As the cold season sets in the mite levels from summer begin to take their toll. Learn about the Varroa Destructor and what you can do to stop it with the Leatherstocking Beekeepers’ Association at the monthly meeting. We will include time to discuss with fellow beekeepers what the fall tasks look like, how the season went and more.

The educational presentation this month is all about Oxalic Acid treatments by our own Richard Burroughs. Oxalic Acid is one of the most popular and effective treatments against the Varroa Destructor in the autumn months when brood is low or absent and this monster of a mite has nowhere to hide.

The lecture will then be followed by a discussion on Winterizing Hives with Steve Davis, Richard Burroughs, and Richard Lercari. They will share the various and sometimes contradictory methods used to prepare the bees for winter. Every technique is right. Or wrong. You decide.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Classroom of the Main Barn at the Fenimore Farm and Country Village (formerly called The Farmers’ Museum), 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown.

A business meeting will precede the presentations where we will be discussing upcoming meetings and the planning for the February “Introduction to Beekeeping” course to be held at Clark Sports Center.

Anyone who would like to volunteer is welcome. Please contact Steve Davis, chairman of the Education Committee at paperclip5@hotmail.com

Please note that there will not be a meeting in November in lieu of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The December meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 and will feature a visit and presentation from NY State Apiculturist Anne Mills. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn about how New York State supports beekeepers large and small.

Upcoming Events

The Buzz About Polinators Exhibit held at the Fenimore Farm and Country Village (formerly The Farmers’ Museum) continues through October 31. This interactive exhibit is all about bees and the many other insects and organisms like them that help make farming possible. It explores the topic of pollinators in New York State and their important role in the production of some of the state’s leading crops, including apples, honey, and maple syrup. The exhibit also examines climate change and other threats that pollinators face and how everyone can help them continue to thrive. Sponsored in part by Nellie and Robert Gipson, and NYCM Insurance.

On October 30, the New York State Apiary Industry Advisory committee will meet from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Albany, NY. The public can view the meeting virtually through https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=me9a830c126d58c2d4a5cbc
a2fd6bb0fa, or joined by phone at +1-518-549-0500 US (English Menu) or +1-518-549-0059 US (Menú en Español).
Access code: 161 245 0853
More information can be found at: https://agriculture.ny.gov/plant-industry/pollinator-protection#state-initiatives

Looking further ahead to 2025 will be the North American Honey Bee Expo, held January 2-4. The expo will be held in Louisville, Kentucky at the Kentucky Expo Center, and will include a tradeshow, “The North American Honey and Beeswax Championship,” and speakers including Randy Oliver.
https://www.nahbexpo.com/

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!

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!