The Hive

PCBA members all have a extraordinary bee story or valuable lessons come from PCBA Member’s hands on experience. It could be a technique you learned that really was impactful, an amusing anecdote or a colossal failure. The type of stores you tell at club gatherings, to friends and neighbors. Here is an opportunity to share them in our newsletter. Write it down, include a picture if you have one, and we’ll publish them in an upcoming newsletter. Send you stories to pcbapublications@gmail.com.

I'd like to give a special thank you to everyone who helped make Bee School 2024 a success. Every person there volunteers their time to help new aspiring beekeepers, and the results were awesome. Thank you to presenters: Bonnie Benford, Lee Burton, Victoria McDonough, Ann & Greg Rein, Andy Rice, and Helen Schoonover. Helen conducted the Q and A for every class and also coordinated refreshments. Gary Maguire prepped and broke down the space and ran the weekly raffle. Greg Correiri was there every class to help move chairs and do whatever we needed. Patrick Duffy was on hand to answer questions and "Vanna White" bee supplies for students to see. Alex Rancourt was there to enroll students and pass out books and to help Ann sell bee packages. If I forgot anyone, please know that we appreciate you! Mentors came too. It's a collaborative effort for all incolved and we can't wait to see how the new graduates do with their hives. Welcome, Class of 2024!

Extra thanks goes to Lee Burton who took the lead with classes this year and prepared materials. She did a great job and has agreed to take on the Bee School Director position for the foreseeable future! Lee is committed to producing a high-quality, informative class that helps beekeepers build in knowledge and confidence. If you are interested in helping with Bee School, we do begin committee meetings in October for the following year. Hope to see you there!

Washing your beekeeping clothing, jacket, suit, veil and gloves, regularly has two benefits. Firstly, washing reduces odors and maintains fabric breathability. Beeswax, propolis and honey can build up and damage your gear. Secondly, over time, bee alarm pheromones accumulate. Airing out and washing can rid clothing of the venom and sting chemicals.

An internet search on “Cleaning a bee suit” will provide many methods, so find one that works well for your situation. Be mindful of procedures recommended by your suit manufacturer, be gentle cleaning the veil and use fragrance-free laundry products.

Most sources recommend the following steps:

• Empty the pockets
• Separate the veil from the suit or jacket
• Pre-treat the stains
• Wash Jacket and veil separately
• Air dry
• Proper storage

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The Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) classifies non-native plants that may cause economic or environmental harm as "Invasive," "Likely Invasive," or "Potentially Invasive." They provide recommendations to the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources on an annual basis and recommendation for placement on the state's Prohibited Plant List. These invasive species have been banned for importation, propagation, and sale in Massachusetts by the MDAR. The plants pose a threat to our native species and natural communities.

In November 2022, the state's prohibited plant list was last updated adding three invasive species: Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), and weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). In 2024, two new candidates for potential inclusion are Callery pear/Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) and wall-lettuce ( Mycelis muralis .

Another resource to explore Massachusetts Introduced Pest Outreach

Project https://massnrc.org/pests/index.htm) Use this links to learn to identify and control, report

sightings, and educate others along with related resources.

USDA Unveils Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map

(PHZM) on November 15, 2023. This is the first time since 2012. It is available online at https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/. The hardiness zones are utilized by gardeners and plant

growers to determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location.

The 2023 map is based on 30-year averages of the lowest annual winter temperatures at specific

locations, is divided into 10-degree Fahrenheit zones and further divided into 5-degree Fahrenheit half-zones. The 2023 map incorporates data from 13,412 weather stations compared to the 7,983 that were used for the 2012 map 1.

1 Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture ARS Home : USDA ARS

1. Kaelyn and Lainey, congratulations on being this year’s ambassadors, educating people about honey and beekeeping. Our club members would like to hear more from you about your involvement to-date with the American Beekeeping Federation American Beekeeping Federation (abfnet.org) and the American Honey Queen Program Buzzing Across America including what you are looking forward to most in coming this year.

Kaelyn: From January through April as the American Honey Queen, I have promoted the beekeeping industry in five different states: Louisiana, New Jersey, Kentucky, Florida, and Wisconsin. I have presented in eight different classrooms to over 200 students and participated and spoke at three beekeeping meetings and events. This year, I am excited to meet beekeepers from across the country and learn the differences in their operations. As an agriculture education major, I enjoy meeting with people of all ages to tell them about our exciting industry and promoting American honey.

