Author: leatherstockingbeekeepers

Beeswax Wraps and Greek Honey Tasting

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Fall is here, the bounty is in, and the Beekeepers have honey to share.
Thank you to all the volunteers who staffed the booth at the Farmers’ Museum Harvest Festival.

We have an exciting line-up this month.

First, learn about “Honeybee Wax Processing” with our own Steve Davis. Learn what to do with the wax we are left with after we’ve extracted the honey from the hive to make it useable for arts, crafts, and food wraps.

“Wax Reusable Food Wraps” is presented by Jeannine Kazacos.
Like our honeybees we all contribute to the health of the planet in all our small actions. Jeanine will teach us how to make reusable food wraps which can be used in place of plastic wraps (just avoid the microwave). They are reusable, compostable, and make great gifts.

Following the presentations Richard Lercari’s will discuss his trip to the Greek Island of Ikaria and host a tasting of the examples of the islands honeys he has returned with (tasting spoons provided). Dip in and savor the terroir of this tiny Aegean island.

Ikaria, pronounced ( ekk- R- e-ah ), is one of 5 ‘Bluezones’ on the planet where the population overall tends to live many years longer with healthier, more productive lives than anywhere else. Up to 1 in 3 of the islanders live to their 90s.

The presentations will be held after the business portion of the meeting.

The September meeting of the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association will be held September 26 at
7 p.m. at The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

Come visit with fellow beekeepers, get your honeybee questions answered, and much more.

We’ll Bee seeing you there!

Combining Hives, Meadows, and late season beekeeping

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The full flush of summer is the time to prepare for the cold months.

With a month or two, or maybe even three if we’re lucky, before the cold weather sets in how are you going to know what to do to ensure your colonies winter survival. Come down to the monthly meeting of the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association to find out what you should be looking for.

This month will feature the presentation “Combining Hives!: A critical decision! When, why and how!” with Richard Burroughs, all about managing the late season hive and what decisions need to be made before the cold weather strikes.

Then our association president Liz Burroughs will continue her series on monthly blooms with the August Blooms, with particular focus on bees in the meadow. Meadows are a part of a bees natural habitat, one of the best sources of forage. This discussion will be on what blooms we find there and what we can do to make it more productive and attractive.

During the business portion of the meeting, members will be invited to listen and discuss club topics including:

Hive Contest updates

Volunteering for the Harvest Festival at the Farmers’ Museum

and finally, whether to sell the club’s honey extractor or not.

The Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association meets on the 4th Thursday of each month (except November and December) at 7 p.m. at The Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

Come see what the Buzz is all about.

Beekeepers’ Meeting July 18

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Surprise! Due to scheduling conflict the Beekeepers’ Association will be meeting a week early! We’ll be in the back classroom at The Farmers’ Museum learning all about our favorite honey bearing insects.

While the music plays in the main room, we will hear from William Roche about the Cullman Child Development Center Summer Series “The Buzz about Honey Bees.” He will also be discussing his visit to one of the homes of Reverend Lorenzo Langstroth in Greenfield, MA. Known as the “Father of American Beekeeping” he is the discoverer of ‘bee space’ and the popular Langstroth hive is named after him.

After Mr. Roche’s presentation, Steve Davis will be presenting on the foraging behaviour of our favorite girls. How do they go grocery shopping, communicate with the waggle dance and what happens during a dearth, when the stores aren’t open (it’s not pretty).

Finally, Liz Burroughs will close out the night by discussing what the bees need as we move through time depending on the season and the environment.

Ahead of the presentations will be the business meeting open to all members where we will discuss and vote on club business from a new logo to the details on the annual picnic. We are a member run organization and so participation in this section of the meeting is highly encouraged.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on July 18 in the classroom (NOT in the Louis C. Jones Center) at the Farmers’ Museum, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

We’ll Bee seeing you there!