Boston Area Beekeepers Association

Celebrate the arrival of fall with cider, honey, and a book signing
2014-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Celebrate the arrival of fall with cider, honey, and a book signing on Wed. Sept. 17th. In partnership with the Museum of Science there is going to be a bee-related event at the Bantam Cider Tap Room in Union Square, Somerville.Local bee expert and author Noah Wilson-Rich, PhD, and Alex Lu, PhD, will talk about the 20,000 species of bees that exist today, the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder, and the link between neonicotinoid pesticides, bee populations, and human health.
Venture to the Bantam Cider Tap Room in Union Square, Somerville for good conversation and tastings of Bantam’s artisanal cider and honey selections from Follow the Honey. You’ll also have the chance to purchase Wilson-Rich’s new book,The Bee: A Natural History. As food is not included, please consider supporting one of Union Square’s many eateries for dining options before or after the program.
Tickets are $10 and are suspected to sell out; they are available here:
http://www.mos.org/public-events/buzz-about-bees

Urban Agriculture Fair & Bee Smoker Contest
2014-09-14 10:00 - 14:00
Beekeepers, start your smokers! Enter the smoker contest at the Urban Agriculture Fair for a chance to win a shiny new hive tool and bragging rights. Object of the contest; keep your smoker going longer than anyone else. That’s it. You’re given five strike-anywhere matches, a full sheet of the Jamaica Plain Gazette, and 10 minutes to forage for your fuel on the Loring Greenough property. A scale will be used to equalize the amount of fuel each contestant uses. Green vegetation, and trim, siding and other contents of the Loring Greenough house not permitted. Each contestant has three minutes to light their smoker. After the smoker is lit and the three minutes are up, the winner is determined by how long the smoker continues to smoke without squeezing the bellows. The last smoker smoking wins.
Contest will begin around 12:30 p.m. Check www.AgHall.com/fair-2014.html for a full schedule by Friday, 9/12.
There will be tons of other activities, games, demonstrations, music, and more. Fun for all ages. There is no entrance fee. Rain cancels event.

Author Discusses His Book "The Bee: A Natural History"
2014-09-12 19:00 - 21:00
Harvard Book Store and Follow the Honey welcome honey bee expert and founder of The Best Bees Company, Noah Wilson-Rich for a discussion of his book The Bee: A Natural History.The event is co-sponsored by The Harvard Bookstore & Follow the Honey, and books are 20% off. Follow the Honey will also host a honey tasting at the event.
Bees pollinate more than 130 fruit, vegetable, and seed crops that we rely on to survive. Bees are crucial to the reproduction and diversity of flowering plants, and the economic contributions of these irreplaceable insects measure in the tens of billions of dollars each year. Yet bees are dying at an alarming rate, threatening food supplies and ecosystems around the world. In this richly illustrated natural history of the bee, Noah Wilson-Rich and his team of bee experts provide a window into the vitally important role that bees play in the life of our planet.
Earth is home to more than 20,000 bee species, from fluorescent-colored orchid bees and sweat bees to flower-nesting squash bees and leaf-cutter bees. This book takes an incomparable look at this astounding diversity, blending an engaging narrative with practical, hands-on discussions of such topics as beekeeping and bee health. It explores our relationship with the bee over evolutionary time, delving into how it came to be, where it stands today, and what the future holds for humanity and bees alike.
More information about the event at http://www.harvard.com/event/noah_wilson-rich

BABA September 2014 Meeting
2014-09-09 18:30 - 20:00
Free & welcome to all! Refreshments provided courtesy of Follow the Honey!
After a summer of hands-on apiary excursions we return to the meeting table, this time at one of our favorite community hubs! On the agenda for this gathering is to formalize our status, mission and vision as Boston Area Beekeepers Association, nominate officers for a one-year term (this could be you!), set a regular meeting schedule for the coming year, discuss upcoming beEvents, and check in about our apicultural adventures.

