What You Need to Know About our February 2012 Bee Club Meeting

(1) We will be having election of officers (President,Vice President, Treasurer).

(2)  We will be having an equipment workshop, led by Paul Carter.  Especially for the benefit of new beekeepers, at this meeting we will put together a limited number of frames and supers--just so you get an idea of what to do and what NOT to do in assembling your woodenware.

Now is not too early to be ordering woodenware or repairing and/or painting your bee equipment.

Since we are in the "Winter slump" now is also a good time to be reading your bee magazines, bee books, and visiting your public library's collection of "memorabeelia".  Be ready for Spring when it arrives!!

The Time to Order Bees is **NOW**

Don't be caught off guard!  If you need bees for the Spring, the time to order is NOW.  Delay in ordering can mean finding out that bee suppliers are sold out.

There are numerous places to get bees, including queens, packages and nucs.
Places I have gotten bees before are:
http://wolfcreekbees.com
https://kelleybees.com
Bill Mullins: 256-682-4372

Excellent Fondant (Bee Candy) Recipe

With Cold Weather Upon Us--Now is the Time to Feed

FONDANT BEE CANDY RECIPE

This recipe is our choice for making a good fondant candy for the bees.  We have chosen not to use corn syrup because of GMO and of all the hybridization that the corn goes through.  It has proven not beneficial for the bees.  Cream of tartar is excluded for the same reasons.

1.  Use 1 part water to 4 parts sugar.  1 cup of sugar weighs 8 ounces.

2.  Add 1/4 tsp. vinegar per pound of sugar.  The vinegar helps to break down the sugar as it cooks and will be evaporated.

3.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until boiling begins.  If you try to make the candy without stirring it will
     yield a transparent gel that will be extremely sticky.

4.  Boil covered for 3 minutes without stirring.

5.  Boil until mixture reaches 234F.  Do not go over this temperature since this will cause the mixture to
     caramelize and will be harmful to the bees.

6.  Remove from heat and allow to cool to 200F.  This will cause the candy to have an increased thickness.

7.  Whip with a whisk until whiteness occurs (does not take long).

8.  Quickly pour onto a waxed paper lined 9" paper plate (cardboardy kind - e.g. Chinet)

9.  Allow to cool undisturbed.

10. Store cakes in a cool place.  They will be completely white with whiter areas inside.  Tiny crystals will 
      shine from a broken edge.  Place fondant, waxed paper and all, directly over the brood cluster so the
      bees can have access to it.

4-lb bag of sugar is 9 cups;  add 2 1/4 cups water and 1 t. vinegar  (this fills three 9" paper plates)
5-lb bag of sugar is 11 cups;  add 2 3/4 cups water and 1 1/4 t. vinegar

Recipe adapted slightly from one published by

WOLF CREEK BEES, LLC

Naturally Kept Bees

931-729-9229

www.wolfcreekbees.com

Monthly Beekeeping Tasks: January

With thanks to our colleagues at Hivetool.com

Beekeeping Calendar of Management Practices: January

• Clean, paint and repair equipment.
• Check the apiary for wind damage.
• Check the apiary for skunk damage.

I’m repeating the December chores below since they’re still very relevant.  Don’t forget to make it hard for mice to make a home in your hives - they can cause a lot of damage.

• Repair and paint equipment.
• Clean supers, hive bodies, covers and frames of burr comb and propolis.
• Cull combs. Cut all combs with more than six square inches of drone cells from the frames.
• Render (if equipped) or pack all old comb or beeswax into a shipping container. Old comb or wax can be exchanged for foundation.

I hope 2012 brings each of us good health and prosperity!  See you at the next meeting – January 14^th at 9:30 AM.