2012 Black Jar Honey Contest

Do you think your honey is the jam? Well then put your honey where your mouth is (and where the judges' mouths are) in this year's second annual Black Jar Honey Contest, sponsored by Asheville's Center for Honeybee Research.


Just sign up, bring your tastiest jar, and collect your first place winner's prize check of $500.00. The deadline for participating is October 31st, and you know your honey is the best so there's no reason to wait! Prove it once and for all, forever!

Rules and Entry Form Here!

BCBC September 10th

Save the date:
The Buncombe County Beekeepers will meet on September 10
instead of our usual first Monday of the month
due to Labor Day.

We will learn more about the state Master Beekeeping Program.
Click here for a link to the Master Beekeeping website!

7:00 pm on September 10 at Groce United Methodist Church
at 954 Tunnel Rd in Asheville, NC.
Come early at 6:30 for informal mentoring, conversations about your bees,
opportunity to talk to other beekeepers.

National Honey Bee Day Event Aug 18th

WHAT?  Asheville celebrates its designation as the inaugural Bee City USA on National Honey Bee Day.

WHEN? Saturday, August 18, 2012, 8:00 am - 1:pm.  Pollinator parade and proclamation at 9:45.

WHERE? Asheville City Market, 161 S. Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC  28801. 

DETAILS: Children's tent, honey tasting, and scavenger hunt throughout the day. Children are invited to make bee wings and antennae starting at 9:45 which they can model in a pollinator parade at 10:00ish. Learn about relationship between our food and pollinators, and how to make your yard more pollinator-friendly. Beekeeping suits and pollinator costumes are encouraged!

For directions, click here!!

TOMORROW! "What Is 'Natural Beekeeping?" Conference Sat. Aug 11, 2012

The Center for Honeybee Research is sponsoring a one day Event with two of the most qualified natural beekeeping experts in the world - Michael Bush and Ed Levi.

Both have decades of beekeeping experience and will share how to keep bees alive without treatments and give practical insight into various means of natural management. 

Mr. Bush will have copies of his recent book "The Practical Beekeeper" - available for sale and signing.

We are also proud to welcome Roger Simonds, laboratory manager of the USDA National Science Laboratory - where the testing for chemical contamination of wax comb and stored pollen has been conducted.

Dr. Simonds will let us know if we have anything to be worried about.

This is another in the series of Center sponsored Events which bring exceptional honeybee experts to our area - and we are responding to requests to invite those with exceptional 'hands-on' familiarity with the bees. 

We need your support if we are to continue organizing these in the future - so please turn out to give these visitors a hearty welcome and a glimpse of our area's happening 'bee scene.'

When?

TOMORROW  10:00 AM - 5 PM. Doors open at 9:30.

Where?

on the campus of Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC (between Asheville and Black Mountain)

Kittredge Theatre is right next to the main parking lot.

Lunch on your own  - it's a beautiful campus and there are eateries nearby.

What?

 www.chbr.org  for details (while there check out 'Research/Project Genesis" to see what else the Center's been up to)

How Much?

Pre-registration online  

$25 in advance

$35 at the door

I hope to see you there!

BCBC Meeting August 6th: Preparing Honey and Wax

Preparing your Honey and Honey Products (Department C) for show at the Mountain State Fair

Would you like to hear Edd Buchanan, Master Beekeeper and Judge Superintendent, give you some award winning tips for entering your strained honey?

It's not that hard to do and winning a ribbon will help you sell your honey (plus earn you $4-$10)!

In June he showed us how to  process honey sections in a jar and will review that, too.

Back by popular demand is Janet Peterson, past president and honey judge, teaching wax working. Last year, 3 of our club members won ribbons for beautiful wax pieces. Get inspired to get that honey-laden wax cappings bucket strained and put to good use!

You'll never be able to say again "I don't know what to do with my wax!"

Doorprizes! Come early to get your raffle ticket (members only) when you sign in.

Meeting will start promptly at 7 PM.