2018 Report on ECWBA Club Hives
In late 2017 the club decided to reclaim the two hives that we had donated to Ripon College when Liz Walsh was a student there and was active in the EGOR program. After Liz advanced to Texas A&M these hives sat in storage for several years, and the ECWBA exercised its option to reclaim the unused equipment. NOTE: Ripon College students are considering resurrecting the beekeeping program in 2019 as part of their Sustainability Initiative. Two ECWBA members have volunteered to be mentors, but we will not be providing equipment or bees. Mark and Patti retrieved the equipment and the ECWBA decided that it would be nice to utilize the hives at the Rushford Meadery and Winery, home of our club’s 12-frame radial extractor. The membership agreed to buy (1) package of bees with hopes that a swarm would be captured for the second hive. Joe Walsh contacted Tim Wilbanks of Heritage Honey Bee LLC to purchase a package, and Mr. Wilbanks donated a package of Buckfast bees with the caveat that it be used for educational purposes and mentoring new beekeepers. Since the club had approved purchasing a package, a second package was purchased, and the packages were installed in the hives at The Meadery. So, in spring of 2018, the ECWBA started two colonies, which were set up to allow the side by side comparisons we preach to all new beekeepers, as part of the ECWBA’s outreach on beekeeping. ECWBA members contacted several local 4H organizations in the area, and several club members had volunteered as mentors, but we were not able to gain interest in the mentored program from those contacted. The hives were used during the club’s annual field day to give new beekeepers hands-on instruction on how to inspect a hive’s health and, if the colonies survive winter 2018-2019, they will make for a good training tool should we proceed with beginner beekeeping classes. The original site at the Meadery, as specified by Shane Coombs, was in the woods where they were in dappled sunlight all day. Our club inspection of the hives made it apparent that the colonies weren’t thriving. Back side, looking south It was agreed that the bees needed more sun, and Shane suggested several sites along the south edge of the woods, and they were relocated. The hives now get full sun from early morning until late afternoon. Front side, looking north The purpose of these hives is threefold; educational, potential honey production for club fund raising, and finally as a part of the public tour for the Meadery to highlight production of honey for use in making mead. The yellow hive produced approximately one (1) super of honey; the green hive did not produce any honey for harvesting. The hive caretakers (Pam and Gerard) decided to leave the one super of honey on for the bees. This is similar to other hives in our area where honey production was down by 2/3 from last year. The hives received several varroa treatments throughout the summer; FormicPro, oxalic acid vapor and Apiguard. The FormicPro treatment was applied just prior to the field day and the witness boards were presented at the field day. At last inspection both hives appear strong enough to winter successfully. Both hives also received a fall feeding of 2/1 sugar syrup. The hives will be monitored throughout the winter. Provisions have been made to allow emergency feeding of sugar if needed. The caretakers will inform the club mid-winter if replacement bees will be required in the spring.
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ECWBA NewsletterSince 2009 Archives
March 2019
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