Boston Area Beekeepers Association

Adding Beeswax to Make Honeycomb Presentation
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/86515183365/invitations?signature=8-xgVPeeTZXpSogxoMVprqzMHAHZItajlCFOFUKAe58
Join BABA and Dave Wade on Thursday, January 22nd at 7 PM for a presentation on Adding Beeswax to Honeycomb!
Adding Beeswax to Make Honeycomb- A New Discovery
Add rolled-up pieces of wax foundation to your hives to get the bees to build comb or to get the bees to complete construction on partially built-out frames. Dave will demonstrate how he got the bees to build comb using this method through late-season August and September of 2024. The bees built honey frames and brood frames. Short on built-out comb and your hive is becoming honey bound late in the season? Learn how to remedy the situation by getting the bees to build comb with wax provided to them. Dave will also discuss his 2025 spring experiment using six-package hives to see if they build out stronger and faster when provided with wax rolls. Wouldn’t it be nice if the bees built out significantly more comb and made more honey because they did not need to consume their stores to make wax? Also, learn a method of giving your rendered wax back to the bees for them to build new comb.

Dave has been a hobby beekeeper in Sturbridge, MA for 19 years. His wax adding method to build comb has been seen in the June 2025 edition of American Bee Journal. That article was also recently reprinted in an Australian bee journal, named The Australasian Beekeeper Magazine. Dave has three wax adding articles in the MA Beekeepers Association newsletter. He has given a number of bee club presentations throughout New England, along with an on-line one hosted by Dr. David Tarpy, of North Carolina State University. Dave will also be presenting at the American Beekeeping Federation annual conference and trade show in January 2026, in Mobile, AL.
There will be a $5 charge for non-members to attend this presentation
Zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86515183365

Natural Disaster Impacts on Bees Presentation 12/18
2025-12-18 19:00 - 21:00 | https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84248234784
Join BABA and Jen Keller for a presentation about how natural disasters impact bees. This presentation will dive into Jennifer’s experience with a hurricane that wiped out a hundreds of hives in North Carolina, and how the beekeepers in NC came together to rebuild. Learn more on 12/18/25 at 7PM!
Jennifer Keller is a member of Dr. David Tarpy’s apiculture program at NC State University. Her past duties include rearing, instrumental insemination, and seasonal management of honey bee colonies. She has now transitioned into a position more focused on outreach.
There will be a $5 charge for non-members to attend this presentation
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84248234784

Observation Hives Presentation
2025-11-25 19:00 - 21:00 | https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89559261997
Join BABA and Michael Bush on a presentation about observation hives! Having an observation hive, in addition to other hives, gives you an idea what is going on with your bees. Learn more on 11/25/25 at 7PM!
Michael Bush is an internationally recognized author and speaker on beekeeping. His “The Practical Beekeeper; Beekeeping Naturally” is an authoritative source on sustainable beekeeping without chemical treatments, and his website is an invaluable and thorough source of information on natural, chemical-free beekeeping, as well as beekeeping in general.
There will be a $5 charge for non-members to attend this presentation
Zoom Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89559261997

Thermoregulation and Ventilation Presentation
2025-10-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84988639089?pwd=[REDACTED]
Join us and Bill Hesbach on Thursday, October 30th at 7 pm to learn about Thermoregulation and Ventilation. The talk starts with how bees control the internal hive temperature using thermoregulation and what effect that has on the colony. Then, we will learn about convection flows inside a colony as a precursor to understanding ventilation. In the final segment, the concept of a condensing colony versus the more common practice of adding ventilation is introduced. Participants will better understand what role ventilation plays in a natural hive environment.
There will be a $5 charge for non-members to attend this presentation
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84988639089?pwd=[REDACTED]

Splits and Varroa Mites Presentation
2025-09-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84988639089?pwd=[REDACTED]
Join us and Bill Hesbach on Thursday, September 25th, 7 pm for a Splits and Mite presentation! This talk is for beekeepers looking for less toxic and more natural treatment alternatives, emphasizing that successful Varroa control can be aided by timing splits based on brood cycles and corresponding Varroa reproduction. Bill Hesbach is a Connecticut native with a background in engineering. He’s an Eastern Apicultural Society Certified Master Beekeeper, a graduate of the University of Montana’s master beekeeping program, and the President of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association.
There will be a $5 charge for non-members to attend this presentation
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83399870202

