Just letting everyone know that there’s a number of deer hunters that won’t be at the ECWBA meeting on Saturday. Opening Day, a tradition among Wisconsin deer hunters. I, however, walked out of the tamarack swamp on a drizzly, cold day for the last time years ago and will be at the meeting…..warm and dry. No rain or snow in Saturday’s forecast, yet, but 32 degrees for a high. Have a safe hunt.
One of the topics slated for discussion at the meeting was whether to offer beekeeping classes in 2019, or not. Since our committee chair will not be present this Saturday, this discussion will go on hold until our December 15 meeting. I’m not aware of any other Events on December 15 (except that it’s my birthday (gifts accepted :)), so hopefully we can take it up then. Other than that, those of us that are there will have discussions on beekeeping and any questions that are on beekeepers’ minds going into winter. I encourage everyone that uses hive products for crafts to bring what they can to show others. I will bring some of my candle making equipment, and although I won’t be melting wax in the library, I can demonstrate how it’s done. Bee candy and fondant recipes and techniques will also be appreciated as this time of the year is when we should be preparing emergency food. I made my first batch of sugar discs on Saturday and have already used several. I put winter covers on my (4) out apiary hives and put in a disk while I was at it. Those hives didn’t need it (the bees were in the bottom deeps with lots of honey above them), but I didn’t know when I’d be back, so I fed forward. (The discs also serve as moisture absorbers.) I was glad I had the discs when I put the winter covers on the club hives on Saturday. The green hive was okay but the bees in the yellow hive were up on top. Not a good sign for November, so I put (2) discs in each hive. I will be checking them regularly and really hope they make it. Nothing else I can do for now except offer them sugar. If they’re alive in February, I’ll add pollen patties. My method of making sugar discs takes about an hour to make (10) discs. Here’s how I do it: Large kettle (like 3 gallons) 10# granulated table sugar 3 cups water 10 paper plates Digital thermometer Essential oils (I use lemongrass and spearmint) Bring the 3 cups of water to a near boil over medium heat, remove it from the burner and add the 10 lbs. of granulated table sugar, and start stirring. Once the sugar is all pretty well damp, return it to the burner and stir, stir, stir. It is important to continue stirring until all of the sugar is in suspension or the sugar may burn, and that will create a chemical that’s toxic to bees. As the temperature rises you’ll see the mixture become smoother, less grainy, and then the sugar is in suspension. You can now stop stirring for short periods, but not for long. You want to keep it moving. During one of your short breaks, set out the paper plates. Start taking the temperature and keep going until the mixture reaches 250 degrees F. Remove it from the heat source and let it start to cool. After it stops bubbling you can add the essential oil(s), about 20 – 30 drops total, and stir. Be careful, it may splatter. Your house will now smell great…..and your towels will too, for days. After a few minutes of cooling the mixture will start to stiffen and now it’s time to carefully pour the mixture into the paper plates. Be careful, It’s HOT! The mixture will cool and harden into “rock candy” IF you let it reach 250F (hard ball stage). Under 250F and it will remain tacky forever (soft ball stage) (I know). They’re ready to serve after cooling, and that takes just a couple of hours. I stack them in a cardboard box with wax paper between them. They’ll keep for years if they’re kept away from moisture and high humidity. Remove from paper plates before serving. A little paper left behind won’t matter. I'll see those of you that can make Saturday’s meeting. Don’t be afraid to bring treats. Saturday November 17, Caestecker Library, Green Lake, 9:30 a.m. Gerard
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ECWBA NewsletterSince 2009 Archives
March 2019
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