North Yard Workshop Photos
Great weather at today's ACBA workshop where "Talking Bees with Chaz Mraz" was the program. Chaz covered many topics including making nucs, recognizing types of queens cells, mite monitoring, and treatment options as well as wide-ranging questions on Spring and Fall hive management. Pics (provided by Fred Putnam) are available on the VBA website gallery.
Mares on Bee Democracy
VBA's Bill Mares on VPR recently discussing democracy as practiced by honeybees - with a nod to Thomas Seeley's Honeybee Democracy.
(VBA's Twitter feed also features the link and can be followed with RSS on our newsfeed page.)
VBA June Meeting Minutes Online
Minutes from the June VBA Board of Directors meetings are now available online. VBA members may read the minutes by logging in to the site and selecting Meeting Minutes under the Members Only top menu heading.
Great Weather, Great Information
The group (pictured here) attending the May 12th North Workshop presented by the ACBA's Scott Wilson and Fred Putnam enjoyed good weather and a wealth of information. Topics included 
how to perform a beehive post-mortem following what has turned out to be a concerning winter for Vermont beekeepers with higher than usual losses reported and management of Varroa - of course.
Mites - The problem continues. Please read this from the Honey Bee Health Coalition: Tools for Varroa Management.
Opportunities for Vermont Beekeepers
We're resurrecting a feature on the site called Opportunities for VBA members. These opportunities may be ways for you to help other beekeepers, schools, the general public or area orchardists needing pollination services. There really is no limitation to what is possible.
The first new listing is for someone in need of pollination services. VBA members can get the details by logging in to the VBA website and looking under the Members Only menu for Opportunities.
Bee Healthy and Legal
A Vermont beekeeper has a duty to other beekeepers and the general public in knowing the laws that apply to beekeeping in Vermont.
Vermont State Apiarist and Food Safety Specialist David Tremblay reminds us that he is concerned about uninspected bees coming into Vermont and these bees then not being registered or inspected. It is acceptable to ask the honeybee supplier if their bees have been inspected and to view the inspection certificate.
Is there added sugar in Honey?
You may have heard about the FDA and their intent to label honey and other products as containing added sugar.
The draft guidance is found by clicking here. Please take the time to read it and submit comments as you see fit.
Fred Putnam Jr. speaking at Killington Town Office
If you happen to bee in Killington on August 8, 11:00 A.M. buzz on over to the Killington Town office to hear Fred teach kids about honeybees, beekeeping, culminating with a fabulous Vermont honey tasting.This is part of the Town of Killington kids summer camp organized by the Town of Killington Recreation Director, Cathy Foutch.