We hope to see you at Follow the Honey at 6:30pm on Tuesday, Sept. 9th – Please RSVP to Sadie if you plan to attend.

Hive Dive with Anita Deeley
2014-08-24 13:00 - 15:00
Anita is a Biologist and MA State Bee Inspector who runs between 30-50 treatment free hives in my apiary. Four years ago she started out as a backyard beekeeper full of enthusiasm and trepidation, with only a single hive on her rooftop. Her passion and quest for beekeeping knowledge led her on an adventure across America that would change her path forever. You can read about her journey since day one here on her beekeeping blog.Please bring your veils/protective clothing (ticks also abound at this apiary site) and let Sadie know ahead of time if you will be attending by emailing her (space may be limited if there is a lot of interest).
Directions
Enter BNC’s grounds from the big gate on Walk Hill street (address is 500 Walk Hill Street). Head straight down the shaded drive and at the first fork (at the clearing just past the 3 brick houses on your left) take a LEFT. Wend your way toward the community garden (which consists of two areas, both on your left) and if you look RIGHT across the meadow you may see several hives (or not, grass & hugelculture may block them). You can park along the road near the brick “shed” with green roof and the yellow building with picnic overhand (which houses really nice clivus multrum composting toilets), or continue around the bend and pull into a space in front of the larger field of garden plots that is the Clark Cooper Community Garden. There is a path across from the brick “shed” that will take you toward the apiary site. Before you get to the grove of trees walk right into the meadow (this is the same meadow that you saw on your right driving in) and keep the tall sumac/grove of trees, composting system, etc on your left, this “path” next to the patch of high bushes curves around and you will find yourself in front of the hives (so you probably want to suit up before entering the meadow). Call Sadie’s cell phone if you get lost: (978) 771-8570.

National Honey Bee Day at Follow the Honey
2014-08-16 12:00 - 13:00
For more information, see their full announcement.
NATIONAL HONEY BEE DAY 2014
and
3RD YEAR ANNIVERSARY of
FOLLOW THE HONEY!

Tufts Beehive Tour
2014-08-12 17:30 - 19:30
Rachael Bonoan, Kelsey Graham and Natalie Kerr are Tufts graduate students researching bees in the Boston area! They (and we) are excited to take us on a tour of their apiaries and introduce us to the research they are conducting, including investigations on honey bee nutrition and brood development, bumble bee population dynamics and how an invasive bee (the wool carder bee) affects foraging behavior of a native bumble bee.We will meet at 5:30pm on Tuesday August 12th in the parking lot across from Tufts Sports and Fitness Center (161 College Ave in Medford) which is very near where Rachael and Kelsey have hives and do all of their field work.
If people are late, we will be easy to find, but if you arrive after 6:00pm you may miss some bee action because, depending on the weather, foraging tends to die down between 6:00pm and 7:00pm.

Call or text me (Sadie @ 978.771.8570) if you need to get in touch last-minute.

We also hope to resume (bi?)monthly meetings in September so stay tuned. If you have a good space for meeting once or repeatedly in the future please be in touch. Please also mark you calendars & stay tuned for upcoming announcements about a Hive Dive (Aug. 24th at 1pm) & a Winterization Prep Panel (Sept. 18th evening) to be hosted by us at Boston Nature Center.

Meanwhile, I hope to see some of you at Tufts next Tuesday!

Kids In the Hive
2014-08-03 14:00 - 16:00
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Is your child or teen a nature-lover? Give them the ultimate experience of seeing the fascinating world of a honeybee colony up close in this intimate, discovery-oriented exploration of honeybees in their natural environment. We will provide a basic overview of honeybee life, observe and act out the infamous waggle dance, watch young bees being born, try to spot the queen as she lays her eggs, and taste honey straight from the comb! Children ages 7 and up are welcome to participate, and will be provided with a protective veil. Parents welcome too! Please wear or bring long pants, sleeves, closed-toed shoes and bring kids’ sized gardening/work gloves if you have them.This class will be led by Sadie Richards and Jacqueline Beaupre, both experienced beekeepers and educators who have experience opening hives with youth of all ages.

