Maine State Beekeepers Association
We love honeybees - you should too
from information provided by Judy Camuso, Wildlife Biologist, MDIFW Bears are often hungry in the spring (there is less food available and the females are feeding their young), and spring is when we typically get the most “nuisance” bear complaints. Our primary recommendation to people is pretty basic: remove the food source, so… take down bird feeders, feed pets … [Read more...]
Jeff Armstrong, Cumberland County Beekeepers Association member and Cape Elizabeth beekeeper, passed away June 5, 2012 after a four-year struggle with cancer. Jeff was a true outdoorsman and lover of all things natural. He will be missed. More complete online obituaries can be found at: athutchins.com/ and obituaries.pressherald.com … [Read more...]
A mentor is a person who can show you their hives, look in your hives, and/or answer questions via email and phone. If you’ve only ever read books, listened to presentations, viewed slides, mucked about on your own, or watched — God forbid — YouTube, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can learn after getting a mentor. The key ingredient needed for learning about bees? Work with bees. That … [Read more...]
Report from Belgrade, Florida, back in April: Well, three monthly meetings of the Ridge Chapter of the Florida State Beekeepers Association (FSBA) were all attended with great interest. First was the Holiday potluck meeting where I met everyone with a gift exchange and lots of conversation. These Florida beekeepers are just like Maine beekeepers — friendly, sociable and full of ideas and … [Read more...]
by Tish Dutson During the winter and spring months, Maine has offered a number of beekeep- ing classes at various locations, but if you did not happen to live within a com- mutable distance of those classes, you had no other option...until now. At long last, rural Maine beekeepers have a resource for furthering their knowledge of beekeeping through online beekeeping courses for both … [Read more...]
8 Dec 2011/Jan 2012 Thank you, thank you, thank you Anne Frey for your very informative article with your opinion on the Kenya top bar hive (The Bee Line, vol. 29, #5). It is something I have wanted to write about for some time, and I eagerly waited for your article — well done! Now I can share my views along with yours and other documented facts. I too have communicated with Tony Jadczak … [Read more...]
How do your honey, candles, mead, photos and baked goodies stack up? Bring your entries with you to EAS in Burlington and show them off! In past EAS conferences, sometimes the Honey Show has been skipped or pared down, but this year, Mike Palmer is going all-out. He is gathering sponsors and judges and is determined to have every category possible filled with as many entries as possible. Let’s … [Read more...]
by Jim Frederick, urbanjunglehoneybees.wordpress.com The Honey Exchange held its grand opening on September 10th, when owners and beekeepers Phil and Meghan Gaven welcomed dozens of people into their shop on Stevens Avenue in Portland. The store, located in a bright yellow 1800s house in the historic Deering Center neighborhood, offers a unique blend of beekeeping supplies, honey and … [Read more...]
Many years, we have a warm spell after the first frost and the bees can fly, but find nothing in the “field.” In the absence of nectar and pollen, our bees start foraging for alternative sources of carbs and protein. Bees pick up sand, sawdust, birdseed, or maybe even soda in some cans in a recycling bin on a neighbor’s back porch, etc., to bring home to the hive. Pretty soon the … [Read more...]
Do you have bees you need removed?
Have no fear. Our Honey Bee Swarm Removal Team can help ASAP, or direct you to the right person in your area.
Members of the Maine State Beekeepers Association are indicated with a bee icon … [Read More...]
This document is intended as a reference and standard for honeybee management in Maine, with particular emphasis on urban/suburban … [Read More...]
Annual Bee Schools are sponsored by Local Chapters, Adult Education Programs, and sometimes in cooperation with the County Extension Service. These … [Read More...]
Pollination – A Primer from the Maine State Bee Inspector
Spring has sprung in many parts of the US, and thousands of hives have been rolling across interstate highways during winter months to service a variety of crops in southern and western areas. Springtime in Maine is only weeks away and soon gardeners, farmers and beekeepers will be thinking about planting, blooms, bee management, pollination and the weather. With all of the recent media … [Read more...]