BABA: Learn about Small Hive Beetles
2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:30
Join us and special guest Jennifer Keller at 7PM on July 24th to learn about Small Hive Beetles! The presentation goes over the basic biology, life cycle, and best management practices to minimize issues due to Small Hive Beetles.
Jennifer Keller is a member of Dr. David Tarpy’s apiculture program at NC State University. She was first introduced to honey bees while in the Peace Corps in Paraguay and was quickly hooked on the passion. She spent 20 years as the apiculture technician for Dr. Tarpy’s program, which involved coordinating all the field research for that team. Some of the multiple duties included queen rearing, instrumental insemination, and seasonal management of honey bee colonies in numerous apiaries. She has since transitioned into a position that is more focused on extension and outreach.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84988639089?pwd=[REDACTED]

BABA: Composting Presentation
2025-06-19 19:00 - 20:30
The process of composting gives you the power to recover materials from your garden, your kitchen, and your community and turn them into rich, black gold! In this workshop, you will learn the basics of how to make and use compost to nourish your plants and rebuild soil in your community.
Speaker Olivia Golden is an Urban Agriculture Educator for UMass Extension, where she provides technical assistance and educational resources to urban farmers and urban agriculture practitioners. Her passion for food systems and agriculture was sparked while working at urban farms in Upstate New York. She has a background in urban and environmental planning, supporting community composting projects, urban agriculture education, and community engagement processes in Boston and throughout the Northeast.
Join us and Olivia on 6/19/25 at 7PM with this Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83788123350?pwd=[REDACTED]
**Please disregard the incorrect date presented in the May Newsletter. We will be meeting on 6/19/25 at 7 PM and not on 7/19/25 at 7 PM

BABA Package Installs April 28th 2025
2025-04-28 16:00 - 17:00 | Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, MA, 02126, United States
BABA will demonstrate the installation of two Bee Packages on Mon, Apr 28, 2025 at 4 p.m. at the Boston Nature Center. The installations will be done one after the other so that the second one will be around 4:30pm.
The Boston Nature Center is at 500 Walk Hill Rd., Mattapan, MA. As you turn off Walk Hill Rd., after passing three red brick houses on your left, look for a sign directing you to the Clark Cooper Garden. Park near the Outside Gazebo along the Garden fencing. Someone will direct you to the Apiary.
If you’re lost or confused, call 617-834-6093.

BABA Bee School 2025
2025-02-06 19:00 - 20:30
A Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees Thriving in the Boston Area
Join us for Bee School 2025, a fresh and innovative approach to beekeeping education designed with the new beekeeper in mind. Whether you’re just starting out or considering your first hive, this course will provide you with the essential knowledge and skills to raise healthy, thriving honeybee colonies in the unique conditions of the Boston area.
Learn from expert beekeepers about hive designs and setup, seasonal hive management, disease prevention, and sustainable practices tailored to urban and suburban environments. With practical advice from experts and access to a vibrant community of bee enthusiasts, you’ll gain the confidence and expertise to nurture your bees while supporting the local ecosystem.
Additionally, there will be a series of “Ask Me Anything” sessions for the students from April 10th through November 2nd, on the 2nd Thursday of each month. These sessions will be invaluable to the new beekeeper, as they can talk through their experiences and get expert ongoing advice throughout the seasons.
Embark on your beekeeping journey with BABA’s reimagined curriculum-focused, accessible, and crafted to ensure your success. Let’s build a buzz together!
Dates
Starting February 6th and running each Thursday night for 7 sessions, ending March 20th. Classes are from 7pm to 8:30pm Boston time, and are held via Zoom and a link is included in your ticket which will be sent via email.
If you have any questions, please send an email to info@bostonbeekeepers.org

Non-BABA: Mass Bee Fall 2024 Meeting
2024-11-02 08:00 - 15:30 | Plymouth North HS, Plymouth, MA, Plymouth North High School, Plymouth, MA, United States
2024 Fall Meeting Flyer (1)

