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Bob has also previously suggested that swarm captures are an excellent way to repopulate or start a top-bar hive. You will find a wealth of good information on swarm boxes here on the LBA forums. All beekeeping is local.
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I agree. Packages are the way to go with top-bar hives. Also if you want local genetics, you can always replace the queen that comes in the package with a local queen when you install or at a later date.
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I'm not looking for nucs because I've had fitment problems in my top bar hives. Its seems to be less painful to use packages. I would prefer nucs if i had langs. Especially nucs from locals who have generations of bees acclimated to this region. Thanks for the replies
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untilMay 2021 VIRTUAL Member Meeting. Zoom link, sent by email, will follow. Speaker: Frank Ludlow (LBA) Topic: Mites: Detection and Treatment A basic primer on the parasitic mites beekeepers face and the methods and chemicals available for an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. Frank has been keeping bees for 9 years and has served as President of LBA and is currently serving as LBA's new treasurer. He's currently managing 11 hives in 2 outyards and is interested in "beelining" and feral bees. Meeting Location: VIRTUAL (details below) We will be using Zoom for this virtual meeting. If you have not used Zoom before, we strongly encourage you to download the Zoom app ahead of time by visiting the Zoom Download Center: https://zoom.us/download. If you click on the meeting link below and do not have Zoom installed, you will be prompted to install it (please allow extra time before the meeting if you need to install the Zoom app). For more information on joining a Zoom meeting OR to try Zoom out by joining a Test Meeting, please visit this page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting. (Zoom link and login instructions will be posted later in November) Hope to see you there! Mike Mike Kropotkin Vice President, Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA) Email: Mike.Kropotkin@loudounbee.org
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April 2021 LBA Meeting (Virtual on Zoom)
Donna and Mike Kropotkin posted a calendar event in Community Calendar
untilSpeaker: Jamie Ellis, PhD Topic: Managing Queen Honey Bees: Jamie Ellis is the Gahan Endowed Professor of Entomology in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. He has a BS degree in Biology from the University of Georgia (USA) and a PhD in Entomology from Rhodes University in South Africa. At the University of Florida, Jamie has responsibilities in Extension, instruction, and research. Regarding his Extension work, Jamie created the UF/IFAS Bee College and the UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program. As an instructor, Jamie supervises PhD and masters students. Currently, Jamie and his team have over 30 active research projects in the fields of honey bee husbandry, conservation and ecology, and integrated crop pollination. Meeting Location: VIRTUAL (details below) We will be using Zoom for this virtual meeting. If you have not used Zoom before, we strongly encourage you to download the Zoom app ahead of time by visiting the Zoom Download Center: https://zoom.us/download. If you click on the meeting link below and do not have Zoom installed, you will be prompted to install it (please allow extra time before the meeting if you need to install the Zoom app). For more information on joining a Zoom meeting OR to try Zoom out by joining a Test Meeting, please visit this page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting. (Zoom link and login instructions will be posted later in November) Hope to see you there! Mike Mike Kropotkin Vice President, Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA) Email: Mike.Kropotkin@loudounbee.org -
Don't we have a recent supplier in Maryland...which is at least closer than Georgia?
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It might be worth noting that these will probably not be "local" package bees, but will be shipped in from Georgia, which do well for many beeks in our area. I'm not aware of anyone in our region selling package bees, but there are many who offer nucleus colonies (nucs), which it sounds like what you are looking for. Even then, ask your prospective nuc supplier where they get their queens from.