Beekeeping 101: A Workshop for the Bee-curious!
2014-07-20 13:00 - 16:00
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Instructors: Stephanie Elson and Sadie RichardsDid you know that you can keep bees in your backyard? Even small urban yards (or roof tops!) can play host to a hive of honey bees, and the folks who tend them can enjoy honey, beeswax, pollen and of course, the bees themselves. In fact, a healthy hive can produce several gallons of delicious, healthful honey every year.
In this three-hour workshop, you will learn what it takes to keep a busy, productive hive of bees happy! Learn where to get your bees, how to set up and maintain the hive, and what types of activities and time commitment are required throughout the year.
This is a beginner’s course, so no previous knowledge is required. The workshop will include lots of time for Q&A, and the opportunity for hands-on interaction with bees in the apiary (so wear or bring long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes!) Rain date: Sunday, July 27th, 3 – 5 pm

Introduction to Observation Hives (part 2)
2014-07-12 09:00 - 12:00
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Instructors: Jeff Murray and Sadie RichardsDid you know that you could safely keep a small colony of honeybees in your home to unobtrusively observe at any hour of the day or night? Come participate in one or both of these hands-on workshops to learn how! In Part 1 of this workshop we will gain an understanding of what observation hives are and how they can be designed to suit different needs, then we will construct one together under the tutelage of Jeff Murray, founder of a Boston-based nonprofit called Classroom Hives, which has been placing observation honeybee hives in K-12 classrooms since 2001.
In Part 2 of the workshop we will discuss essential techniques for successfully managing observation hives throughout all seasons of the year, and we will also install honeybees into the completed observation hive we built in the previous session. One need not have kept bees before to construct and tend an observation hive, so all are welcome!

Introduction to Observation Hives (Part 1)
2014-06-28 09:00 - 12:00
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Instructors: Jeff Murray and Sadie Richards
Did you know that you could safely keep a small colony of honeybees in your home to unobtrusively observe at any hour of the day or night? Come participate in one or both of these hands-on workshops to learn how!
In Part 1 of this workshop we will gain an understanding of what observation hives are and how they can be designed to suit different needs, then we will construct one together under the tutelage of Jeff Murray, founder of a Boston-based nonprofit called Classroom Hives, which has been placing observation honeybee hives in K-12 classrooms since 2001.
In Part 2 of the workshop we will discuss essential techniques for successfully managing observation hives throughout all seasons of the year, and we will also install honeybees into the completed observation hive we built in the previous session. One need not have kept bees before to construct and tend an observation hive, so all are welcome!

Movie Night - Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us?
2014-06-27 20:00 - 22:00
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Join neighbors and friends at the BNC to view this cinematic adventure outdoors! Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? is a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis from Taggart Siegel, director of The Real Dirt on Farmer John. Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk, and Vandana Shiva. Together they reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature. Free.This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council administrated by the Mayor’s office of Arts, Tourism, and Special Events.

Tour de Hives 2014
2014-06-21 09:00 - 15:00
The 4th Annual Boston Tour de Hives will engage, educate and enchant you with a first-hand look at honeybees in hives across the city, and will be guided by the humans who tend them. On Saturday June 21st come celebrate the bees on this auspicious Summer Solstice during National Pollinator Week! Hives in North Cambridge, Fresh Pond, and Newton will be featured on this year’s tour, which you will visit by bicycle.