BABA: Honey Show Judging; What's It All About
2024-10-24 19:00 - 20:30 | https://bostonbeekeepers.org/single-event/baba-honey-show-judging-whats-it-all-about-oct-2024/
Presented by Mary Duane, President of Massachusetts Beekeepers Association
The presentation will cover the basics of the judging process at a honey show. Mary’s presentation will address both what can be entered in a honey show and what a judge is looking for in a sample of liquid honey or an article of beeswax. Additionally, tips will be shared on how to prepare your entry for a honey show. Entering honey in a judging show is a terrific way to learn about the quality of your hive products, including the moisture content of your honey or the purity of your beeswax. BABA hopes that knowing something about the process may encourage you to consider entering your hive products in a honey show or agricultural fair judging event. Earning a first-place ribbon at a honey show can increase the value and sales of your honey!
Mary Duane is President of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association and past president of both the Worcester County Beekeepers Association (WCBA) and the Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS). She began her beekeeping career in 1999 after attending a WCBA bee school. She earned her EAS Master Beekeeper certification, and is now an instructor at WCBA — where it all started. She lectures throughout New England, and has been a Honey Show judge at Topsfield Fair and The Big E. She manages upwards of 10 hives in central Massachusetts.
The Zoom link for this event is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81893996040?pwd=[REDACTED]
The event will start at 7pm on Oct 24th, 2024. If you start the Zoom early, you will be put into the waiting room, and be admitted after 7pm.

BABA: Bee Math and Queen Spotting by Micheal Bush
2024-09-26 19:00 - 20:30 | https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88040706255
“Did you ever wonder what all those numbers of days from egg to larvae to pupae and pupae to adult are good for? If you can use them to your advantage, it can greatly improve your knowledge of what is happening in your colony. Finding a queen is possibly the most useful skill a beekeeper can have.”
— Micheal Bush
Michael Bush is an internationally recognized author and speaker on beekeeping. He is the author of The Practical Beekeeper, Beekeeping Naturally, which has been published in five languages and is one of the authoritative sources on sustainable beekeeping without chemical treatments. His website is an invaluable source of information on natural, chemical-free beekeeping as well as beekeeping in general.
The wisdom of his methods is evidenced by the fact that he successfully keeps bees through the harsh winters of Nebraska.
This presentation is free to BABA members, and also open to non-members for a $10 fee. Get your tickets below. A Zoom link will be included in your ticket via email.

BABA: Meet the Beekeeper - Summer 2024
2024-08-31 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-07-27 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-07-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-07-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, MA, 02126, United States
Join us at the Boston Nature Center (BNC) for a Meet the Beekeeper session each Saturday this summer.
You’ll have the opportunity to look at real beehives in their summer glory! You’ll be able to see how a beehive works, some beekeeping techniques, and, of course, honeycomb, raw honey, baby bees, and if you’re lucky, spot the elusive queen.
Whether you’re a novice, aspiring, or experienced beekeeper (a ‘beek’), BABA’s in-person Open Hives/Meet the Beekeeper workshops give everyone a chance to get close to bees and their hives, to learn and ask questions about honey bees, and to share stories and experiences.
Meet the Beekeeper sessions are held at Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan, MA 02126. Show up at the Center’s main building at 10am Saturday mornings through and including August 31, and spend the next two hours immersed in the bees’ magical world.
A Word of Caution
We will do our best to keep everyone safe, including providing everyone with beekeeping jackets & veils, and you should dress appropriately as well: long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes are strongly encouraged. Please be aware that, however protected you are, bees sting and, while it’s rare, visitors may be stung.
If weather is questionable, call the Nature Center for updates at (617) 983-8500. And feel free to call Bill at (617) 388-7378 with any questions.

BABA: Honeybee Behavior by Hilary Kearney
2024-08-22 19:00 - 20:30 | https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88040706255
Hilary Kearney will discuss the cooperative nature of the beehive and the roles of individual bees within it. Learn how and why the bees communicate with each other, how they organize an ever-changing workforce, and how they experience the world, learn, and remember. Plus, how can this information make you a better beekeeper?
Hilary Kearney founded Girl Next Door Honey in 2012 in her hometown of San Diego, California, after graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Fine Art. Breaking tradition, she developed a beekeeping business that relies on something other than honey sales or pollination services for economic success. Instead, Girl Next Door Honey focuses on bee-centric programs such as natural beekeeping classes, apiary management, classroom presentations, beehive tours, live bee removal, and more.
Zoom link to the presentation: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88040706255?pwd=[REDACTED]