Lainey: Thank you! As of early April, I have been on a few promotions for the American Beekeeping Federation and American Honey Queen Program. First, we participated in media and presentation training in February in Wisconsin, including presenting in a local elementary school. In mid-March, I attended the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show, where I spoke to over 300,000 people throughout a three-day span. After that, I participated in the Florida Bee College at the University of Florida and met around 300 beekeepers from across the world. I have also given a couple of virtual presentations, one with a school in Colorado and the other with the Maine State Beekeepers Association. This year, I am most looking forward to speaking with government officials and bodies about the beekeeping and honey industry and how they can help beekeepers through their policies and practices.

2. You will be promoting the beekeeping industry though many outreach opportunities, including public speaking, interviews, and virtual presentations. What are some of the resources you would recommend for our club members wanting to increase their existing beekeeping knowledge and skills or wanting to support promoting the

Lainey: I would recommend that your club members look into webinars by beekeeping associations, clubs, other beekeepers, or researchers. Magazines and newsletters are always a great way to keep up to date with new tips and tricks, as well as YouTube videos or websites! If you’re looking to share information with others, check out the American Honey Queen Program’s YouTube channel! Consider joining the American Beekeeping Federation, which is a great source of industry information (www.abfnet.org).

Kaelyn: Beekeeping is a national industry, but you can start locally by attending local classes. The American Bee Journal and Bee Culture are very good national publications to increase your knowledge on a variety of honeybee related topics. I also recommend following Project Apis and the Bee Informed Partnership to follow the science of beekeeping. To find hundreds of honey recipes, go to the National Honey Board's website honey.com or request copies of the American Honey Queen and Princess recipe brochure at cbinvoices@cooknbeals.com to further promote honey. Hosting the American Honey Queen or Princess at your promotional event can help bring the message to the consumer. Contact Anna Kettlewell at honeyqueen99@hotmail.com for more details on hosting us!

3. Lastly, we wish you great success this coming year. Can you each share your favorite type of honey you have experienced and what made it special?

Kaelyn: I have two favorite types of honey. The first is the local honey that my honeybees produce. The second is a New Mexico honey – salt cedar. The flavor of the honey was very surprising; it tastes like salted caramel. I tried this honey while preparing my nationally ranked FFA agriscience project and was honored to receive it as one of my samples.

Lainey: My favorite kind of honey that I have experienced is Maine Wild Raspberry honey. I loved how rich the flavor is, even though the honey itself was pretty light in color!

A Field Guide to Honey Bees and Their Maladies, a publication offered by the Penn State Extension, is a comprehensive guide, enriched with over 100 full-color photographs, serving as an invaluable resource for beekeepers. It equips us with the knowledge needed to identify and address common honey bee maladies. Here are the key features covered in this field guide:

1. Varroa Mites: These notorious parasites pose a significant threat to honey bee colonies. Learn to recognize the symptoms associated with varroa infestations and explore effective treatment options.

2. Hive Beetles: Understand the signs of hive beetle presence, including their impact on bee colonies. Effective control methods are essential to prevent colony losses.

3. Diseases: Explore various honey bee diseases, including American and European foulbrood, Nosema, and Colony Collapse Disorder. Understand their symptoms and cultural control measures.

This spiral-bound guide, printed on durable 4-by-8 stock, is a must-have for beekeepers, whether they’re beginners or seasoned experts. By mastering the art of identifying and managing honey bee maladies, beekeepers can contribute to the health and resilience of their hives.

You can order one on-line A Field Guide to Honey Bees and Their Maladies (psu.edu).

PCBA club members, have you discovered a bee related book you love that enhanced your knowledge and passion for beekeeping? Reach out to Plymouth County Beekeepers pcbapublications@gmail.com to share your review in an upcoming newsletter.

Word Match

Contact Paul if you want to be included on the 2024 Swarm Calls!

PCBA’s swarm coordinator, Paul Harris, at (508) 241-3575 or paultharris@msn.com, shares tips for

successful honeybee swarm retrieval and removal:

1. Pre-Qualify the Swarm: Before attempting to collect a swarm, ensure that it consists of

honeybees. Additionally, consider any details presented on the website to further identify the

swarm.

2. Timeliness and Local Response: Being prompt and local can significantly aid in successful swarm collection. Swift action helps prevent the swarm from dispersing or facing adverse conditions.

3. PCBA Swarm Responders: If you’re part of the Plymouth County Beekeepers Association (PCBA),

wear your PCBA name tag when responding to swarms. This identification helps establish trust

with the community.