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March 2021 LBA Meeting (Virtual on Zoom)
Donna and Mike Kropotkin posted a calendar event in Community Calendar
March 2021 7:30-9:00PM VIRTUAL Member Meeting. Zoom link, sent by email, will follow. Speaker: Jay Sanders, Owner and COO AZ Hives North America LLC www.azhivesnorthamerica.com j.sanders@azhivesnorthamerica.com Tel: (703) 944-8032 Topic: "Slovenian Beehives". "Jay" distributes Slovenian Beehives in north America. The Slovenian beehive design originated in the eastern European country of Slovenia, is centuries old, and is particularly useful for beekeepers with disabilities or the inability to lift and move heavy hive bodies. Jay has invited LBA club members to visit his facility in Fairfax County, near Ft. Belvoir, in small groups, on weekends, over the next few months for demonstrations. This would be a good time to check them out if you're considering new equipment purchases for the year. If you're interested, post on the forum or contact me directly and we'll see if we can schedule a visit. MikeKropotkin@verizon.net Meeting Location: VIRTUAL (details below) We will be using Zoom for this virtual meeting. If you have not used Zoom before, we strongly encourage you to download the Zoom app ahead of time by visiting the Zoom Download Center: https://zoom.us/download. If you click on the meeting link below and do not have Zoom installed, you will be prompted to install it (please allow extra time before the meeting if you need to install the Zoom app). For more information on joining a Zoom meeting OR to try Zoom out by joining a Test Meeting, please visit this page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting. (Zoom link and login instructions will be posted later in November) Hope to see you there! Mike Mike Kropotkin Vice President, Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA) Email: Mike.Kropotkin@loudounbee.org -
Mike Carren joined the community
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The club will be announcing package availability shortly. As every year, delivery won't be until late March, early April-ish.
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Hello, I'm looking for anyone selling 3lb Italian bee packages locally in Loudoun County. Need 3 separate packages for top bar hives. Thanks
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375rgr joined the community
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Newbie looking to move to the area and start a hive
farlinanne replied to Ash's topic in Visitors Questions
Here, I am a newbie and I support you in beehive and nucs and also for I help you with various types of equipment like cheap beekeeper suits for the purpose of safety during beekeeping. -
farlinanne joined the community
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Marcin Matelski joined the community
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Hennigm4 changed their profile photo
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Includes 12 oz wt honey, adorable 1 oz milk pitcher, tea infuser, brass honey dipper and tea scoop in a lovely decorative box.
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February 2020 Member ZOOM Meeting
Donna and Mike Kropotkin posted a calendar event in Community Calendar
untilFebruary 2021 VIRTUAL Member Meeting. Zoom link, sent by email, will follow. Speaker: Keith Tignor, VA State Apiarist Topic: "Spring Beehive operations". How to handle your overwintered hives for best efficiency in honey production, splitting, and swarm curtailment. I was lucky enough to see this presentation last winter and it was fantastic! Keith brings decades of beekeeping experience and insights to the table. Meeting Location: VIRTUAL (details below) We will be using Zoom for this virtual meeting. If you have not used Zoom before, we strongly encourage you to download the Zoom app ahead of time by visiting the Zoom Download Center: https://zoom.us/download. If you click on the meeting link below and do not have Zoom installed, you will be prompted to install it (please allow extra time before the meeting if you need to install the Zoom app). For more information on joining a Zoom meeting OR to try Zoom out by joining a Test Meeting, please visit this page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting. (Zoom link and login instructions will be posted later in November) Hope to see you there! Mike Mike Kropotkin Vice President, Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA) Email: Mike.Kropotkin@loudounbee.org -
January 2021 Member ZOOM Meeting
Donna and Mike Kropotkin posted a calendar event in Community Calendar
untilJanuary 2021 VIRTUAL Member Meeting. Zoom link, sent by email, will follow. Speaker: Bret Fisher (LBA) Topic: "Everything you ever wanted to know about NUCs, plus Queen Rearing". Bret's major focus has been on raising bees in NUCs, raising queens, and selling both. He began his first year with one purchased package and NUC and ended his second year with over 20 NUCs! Meeting Location: VIRTUAL (details below) We will be using Zoom for this virtual meeting. If you have not used Zoom before, we strongly encourage you to download the Zoom app ahead of time by visiting the Zoom Download Center: https://zoom.us/download. If you click on the meeting link below and do not have Zoom installed, you will be prompted to install it (please allow extra time before the meeting if you need to install the Zoom app). For more information on joining a Zoom meeting OR to try Zoom out by joining a Test Meeting, please visit this page: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting. (Zoom link and login instructions will be posted later in November) Hope to see you there! Mike Mike Kropotkin Vice President, Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA) Email: Mike.Kropotkin@loudounbee.org -
Hershey changed their profile photo
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Bret, this is really helpful information. Thank you! My husband & I are definitely interested in Beekeeping. I will take the course, as soon as, it's available. We just recently purchased a 10 acre land in Middleburg. We plan to turn the property into Horticultural & Agricultural use. I will be needing a lot of info & support for sure since i'm new to this venture. Hopefully, my husband & I can make this work! We are very excited
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Patti changed their profile photo
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Swarm removal, extraction, honeybee relocation. Based In Hamilton. I will support anyone in Loudoun or surrounding counties.
