Thanks to Guild member Howard Wilson for the following info:

“mongrelbees.com is selling local/feral treatment-free nucs in late April for $165.00 in Richmond, VA if anyone is interested. Don’t know how many he will have but I am on his list for one, and can pick up more.”

If you are not yet familiar with a nucleus (nuc) hive, it is a “mini-hive” which can be used to start a hive.  It usually consisting of five or so frames containing open and capped brood, pollen and nectar/honey, a laying queen and bees.  Be sure to check if the nuc frames are consistent with your intended equipment (deep or medium supers/boxes).

If interested, first contact Mongrel Bees to find out availability, then contact Howard at hwilsonthird@gmail.com to arrange him also picking up yours!

Shenandoah Valley Beekeepers will host a workshop given by Solomon Parker, March 11,  the weekend prior to our Michael Bush event.  At least one OBBG Member will be attending.  If you are interested in carpooling, contact Guild President Denise Deacon at 252-722-3118.  You may view presentations by Solomon Parker on YouTube here: Expansion Model Beekeeping – Solomon Parker – Humboldt County Beekeepers Association May 2016 by Treatment-Free Beekeeping. Enjoy this sunny day!

Getting bees this spring? Whether it’s your 1st or 50th package, you may benefit from watching the online webinar being offered by Bee Culture.

Bee Culture magazine (in print and online) is a great resource for beekeepers, and if you haven’t already signed up for their email articles (“Catch the Buzz”) on different topics, you ought to! They are also offering a webinar on Thursday, January 26, from noon to 1:00 p.m., which will cover where packages come from, how they are made, what can go wrong (and right), feeding, etc. Need to register, though… To sign up, visit:

The Kim & Jim Show

by Debbie Lawson

Looking through your supplies to see what needs to be replaced this year?
Ready to start beekeeping and haven’t ordered equipment yet?
Now’s a great time, as our area rep for one of the country’s largest bee supply companies, Brushy Mountain, is our next guest speaker, Etienne Nadeau!

Etienne is also the President of the Elizabeth City bee group, Beekeepers of the Albemarle, and will be with us on Wednesday, February 8, at our meeting at the KDH Library at 7:00 p.m to talk about nucs (nucleus hives).  He will bring any orders you need with him to that meeting (saves you on equipment shipping costs, which can be high!!).

So… Have a look at their website:
brushymountainbeefarm.com

Then, if you’d like to order, contact Etienne ASAP at:
(252) 619-7308 or
etnadeau@gmail.com

G’day!

Denise Deacon
252.722.3118

Greetings!

Our new year starts off with a “BANG” from a power tool!

When:   Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Time:  Arrive anytime after 6:30 p.m., we’ll being at 7:00 p.m.
Where:  Creative Cabinets, 904 W. Airstrip Road, KDH

Please join the Outer Banks BeeKeepers’ Guild, as we get together to…

* Learn how to make your own frame jig (those handy, time-saving devices used to construct frames).

* Put together hive bodies (supers) and frames.

* Learn about Denise’s new obsession – the “horizontal hive.”  Will have one in pieces and one already constructed to show what it’s all about.

* Make New Beekeeping Friends!

* Also at this meeting, Bobby Dupree will show us the swarm traps he & Bill Farrell built last year, and has kindly offered on a future Saturday for anyone that wants to get in on it, to go to his woodworking shop and build your own!  He will pick up the material prior, so it will just be the cost of wood and your own time & labor that day :).  (If you can’t attend this January meeting, I will send an email prior to that Saturday swarm-trap build so that you’ll have the details.)

* January is Dues-uary… Please bring $30 cash/check if you’d like to join the Guild!

New to Beekeeping?
Experienced beek but not familiar with the Guild?
Just want to know more to see if you’re up for keeping a bunch of stinging insects in close proximity?
Been to a Guild meeting once before but not since?
Just want to hang out with other beekeepers?

NO MATTER… All are Welcome!!!

OK – stay safe if we get this snow this weekend, so that we’ll see you next Wednesday!!  As always, please feel free to contact me if any questions, comments, or suggestions.

Denise Deacon
252.722.3118

**** Many thanks to Julie Moye’s brother, Johnny, for the use of his cabinet shop for this January meeting!!!

What do you do when the forecast calls for a chance of SNOW this Saturday?!?

Well…. You derail your winter blues by thinking about the 2017 bee season!!!

It’s time to talk PACKAGES.

In years past, we have done group orders from various suppliers, and some of those are listed below.  If you would be willing to drive and pickup a number of orders for other beekeepers, please “reply all” to let the group know, so that they can also order from that supplier.

When ordering as part of a group order, you would then tell the supplier that you are with the Outer Banks order, so that when it is being picked up your package will be included!  (Also, in the past, some have given a donation to the driver to help defer their cost of time and gas, so please consider that as well 🙂

General Info:  Most bee packages are approx. 3 pounds of bees inside a screened box, with a marked/unmarked queen inside her own cage contained within the box.  I have asked the suppliers, and the queens inside packages are NOT from their own local stock when purchased as part of the package; HOWEVER, you can purchase their queens at an additional cost at a later date when available.

Also, if you plan to order from another supplier and would like to share that info, please do!!

RICK COOR, SPRING BANK BEE FARM: (919) 738-7638 cell
Marked Queen = $115
Unmarked Queen = $110
Pickup Date:  Sunday, March 26
Location:  Goldsboro, NC
Need to order by:  “End of February”
Additional Queens from his own stock available mid-April for $25

DAVE BRADLEY, SAPONY CREEK: (252) 904-4737 cell
Marked Queen = $105
Unmarked Queen = $100
Pickup Dates:  Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, April 11
Location:  Nashville, NC
Need to order by:  “For March date, ASAP!! For April date, order by mid-February.”
Additional queens $30 marked/$25 unmarked

BACK FORTY BEES
Marked Queen = $137
Unmarked Queen = $130
Pickup Date:  mid-April/April 14?
Location:  Moyock, NC
See his website for further info…
http://www.backfortybees.com/package-honey-bees/

Please let the group know if you would volunteer to be a driver, and from which supplier on which date you will be picking up!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Denise Deacon
252.722.3118