Mt. Baker Beekeepers Meeting-Most 2nd Weds 7pm

Beekeeper, Karen Bean, http://brookfieldfarmhoney.wordpress.com/ who is my local mentor because she does not use toxic chemicals & overwinters her hives, is planning on speaking next Weds Nov 14th, 2012 at our beeclub meeting.  Be sure to attend! 

There are only a handful of members who are committed to learning non-chemical methods for caring for the bee species, although the knowledge shared by the long time beekeepers is also valuable! 

Sign up to receive Karens blog at link above.

Mt. Bakers Beekeepers Club meets 2^nd Weds of most months.   http://www.mtbakerbeekeepersassn.org/    See you there most months!.  We are a mixed bag of folks – some traditional style and a few biodynamic-beyond-organic.....All of us passionate about the bee species.  Come as my guest or join and support club & receive emails.

Notes: Members share what a high percentage of hives have been lost this spring/winter. Some info in above DVD not accurate. Most top-bar, vertical, or Warre hives in our local wet cool climate have not survived through winter/spring stages. July no Weds meeting- instead potluck July 17^th in Goshen area off Roberts. Details in members emails bee-bits. Next Weds meeting Aug 10^th.

Beekeepers Caring for Honeybees & Preventing Colony Collapse Disorder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MusqTKZ83I  (Beekeepers Meet this Weds).

More beekeepers are protecting pollinator habitats & caring for the honeybee; They are respecting the bee's survival needs for honey, and honoring their honey as a medicine, rather than a commercial product.
Many of us are also caring for our native bumblebees, mason bees & wild bees and creating pollinator sanctuaries.

Network locally at Earth Gardens - http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum

Mt. Baker Beekeepers has an online group & email list also.

More earth care related videos posted at http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/organic/forum/topics/online...?

"Hidden Beauty of Pollination"-TED Talk http://www.ted.com/talks/louie_schwartzberg_the_hidden_beauty_of_po...

Hands-On Instruction for clubmembers with local Beekeeper Jody in a couple week, late May, at her home hives!  Contact her with RSVP or post comment to Heather with your email, & I'll try to connect you within a weeks time.

My honeybees are in their home now!  Join in our Beekeepers Meet! Weds pm May 11^th at 7pm. If you're tuned into pollinators, and thinking about creating a nursery-hive-home for honeybees, you might want to attend our meetings as my guest. Details above. Now is a good time to observe the bees collecting pollen & nector to bring home to their broad (nursery). Many of us our new beekeepers, learning from our elder beekeepers who share at our meetings, and we are all learning together on how to keep our bees healthy. (Every one has their own opinion on how to do this). http://www.mtbakerbeekeepersassn.org/

Right now, many of our honeybees in the spring are dependent on sugar water made from the imported tropical plant, sugar cane. In the past, honeybees were able to survive year round feeding off their stored honey & pollen. Learning how to restore the health of our habitats moves us towards protecting the health of all pollinators, and our own. http://www.mtbakerbeekeepersassn.org/

See Website for Agenda updates

Honeybee Wanna-Bee Keepers!  One of the best ways to learn about caring for bees & their honey is start out months ahead of time learning from beekeepers by listening in the meetings and offering to assist an experienced beekeepers. 

There are some great books & catalogues to learn from also.

Bee sure you have basic bee knowledge & healthy hive boxes & supplies before bringing home your bees.

Remember to create habitats for mason bees & other pollinators that take much less work!

Many of us are learning to Not use the toxic chemicals applied to bees for decades, and we are also learning from & respecting our elder beekeepers who worked with bees before they bees had so many environmental challenges!