Classes and Events

To vent or not to vent?

/ leatherstockingbeekeepers / Leave a comment

That is the question we are considering as we discuss what the season ahead holds at this months meeting of the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Associaiton.

In addition to some delicious snacks provided by our members, this months meeting will be featuring a presentation on the benefits and considerations of Condensing Hives versus Vented Hives.

What are these, you may ask. A condensing hive operates on the idea that heat rises and brings respiration from the bees with it which then spreads out across the top and condenses on the sides of the hive, there are no ventilation holes at the top of the hive.

A vented hive is one that uses vents and the airflow they generate to manage moisture in the winter hive.

We will be discussing these two types of winter bee survival strategies in a webinar with Peggy DeSanto of Hive Huggers who will provide information on the two types of hives as well as introduce the Hive Hugger system.

Following the presentation we will have our regular discussion of month to month activities, a chance for Q&A with the group and then our regular business meeting. All are welcome.

The meeting will be heldThursday, August 27, 2026, at the Louis C. Jones Center at the Fenimore Farm and Country Village (formerly The Farmers’ Museum) at 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

Snacks will be available at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7 p.m.

We’ll Bee seeing you there.

Planting Seeds for Spring

/ leatherstockingbeekeepers / Leave a comment

Winter is a time when the bees are huddled away, the flowers are dormant and the world endures the depths of winters cold. The best time to plan for the warm season, is now.

At this months meeting of the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association learn about Pollinator Meadows with Daniel H. Waldron, Terrestrial Invasive Plants Information line Coordinator and Division of Lands and Forests –  Invasive Species of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Learn what you can do to feed the bees and all the other pollinators that call the Northeast home.

The presentation will be followed by a regular business meeting.

The January meeting of the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association will be held at 7 p.m. on January 28, 2026 at the Fenimore Farm and country Village, 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

We’ll Bee seeing you there.

Honey Harvest and Winter Prep

/ leatherstockingbeekeepers / Leave a comment

The heat wave has broken, rain has returned, and fall is approaching. For us that brings anticipation of cozy sweaters and autumn colors though we know that’s really several weeks away.

If your bees have had a good year we can expect a honey harvest.

The bees, for their part are already thinking about winter. The bees being raised now will be the bees you go into winter with and so this is a crucial time of year. The best way to help the bees is to manage the mite population and make sure they have a good population with lots of resources going into winter. The best way to do that is to have an up-to-date mite count so you can know what you need to do next.

The next meeting will be all about these season closing activities.

To start the meeting we will be having refreshments courtesy of our Secretary, Emma Wallace. Providing the honey tasting this month will be member Michael Murphy whose ‘water white’ honey took the blue ribbon at the Delaware County Fair.

We will be adding a new question to the introductions regarding mite counts so Bee prepared.

The educational section of the evening will be kicked off by Richard Lercari presenting on how to extract honey at the end of the season. He will be followed by Steven Davis presenting on winter preparations and what you can do now and in the coming weeks to get your ladies through the winter.

The eductational presentations will be followed by the business meeting.

The monthly meeting of the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association will be held at 7 p.m., snacks begin at 6:30 p.m., at the Fenimore Farm and Country Village, 5775 State highway 80, Cooperstown.

We’ll Bee seeing you there.