Highlights of this year’s tour include (not necessarily in this order)….Site A: tending warre hives at an urban elementary school, chat with teachersSite B: honeybees and fruit at an assisted living facility, speak with residents and their beekeeperBYO PICNIC LUNCH: Featuring Commonwheels Bicycle Collective with a free DIY bike-maintenance skill share and Follow the Honey with a free honey tastingSite C: backyard beekeeping, hear from a Newton family about their home honey productionSite D: Local bee-friendly flora and chemical-free practices at Fresh Pond ReservoirWe will gather together at John F. Kennedy Park in Cambridge at 9:00am (near the intersection of JFK Ave & Memorial Drive), divide into 4 groups and visit 2 local apiaries, convening as a large group for lunch before splitting off into 4 groups again for the final 2 sites. At each site, you will have the chance to hear from local beekeepers and meet their bees! The total ride will be ~15 miles, broken up by hive visits, snacks and lunch (no single leg will be longer than 5 miles).
Please bring a bag lunch, bicycle, helmet, and water bottle!
Don’t have a bike? No problem! Rent one from Urban AdvenTours at a discounted price of $20 when you mention Tour de Hives. A one-day, $20 rental is good for 24 hours. Bikes can be picked up on June 20th during UA’s store hours and dropped off after the Tour during their hours. UA is located at 103 Atlantic Ave Boston, MA 02110.
The registration fee of $20 covers snacks and an event T-shirt (organic & hand-printed by a local artist). Pre-register today if you want to be sure to get a spot on the tour (and a T-shirt)! While no one will bee denied TdH access for lack of funds, once we reach capacity we will regrettably have to close registration. Please contact us if the suggested registration fee of $20 is prohibitive for you. Any proceeds raised will bee reinvested in education & outreach initiatives by the Boston Area Beekeepers Association (formerly Boston Beekeepers Club).
Many thanks to this year’s Supporting Sponsors!*Follow the Honey*Ferris Wheels Bike Shop*Boston’s Best Bees*Maxant Honey Processing Equipment*Moonlight Meadery*Whole Foods
Our sponsors’ contributions include gift certificates that will be raffled off at lunch. As part of the registration cost, each registrant will receive one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets cost $2 each. You must purchase and enter your raffle tickets at registration, so plan to arrive early!- Two “Romance Packages” from Moonlight Meadery- One Broadway Bicycle School class- Hubway one year membership

Pollinator Week
2014-06-16 00:00 - 23:59
Seven years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown to be an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. The growing concern for pollinators is a sign of progress, but it is vital that we continue to maximize our collective effort. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture signs the proclamation every year.Pollinating animals, including bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles and others, are vital to our delicate ecosystem, supporting terrestrial wildlife, providing healthy watershed, and more. Therefore, Pollinator Week is a week to get the importance of pollinators’ message out to as many people as possible. It’s not too early to start thinking about an event at your school, garden, church, store, etc. Pollinators positively effect all our lives- let’s SAVE them and CELEBRATE them!

Dr. Alex Lu Discusses Pollen Findings From 2013
2014-05-18 14:00 - 15:00
Essex County Beekeepers Association monthly meeting at the Fairgrounds Bee Building. Speaker Dr. Alex Lu, Harvard discusses findings on the pollen and honey collection that was done locally in 2013.More information is available in their newsletter.

Installing a Swarm into a Warre Hive
2014-05-18 12:00 - 14:00
Cambridge beekeeper-educator-Warre hive master Mel Gadd, is installing a shook swarm from “tough love” Sam Comfort of Anarchy Apiaries Sunday, May 18, 2014 ‘tween noon & 2pm at Follow The Honey. Buzz by to see how it’s done on the Nectar Deck. See through the windows or bring your veil. Follow the Honey will post closer to ETA on FB. In meantime, prepping Warre [from Buzzing Rooster] bars with first drawn lemon beeswax from Todd Hardie.

Hive Opening at Boston Natural Areas Network
2014-05-17 10:00 - 14:00
13th Annual Spring Planting Festival & Perennial Divide at City Natives.Celebrate spring with plants and gardeners from all over Boston.Bring plants to swap and containers to carry them home! You’re invited to exchange, donate or simply take home plants.
Shop for City Natives’ heirloom vegetable seedlings, native trees, shrubs and perennials. Stock up on compost, organic fertilizer, soil amendments and more.
For more information on this event call BNAN at 617-542-7696 or email info@bostonnatural.org.