BABA: Honey Show Judging; What's It All About
2024-08-01 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by Mary Duane, President of Massachusetts Beekeepers Association
The presentation will cover the basics of the judging process at a honey show. Mary’s presentation will address both what can be entered in a honey show and what a judge is looking for in a sample of liquid honey or an article of beeswax. Additionally, tips will be shared on how to prepare your entry for a honey show. Entering honey in a judging show is a terrific way to learn about the quality of your hive products, including the moisture content of your honey or the purity of your beeswax. BABA hopes that knowing something about the process may encourage you to consider entering your hive products in a honey show or agricultural fair judging event. Earning a first-place ribbon at a honey show can increase the value and sales of your honey!
Mary Duane is President of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association and past president of both the Worcester County Beekeepers Association (WCBA) and the Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS). She began her beekeeping career in 1999 after attending a WCBA bee school. She earned her EAS Master Beekeeper certification, and is now an instructor at WCBA — where it all started. She lectures throughout New England, and has been a Honey Show judge at Topsfield Fair and The Big E. She manages upwards of 10 hives in central Massachusetts.

Meet the Beekeeper: Peter Byerly
2024-07-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, MA, 02126, United States
Join us at the Boston Nature Center (BNC) for a Meet the Beekeeper session each Saturday this summer.
Peter will be giving a presentation and a “hive dive” where you’ll have the opportunity to look at real beehives in their summer glory! You’ll be able to see how a beehive works, some beekeeping techniques, and, of course, honeycomb, raw honey, baby bees, and if you’re lucky, spot the elusive queen.
Whether you’re a novice, aspiring, or experienced beekeeper (a ‘beek’), BABA’s in-person Open Hives/Meet the Beekeeper workshops give everyone a chance to get close to bees and their hives, to learn and ask questions about honey bees, and to share stories and experiences.
Meet the Beekeeper sessions are held at Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan, MA 02126. Show up at the Center’s main building at 10am Saturday mornings through and including August 31, and spend the next two hours immersed in the bees’ magical world.
A Word of Caution
We will do our best to keep everyone safe, including providing everyone with beekeeping jackets & veils, and you should dress appropriately as well: long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes are strongly encouraged. Please be aware that, however protected you are, bees sting and, while it’s rare, visitors may be stung.
If weather is questionable, call the Nature Center for updates at (617) 983-8500. And feel free to call Bill at (617) 388-7378 with any questions.

BABA Presentation: Honey bees and native flower visitors in a Boston suburb
2024-06-27 19:00 - 20:30 | https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88440859107?pwd=[REDACTED]
Prof. Primack will describe the results of a survey of insect visitation to plants in Newton, a suburb in metropolitan Boston with extensive conservation areas and gardens. Honey bees, bumblebees, and solitary bees were found in a wide variety of cultivated, native, adventive, and pollinator garden plants. The most visited plants were generally visited by mixtures of honey bees and native pollinators, suggesting that honey bees and native bees can coexist. The talk will conclude with recommendations to reduce threats to native flower-visiting insects, such as herbicide and pesticide use, and to increase the resources available to flower visitors by planting pollinator gardens.
Richard Primack is a Professor of Biology at Boston University with interests in plant ecology, conservation biology, climate change biology, and tropical rain forests. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Biological Conservation and is the author of four widely used conservation biology textbooks for which 38 foreign language editions have been produced with local co-authors adding in examples from their own countries.
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88440859107?pwd=[REDACTED]

Hope in the Fight Against Varroa
2024-05-23 19:00 - 20:30
Did you miss this presentation? If you’re a BABA member, you can find it here.

A Presentation by Project Apis m. Executive Director Danielle Downey & Dr. Bob Danka, USDA-retired.

Varroa mites remain the primary threat to honey bees for most beekeepers. The ultimate solution to the Varroa destructor problem will be bees that can defend themselves. There is hope! Danielle & Bob will explain the history and status of Project Apis m. efforts to breed reliably mite-resistant bees. They will also share some lightning-round style snapshots of some of the Varroa projects Project Apis m. is supporting, such as novel Varroa controls in development, a new selection tool on the market, and important discoveries about Varroa resistance to Amitraz.

Danielle Downey began working with honey bees over 30 years ago, including training and research from bee labs in Minnesota, Canada and France, beekeeper education, work with commercial beekeepers and queen breeders, regulatory work as a State Apiarist in Utah and Hawaii, and wrangling bees for TV and film. As the Executive Director of Project Apis m., a nonprofit that funds applied honey bee research, she works closely with many industry stakeholders in the USA and Canada. She has worked on breeding Varroa resistant bees in Hawaii for over a decade.