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Michael Fistler changed their profile photo
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Aldo Bello changed their profile photo
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How heavily were you feeding this colony? Have you stimulated the colony to produce the queen cell or is this the colony detecting the existing queen is exhausted? I agree with Bob's critique above but is this colony still producing brood? Either path, this colony will deserve special attention over winter into Spring. The queen may die over the winter or be prepared to do a combine or early spring queen cells and swarm early early.
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Certainly a capped queen cell is not something that you want to find at this time of year. I have two colonies that swarmed about 4 weeks ago. One has requeened, the other, it isn't clear but I think they haven't. I am concerned about the second. At this time of year if it were my colony I would want to take action to prevent swarming or the change of a queen. To have a queen get successfully mated this late in the season is very iffy. If I spotted a capped queen cell and the old queen, I would cage the existing queen and then cull the queen cell(s). After a week I would check to ensure the colony hadn't started a new queen cell. If they had not, I would release the queen, if they had, I would keep her caged and wait another week. If I couldn't find the queen to cage her, I would let nature take it's course and not cull the queen cell(s).
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I was doing a hive inspection today and I found a sealed queen cell. I saw the queen today and some uncapped brood as well. Am I in trouble for the winter?
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bruce ruscio changed their profile photo
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Todd S. changed their profile photo
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Black Cat Apiary is a small beekeeping and honey producer, in Western Loudoun County, near Lovettsville. We sell seasonal honey and occasionally other bee products. Visit our website for more information.
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Kindergarten Class Looking for Presentation
Bret Fisher replied to K Teacher's topic in Visitors Questions
Hi Julie, I've done this kind of presentation to similar groups several times and would be happy to help if I can. Please contact me at CGBees@gmail.com. I also texted you my contact information. I'm sure our Treasurer, Jeff Pfoutz, would be happy to accept your donation on behalf of the Association: LBAtreasurer@mindspring.com I look forward to hearing from you. Bret Fisher 703-965-6216- 1 reply
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Hi, I was contacting your organization in hopes we might have one of your beekeepers willing to come to our school and kindergarten class to discuss the importance of bees and the basics of bee keeping. Our school is holding in person instruction in September and we have an outdoor teaching area for the presentation. We would be happy to make a donation to the association for the beekeepers time. If you are interested, I would greatly appreciate speaking with you. Thank you very much! Julie Roberts Kindergarten Teacher Loudoun Country Day School 703-861-8731
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Thanks Bret for sharing, this is exactly what I was looking for.
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We have a 12 acre farm on Catoctin Creek with some fruit trees. Mix of wooded and open space. Surrounded by farmland. 3 miles east of Hillsboro and 4 miles north of Purcellville and would welcome a bee keeper placing hives on our property. We have some easily accessible locations if you are interested.
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I'll store them in the freezer tonight! Glad they can be reused. I could see no signs of disease. There were no dead bees, no mites, a few ants but otherwise it was just empty. Thanks for the quick response!
