A visit to the Birdsellsʼ farm and apiary!

Many thanks to Andy and Bronna Birdsell for hosting the club this month. We shared the best Hot Dogs and conversation around their wonderful fire pit. Lonnie led us through why you should make splits with queen cells, and led us on an inspection of a wonderful colony in the yard. We shared tips and tricks... especially the tip about the liquid smoke as seen in this video clip.

And welcome to all of our new and returning members!

Check out the completed video later this month on the YouTube page.

May 2025 Meeting Place Change

Good afternoon my bee buddies! It's a beautiful May Day! I just got off the phone with Lonnie Perry, and he has shared that this month (at least) our meeting will take place at one of our member's home and apiary. Andy & Bronna Birdsell, in Glencoe, AR, has generously offered to host us at 6:00, still on the 3rd Tuesday of this month, May 20. So, just the time & place have changed. It's gonna be a great meeting. OH! Bring your veils and jackets - and if you have an extra veil, bring it as we might have visitors! This meeting is still open to non-members, and if you need his address, please hit that contact button!

Spring has sprung  - finally!

The dogwoods are finally blooming!

 

 

 I just spent a few hours on our wonderful President's farm and apiary and whew, spring is definitely here. 

I had never seen a queen cell cut out to be put into a split before, and I was able to video Lonnie doing this task. How wonderful! He is such a good teacher!

 He also took us on a small tour of his farm, so peaceful! A true slice of heaven. 

So, this means spring has definitely sprung, I picked up my packages and installed them this week, and other beekeepers are making splits and mating nucs. 

So what are YOU doing?

So, watch our YouTube for that video - I still have to edit it!

Second Winter is here!

 

Due to the onset of Second Winter, Feb 2025 meeting was cancelled. See you next month.

Happy New Year, y'all!

I think winter is here. 
It took long enough. 

I hope everyone buttoned up their bee activities, feeding, treating.. what ever you do. And to think, these quiet freezing afternoons are spent cleaning frames, planning and strategizing the upcoming season. 

But - to club business... 

1) There was not a video made for YouTube.

 

2) Here the club minutes from December 2024's Club meeting/Holiday Banquet are in this folder. 

 

3) For the foreseeable future, I can no longer serve as the club's secretary. I've had some family issues pop up that will not be resolved in any forseeable future and I have to focus on my family. I want to take this moment to thank everyone for their patience and support while I learned the bee club's ways and how to be a good secretary, including streamlining the job. I hope someone can step up, take minutes, contact members for the new meetings & to this blog.

 

Winter is coming!

Winter wraps and wind break

I know. I'm a GoT fan. Sorry. 

But the sentiment is true. Cold weather is on the way, and your bees have got to be ready. We talked about all the various items that have to just right to ensure winter survival at our last meeting. (Here is the You Tube link, but read this first!) You can help them:

1) is the colony up to weight?  

2) are there enough bees? Is the colony big enough?

3) Have you treated for VM? Are you?

4) Are you going to wrap or insulate your hives? 

As a beekeeper, just because the cold sets in and your bees aren't flying everyday doesn't mean your chores are done. There is woodenware maintenance to be done, new frames to be assembled/wired/whatever, new woodenware to be built. Ground/support management. Is your extractor  clean? Uncapping tools? 

Lots to do. 

And of course, learning. Just as everything in life, this endeavor is changing. We build on the old ways and embrace the new things - when appropriate. So, ask Santa for a good book on Bees, (there are tons), watch some good You Tubes or take an online course. The University of Arkansas has some great courses. And I think they are free!

Lots to learn.

Dog Days of summer are mean to bees!

 Summer has come and nearly gone. 

Now is the time to monitor your hive closely and carefully with an eye towards their survival this coming winter. Do they have enough food put away in their pantry? Are they inundated with pests? 

Have a plan! Make it happen.

Here are the meeting minutes from August 20, 2024 meeting where we welcomed Jacob Bates the Northern AR State Inspector. 

August Meeting Minutes

Spring has sprung right out of the picture! (boing!)

 (cuz its a spring! Get it?)

Anyway, we've been busy as bees keeping our individual apiaries going, and we have a lot of new members. 

If you aren't mentoring, why? If you are a new beekeeper, and have no idea why and how... all you have to do is ask. The club as members who mentor and will. All you have to do is ask. 

Spring has sprung and new 'beeks' are getting their bees.

 

Mentor-ship is important in any endeavor that you care about, getting good information and hands on training from a successful person is vitally important!

Did you know the Five Rivers Bee Club has an official mentorship program? I certainly didn't!

An experienced beekeeper will actually help you in times of trouble and when you question if you are likely to kill your bees. But be sure you all get along! And actually liking each other helps. So, before you ask for help or a mentor, make sure they are keeping bees (successfully) in the manner you prefer!

Link for mentor-ship agreement

(Please note, the "initial point of contacts" found on the second page partially out of date, please contact Lonnie P, Bill K, or Dawn S.)