4. Express Gratitude and Respect: When interacting with the community member experiencing

the swarm, express gratitude for the opportunity to collect the bees. Consider offering a jar of

honey as a gesture of appreciation.

For additional information, you can refer to the Plymouth County Beekeepers - Swarm

Retrieval/Removal page.

If you've never heard of Honey Joys you're probably from North America. That's because it was part of the Kelloggs marketing in Australia for different uses for their cereals. This recipe is a classic Kellogg's recipe, found on the back of the box of your Kellogg's Corn Flakes.

The original Honey Joys recipe used ⅓ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon honey, but I modified because I love more of a honey taste. Sugar is the ingredient that makes the Honey Joys hard and combined together. If you increase the honey but decrease the sugar, it will be too soft and fall apart. I don't love them rock hard, you can adjust the sugar/honey rations to your preference.

Let's start with the Original Recipe found on the back of the Kellogg's Corn Flakes Box is Australia with terms that we don't know that well! Then the more modern one using a bit more honey!

Original Recipe from the back of the Kellog's Box

INGREDIENTS

• 90g butter or margarine
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 4 cups Kellogg's® Corn Flake

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 150°C.
2. Line 24 hole cupcake pan with paper cases.
3. Melt butter, sugar and honey together in a saucepan until frothy.
4. Add Kellogg's® Corn Flakes and mix well.
5. Working quickly spoon into paper patty cases.
6. Bake in a slow oven 150°C for 10 minutes.
7. Cool.

Modern Recipe using More Honey

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons /90g butter
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey generous tablespoons
• 4 cups cornflakes

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 300°F/150°

• Prepare 24 muffin tins lined with small paper muffin liners.

• In a large saucepan, melt butter, sugar and honey together until frothy.

• Add cornflakes to the hot butter mixture and mix until coated.

• Quickly spoon into prepared muffin tins and bake for 10 minutes.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 7 p.m. (6:30 for General Bee Conversation) at the Hanson Clubhouse

Synthetic Apiary I, II, and Maiden Flight

Kelly Egorova is the Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment in the Graduate School of Engineering at Northeastern University. She received her M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University and her BS in Environmental Science with minors in Math and Biology from Plymouth State University. Kelly began her career in higher education in 2012 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a Producer of Special Projects for The Mediated Matter Group at the MIT Media Lab. In her time at the Lab, Kelly was immersed in several world-changing projects, including Maiden Flight, Synthetic Apiary I and Synthetic Apiary II. Following the closure of The Mediated Matter Group, the founder, Dr. Neri Oxman, launched a new company: OXMAN, where Kelly continues to serve as a Producer of Special Projects.

Principles of OXMAN and The Mediated Matter Group

For the first time in our planet’s history, the anthropomass—the mass of human-made goods- now outweighs the biomass—the mass of all living things. In pursuit of our own technological

advancement, humanity has rapidly unraveled what has taken Nature billions of years of

evolution to create, resulting in a threat to the continued viability of life on Earth. Humanity is a part of Nature, yet the world we have designed has created a rift between us. It is now our responsibility to heal it.

OXMAN proposes the creation of design solutions by, for, and with Nature while advancing humanity. This holistic approach demands that we design across scales and kingdoms for systems-level impact. Categorical delineations between climate change and global pandemics, loss of biodiversity and loss of empathy for one another give way to authoring systems that address manifold challenges.

In doing so, we open ourselves up to moving beyond mere maintenance toward the radical betterment of Nature.

We call for a shift from human-centric design to Nature centric design.

Nature-centric design views every design construct as a whole system, intrinsically connected to its environment through heterogeneous and complex interrelations that may be mediated through design. It embodies a shift from consuming Nature as a geological resource to nurturing her as a biological one.

Bringing together top-down form generation with bottom-up biological growth, designers are empowered to dream up new, dynamic design possibilities, where products and structures can grow, heal, and adapt.

The Plymouth County Beekeepers Association (the “PCBA”), is a non-profit organization established in 1977. We are dedicated to the support of local agriculture and to educating the public about beekeeping through our school and participation in local fairs and festivals.

PCBA focuses on education, agriculture, and stewardship through many of the public outreach programs the club participates in and provides throughout the year. We have members who speak at schools, community centers, and professional meetings.

Website: plymouthcountybeekeepers.org
Location: 228 High Street, Hanson, MA, USA