Dr. Bob Danka was a USDA scientist for 36 years, who pursued the practical application of honey bee biology. His main areas of research included the pollination of crops (apples, blueberries, cotton and soybeans), biology and management of Africanized honey bees, and genetic resistance of honey bees to biological hazards. Now retired from USDA, he remains committed to the vision of breeding and delivering productive, Varroa-resistant bees to beekeepers.

Ask The Beekeeper
2024-04-18 19:00 - 20:30
A discussion and Q&A with Dave Lewcon of Dave Lewcon Apiaries, Uxbridge, MA
Now is the busiest time of year for bees and beekeepers alike. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the speed of a growing hive, changing brood patterns, and the myriad of never-seen-before surprises and behaviors that befuddle both novice AND experienced beekeepers.For 90 minutes, Dave will discuss these changes, share his experiences (and ‘stories’), and answer our questions. This is a great opportunity to bring your questions, from basic to impossibly hard, and share your observations. BABA will award a free hive tool to whoever brings the most awesome or challenging observation or question.
Dave has over 120 hives in Worcester & Norfolk Counties and in Rhode Island. He is a board member, Bee School Instructor, and the Worcester County Beekeepers Association Communications Director. In 2018 he was Worcester County’s “Beekeeper of the Year.” He was also involved in studies sponsored by Harvard and the USDA that analyzed the toxic response of neonicotinoids to honeybees

Vitellogenin - The Swiss knife of honey bees
2024-02-29 19:00 - 20:30

Bees & Pesticides Workshop by Caro Munoz, Ph.D. candidate
2024-01-18 19:00 - 20:30
Caro Munoz will present the results of her 2021 research into the pesticides bees bring back to the hive and how the effects of these pesticides relate to their interaction with crops and wild plants. Overlooked in their significance, insect pollinators play a paramount role in maintaining ecosystem balance and are vital contributors to the health of our environment. In addition, ten brands of honey distributed by national retailers were tested against Massachusetts honey. Munoz’s research was conducted in 2021 in collaboration with MDAR.Bio: Caro Munoz is a Ph.D. candidate in the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology program at UMASS Amherst. Her primary research and passion is around sustainable agriculture and bee pollinators. Her research focuses on understanding the interactive effects of climate change, landscape structure, and agricultural practices on both managed and wild bees.
A Zoom link to this event will be provided separately.

Frontiers in Small Hive Beetle Control
2023-12-07 19:00 - 20:30
Frontiers in Small Hive Beetle ControlDate: Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, 7:00-8:30pm via Zoom
Location: Zoom
Register for Lecture
As far back as the 1960s, the American beekeeping industry had identified Aethina tumida as a potential threat to US beekeeping. Decades before their arrival in the United States, Caron (1978) stated that “One can only hope the beetle will not be transported [from Africa] to other beekeeping areas.”
Despite their long-identified threat to American beekeeping, very few controls have been labelled or licensed for in-hive use. Further, no acute control has been licensed for ‘safeguarding’ supplementary pollen or protein substitutes, substitutes that frequently invite severe Aethina tumida infestation. Faced with warming weather and changing climates, the impact and foot tarsi-print of small hive beetles is increasing every year.
This talk will explain how the biology and ecology of these beetles determines their presence and impact on beekeeping, and the research happening here in the US and elsewhere on their control.

How Bad Is It? Using Mite-Drop Counts to Measure & Control Varroa Infestation
2023-06-29 19:00 - 20:30
By Larry VandeVenter — Boston beekeeper; BABA and Classroom Hives board member.
Like pinballs, mites regularly fall off bees and end up on the hive’s bottom board. Counting the number of fallen mites that land on pull-out trays under screened bottom boards can accurately measure a hive’s mite infestation levels.
Larry has translated three years of mite-drop counts to give beekeepers a remarkably accurate picture of mite infestation levels inside their hives. He will describe the process, including taking counts and making calculations, and share data throughout his study.
The two more common, but sometimes less accurate, methods of monitoring mites (the ‘sugar roll’ and ‘alcohol wash’) will be described, and their efficacy will be discussed and compared to one another and Larry’s data. Treatment methods and schedules will be discussed briefly; a more thorough look at treatments will follow over the next two months. The talk will wrap up with a question-and-answer period.
To get the Zoom details for this event, please contact President@BostonBeekeepers.org
