General Meeting (April 2017)

The Capital Regional Beekeepers Association (CRBA) meets on the second Thursday of every month.

This meeting usually starts with a beginner’s corner 30 minutes before the regular club proceedings start around 7pm.

AGENDA

• 6:30-7:00 – New beekeepers’ corner (Lower hall; Barry)
  Setting up your hive
• 7:00 – Welcome (Bill Fosdick)
• 7:05 – Club business
  • What’s blooming?
  • What to do in April?
  • Allergy season (Dr Peter Lee)
• 8:30 – Social
• 9:00 – Close

Minutes

Bill Fosdick called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Bill welcomed the members to the meeting.

Bill gave the members a brief outline of the evening’s agenda.

What to do this month?

Larry Lindahl – this is very busy month for the beekeeper

• this is called the starvation month
• brood is now in all stages of development and if the weather does not co-operate, the beekeeper should be feeding the hive with sugar water or fondant and pollen patties.
• Supers need to be added as the nectar flow from the maples should be shortly.
• Check for swarm cells on a weekly basis
• Check for mite levels. Take action in battling mites now.
• Nosema test – Jean Manville (see the ad in the Beeline) – needs 50 bees in paper bag not plastic
• Evaluate the brood pattern and the queen.
• Evaluate your brood comb – put it up to the light and if you cannot see light through time for new comb.

South Island and Gulf Island

Regional Rep – Edan North

• May 29th is the day of the Honeybee
• Participate in community activities for this day
• Posting a tour of you hive
• Write to Premier and Prime Minister about the blight of the honeybee.

Club Hive

Bill Fosdick explained that Bob Wadsworth has been approached by three individuals with acreage that would be willing to have hives belonging to the CRBA at their premises. The club would be able to host field days using the CRBA’s own hives.

Don Lambert is going to rebuild the CRBA’s observation hive.

Shirley Richardson has polling the membership on how their hives did through the winter (mortality rate). The report is not ready for this meeting but possibly for the May meeting.

Swarms

Jennifer Olsen/Alanna Morbin

Jennifer and Alanna walked the members through the process to detect prevent swarming of the hive. They demonstrated different ways to prevent swarming. They suggested that the members register where their beeyards are situated then the swarm committee could contact those members who have hives in the area where a swarm has been reported. When a swarm is collected make sure you have a designated hospital area to put the collected swarm in and monitor and treat for mites at this time.

Bill Fosdick spoke to the members about forming smaller groups of beekeepers in their area. Mechosin area has a group as does a group up the Peninsula, meet and discuss what is happening in their area.

Dr. Peter Lee – Allergist

Dr. Lee gave a very informative lecture on the reactions that happen when people have a sensitive to different things.

Just so you know

• Craig Temple showed the audience his 7 litre feeder that he made. Here’s what he had about this feeder in an email to the Beeline:I found that the 29 cup Snapseal food container was the biggest of these locking containers (with silicone gasket) that would fit in a Medium box. And it fits perfectly.I ordered it from Amazon.com, because I couldn’t find them locally online.The seal mechanism is watertight. I used a tiny drill-bit (I think 1/32″), and just drilled a bunch of holes in the the recessed handle area in the lid. This type of container is available in all shapes and sizes, and they should all work very well, I ordered this one from the states, because it was the biggest that would fit in the box (6.9L at a time!).

  I did a lot of testing with just water (which would leak easier than the more viscous syrup), at different levels of fullness (an inch of water or six), and they never leaked once the vaccuum seal was generated. Plus, if you squeeze the sides before you flip it over, you create the vacuum in advance, and if you loosen your grip on the sides as you flip it, not a drop comes out.

  I could probably do a video to demonstrate. I used them all year, and never had any issues with leaking. Easy to clean and refill. I love them.

• Stan Reist and Grant Stringer will have queens for sale.
• Barry Denluck has 3 spaces available for the last class for beginner beekeepers this year.

Meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM for refreshments.