March 4, 2013 BCBC Meeting

Join us Monday for a program by the brilliant Diane Almond on "The Forager's Shopping Cart."

Did you know that water foraging bees spread their load on the brood and ‘lash’ their tongues to cool the young? And did you know that nectar foragers that take the last bit of nectar mark the flower with a pheromone so foragers that follow won’t bother to stop? Most of us learned that bees forage for four items: nectar, pollen, water and resin (propolis). But how do they know what to collect, how much, when, where? And what does the hive do with these resources? Here’s a in-depth look at some of the amazing details involved in the dynamic deployment of the foraging force which can number in the 10's of thousands, and some ways we can put this info to use as beekeepers. We'll touch on some of the fascinating research in Wisdom of the Hive (Thomas Seeley) and The Buzz About Bees(Jurgen Tautz).

7:00 pm on Monday, March 4th at Groce United Methodist Church
at 954 Tunnel Rd in Asheville, NC.
Come early at 6:30 for informal mentoring, conversations about your bees, and an opportunity to talk to other beekeepers.

Never Stop Learning in 2013

In addition to learning about top bar hives at our February BCBC meeting on Monday, February 4, we will also discuss the following:

Master Beekeeper Program

Whatever happened to the stair-stepped program of beekeeping knowledge in our state... going from Beginner to Journeyman to Master Beekeeper and Master Craftsman?

Janet Peterson, Golden Achievement Committee Chair with NCSBA, will fill you in at the February meeting so you can get started.
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On February 6 we have the opportunity to go to Warren Wilson College to hear Aaron Birk, who wrote "The Pollinator Corridor" book.  He will be speaking at 7:00 pm.  Admission is free.  For more info click on http://warren-wilson.edu/blogs/blog/2012/09/07/the-pollinator%E2%80%99s-corridor-creator-to-speak-feb-6-at-warren-wilson/
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Then, in March, we will have Bee School!  The Center for Honey Bee Research will host a bee school at the Folk Art Center on March 23 and 24, 2013.  Click here to register:  http://centerforhoneybeeresearch.org/Happenings/2013BeeSchool.aspx

Bee Supplies Galore

Wild Mountain Bees (Supply Store) is moving to Asheville to accommodate growth and make access more convenient, which for me means less off-roading in my 1997 Geo Prizm! In addition to beekeeping classes and an even more complete selection of beekeeping supplies, they will be offering these additional items: local honey, beeswax candles, bee jewelry and art, mead making supplies, bee friendly plants/seeds, herbal products and soaps made using honey/beeswax, and more! If you produce bee products, art, beeswax, honey, pollen, or any locally produced good and are interested in marketing, give Jon Christie (pictured above) a holler at wildmountainbees@yahoo.com.

OPEN: March 1st 2013 through September 2013 (w/ special holiday hours in December)

            Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm

Other bee supply sources (for those whose mamas told them to shop around) can be found here!

In other news, as a fun read you might want to check out Wolfgang Laib's pollen art installation featured at MoMA! "Since the 1970s, his trademark activity has been gathering pollen from trees and plants in the countryside near his home in southern Germany. He puts the pollen in bottles and flies to distant places around the world to create ephemeral installations of yellow dust on museum and gallery floors and inseminate the minds of viewers with thoughts of harmony between human civilization and nature." Watch a video interview with Mr. Laib here.

See you all at our February meeting at 7pm this Monday, Feb 4th at the Groce United Methodist Church (954 Tunnel Rd in Asheville, NC). Come early at 6:30 for informal mentoring, conversations, and an opportunity to talk to other beekeepers. BCBC is proud to host Tom Knaust, who will be speaking about top bar hives. Also, whatever happened to the stair-stepped program of beekeeping knowledge in our state, from Beginner to Journeyman to Master Beekeeper and Master Craftsman? Janet Peterson, Golden Achievement Committee Chair with NCSBA, will fill you in at the February meeting so you can get started.