This month we're celebrating the fruits of our labor...well, those of our bee's labor! We're meeting at Bluestone Meadow Lavender Farm to taste, test, share and enjoy the harvest from this year's honey crop. Cindy Holmes will be presenting on how to use a refractometer, the instrument used for measuring water content in honey. We'll also be doing a formal honey tasting with assistance from the UC Davis Honey Flavor Wheel. This tool provides vocabulary to help us describe the flavors we're tasting. So bottle up that honey and join us for this fun event.
Club apiary open Sunday October 10, from 2:00 - 3:15
Have questions about your colonies? Join club beekeeper Jim Guilliams this Sunday for an informal get together at our club apiary (located next to Sherwood Demonstration Garden). Jim will have the hives available to open and will be answering questions. Stop by with your veil, on your way to our meeting.
Outyard wanted?
The club was recently contacted by Amanda Amorosa who would like to have bees on her property, but is not interested in beekeeping. If anyone is interested please contact her at rnrunner1@gmail.com.
Raffle items needed
Now that we're back to our in-person meeting, we back to our raffle and need donations! Any re-gifted or gently used items, or plants make great donations and are greatly appreciated. Receive a free raffle ticket for every donated item you bring. Our club store will also be open. We have hats, tee-shirts, tote bags, mite wash cups and pollen patties.
Need to extract?
The club has extractors and accessories available for member use. To borrow, contact our equipment managers Sandra Myron or Terry Valdez to make arrangements: voice or text 530.318.8015.
Continue the fun
We'll be gathering at the Main Street Tap House in Placerville after club meetings for more bee talk, dinner and libations. All members are welcome.
Mite wash alternatives for alcohol
Running low on alcohol for mite washes? Randy Oliver recommends using Dawn Ultra detergent, "It works very well for mite washes and is on par with 91% isopropyl, better than 70% isopropyl, and much better than windshield fluid."
To use, dilute to 1-2 T per gallon of water. A weaker solution is less efficacious and there is no benefit to making it stronger. Allow the bees to soak in the solution for a full minute before agitation, by which time most of the mites will have dropped to the bottom of their own accord. Final agitation should be a swirl action, with no up and down shaking. Little agitation is required for basic mite monitoring.
Got pollen?
The club has pollen patties for sale, $3 each. Placerville area, contact John Havicon at 916.996.8371, or for the Cameron Park area, contact Bernie Ruiz at 916.719.6708.
Looking forward to tasting all the honey!
See you at October's meeting.
