere!

Good evening, members. I hope that you all fared well through the bad weather that Florence brought our way. WNC didn’t experience too many problems, but our neighbors to the east weren’t as fortunate. David Tarpy, NC State’s extension specialist (apiculturist) has recently published an article titled “Protective Measures of Beehives during Hurricanes”. you can read the post here For our October meeting, We will be talking about last minute preparation for your bees as we head into fall. We may have a short discussion about bears as well. I have been trying to get a biologist from the NC Department of Wildlife to come and talk bears with us because bear activity is on the increase and ,as we all know, can be a nuisance to bee keepers and ourRead More

Saturday, September 1, 8:30 register, 9-noon talk. Buncombe County Beekeepers are bringing in one of the cutting edge researchers on the Varroa Destructor mite. Dr. Samuel Ramsey is coming to speak with fascinating photographic evidence of the life cycle of the varroa that you have to see to believe. He’s intelligent, entertaining and has the ability to explain research so we can understand it! It’s only $10. The conference room in MHCR&EC (Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center) in Mills River (not far from Sierra Nevada) on Saturday, September 1, 8:30 register, 9-noon talk. That is close to the airport so we can get him back on the plane! You can get your ticket ahead of time at this site under events.

  Hello, Buncombe County Beekeepers,   I hope that you and your girls are doing well and getting ready to  go to the NCSBA  Summer Meeting this weekend at Blue Ridge Community College.   For our August meeting we are going to have our annual ice cream social. We will be supplying the ice cream with some vegan options, but we ask that you please bring your own cup/bowl and utensils. Also please bring toppings to share.   For the meeting as we near the end of our nectar flow (not counting goldenrod) we will have two of our club members, Dave Cowart and Greg Rogers, talk to us about what you should be doing to get your girls ready their winter. As these twoRead More

This Saturday, 07/14/2018, 10 am to noon at the BCBC Apiary at the Lord’s Acre, we will do:  Hive inspection, we need to check on our supercedure and swarm hive. Robbing awareness Mite assessment Smoker 101 Bring your veil and some water.   All BCBC members and guests are welcome. Bring your veil and some water. Marshall Mullins, Coordinator for the BCBC/Lord’s Acre Apiary, 231-8284 7/14/18 10 am -noon  7/19-21 GONE TO NCSBA CONVENTION IN FLAT ROCK, Register online asap! 7/28/18 10 am -noon  7/30/18    Certified Practical test by appointment only 8/4/18 10 am -noon  8/18/18 10 am -noon  9/1/18 noon – 2pm 9/15/18    noon – 2pm 9/29/18 noon – 2pm TBA   The Lord’s Acre is easy to find with Google Maps. Just clickRead More

  Topics: Our part in summer conference, Bee Yard update, Evaluation of nectar Flow, Club Business Dale Hayes “Solar Wax Melting”   Bring:  a donated door prize   Reminder: Register for the NC State Beekeepers Association Summer conference in Flat Rock at the Blue Ridge Community College, July 19-21 ( https://www.ncbeekeepers.org )    Dear Buncombe County Beekeepers,   Mark your calendar for our next monthly meeting on July 2nd at 7:00pm.  We hope that you and your apiary friends are doing well, despite any stress from the dearth or heavy storms that have been dominating our weather this past week…hopefully we’ll have another nectar flow soon.       Just a reminder that Buncombe County is one of the host counties for the NC State Beekeepers Association Summer conference heldRead More

  Good Evening to all Buncombe County Beekeepers!  Mark your calendar!  Our next monthly meeting is Monday, June 4th at Groce United Methodist from 7 – 9pm.  Come early for a greet-and-meet at 6:30, especially if you have questions for some our more “seasoned” beekeepers.  You can learn what is going on in and around the bee yards of Buncombe and surrounding counties. I hope you and your “girls” have had a wonderful Memorial Day holiday weekend!  Although rain has limited foraging and time in the apiary, we did have some occasions where the sun peeked through the clouds.  The first nectar flow of the season is in full swing, so be sure to check your hives for adequate space.  Remember the 70% rule…when aRead More

   Hello to all BCBC members!   This is a reminder of our May meeting, scheduled for Monday, May 7th  at 7:00pm.    The guest speaker for the May meeting is Ms. Leigh Knott.   Ms. Knott (formerly from the Ozarks) is owner of Five Apple Farm in Yancy County.  She is a certified natural grown beekeeper with 8 years of experience.  She is currently working on micro-queen rearing and cut-down splits.  She will be able to share a wealth of knowledge and provide information for both the experienced and novice beekeeper.  We are looking forward to hearing from her!   It is a busy time for both bees and beekeepers as the nectar flow is beginning.  Many of you may have purchased nucs and/or packages andRead More

Enough interest is shown to have a Journeyman/Master study group. It will start 6:30-8:30 pm Tuesdays, April 24-June 5, 2018 That’s 7 classes.  Limited to 15 students- Must RSVP Janet Peterson at 628-1758 Location: 122 Lyman Street, Asheville $8 per class or $40 for all 7 classes. This is a fundraiser for BCBC and will cover the cost of any handouts. Provide your own resource book.

  Who is interested in a BCBC sponsored Study Group for Journeyman and Master Beekeeper Level of the NCSBA Master Beekeepers Program ? For any NCSBA Chapter Members in WNC who have passed the Initially Certified Test and has 2 years experience. We would have Tuesday meets from 6:30-8:30 for 7 weeks starting April 24. We need a minimum of 8 students- Must RSVP Janet Peterson at 628-1758 or  janetpeterson9@bellsouth.net

BCBC will be giving the Beginner Certified Test Tuesday, April 17, 2018 between 5 and 7 PM come anytime. Even if you haven’t been in our prep class, anyone can take it that can show proof of your NCSBA membership, has $8 for administrative costs (no charge for BCBC members) and an hour of time. You must be a member of a chapter, ours or another. Come to the meeting room at HomeGuage, 122 Lyman St, Asheville in the RiverArts District. Test will take an hour. We’ll do the paperwork to turn in your score. Leave a note here that you are coming so we can have the 50 question test run off for you. Good luck!