I have finally extracted the honey from my last honey super of the fall. If I can expect this amount of honey from my bees next year, it’s time to treat myself to that electric motor powered extractor Harold Swan has for me. Hand cranking the extractor for nearly 50 supers this year is hard work, but has certainly built up my upper body strength.
In just a couple of weeks the highlight of the Maine State Beekeepers Association year comes to Hampden Academy. This is the second year my club, Penobscot County Beekeepers, have hosted the MSBA annual meeting and conference. We expect in the order of 250 beekeepers from all over the state to attend again. The event is open to all members of the MSBA, their guests or those who join at the door for $15. The cost of the event is $35 if you buy your ticket online at mainebeekeers.org or $45 on the door. Lunch, drinks, snacks and two raffle tickets are included in the price.
The event runs all day Saturday, Nov. 14. Doors open at 8 a.m., and we have some great speakers lined up.
Keynote speaker Mike Palmer is one of the world’s leading authorities on beekeeping in northern climates. As I warn my beekeeping students, much of what you read in books and online is written by or meant for beekeepers in more southerly and forgiving climates than Maine. Mike will give two talks, one on beekeeping in the north and the other on making and over-wintering nucs. A nuc, or nucleus colony, is a small “starter” hive that conventional “wisdom” would deem too small to survive northern winters. These really are “must see” talks for beekeepers and interested laypersons in this region.
We also have a number of other great talks. State Apiarist, Tony Jadzack will give an update on what has been happening to bees in Maine during 2015. It is always enlightening to hear in detail what has been happening on the blueberry barrens and in regions outside this one. Two of professor Frank Drummond’s post graduate students at the University of Maine will be talking to us about their work. Megan Leech will talk about honeybee nutrition in pollens and nectar, and Brianne Du Clos will talk about predicting optimal honeybee apiary site locations in Maine. We also have Carol Cottril, master beekeeper and former president of MSBA. She will be talking about harvesting and utilizing beeswax. Finally, I will be joined by a student representative of Hampden Academy beekeeping club, Lily Salfi, to talk about the HA beekeeping club. We will briefly discuss establishing the school club and the plans and pointers towards starting more such groups around the state.
One of the things I am most looking forward to will be the MSBA presentation to Harold and Hilda Swan with a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award for their services to bees and beekeepers. Over the last seven decades the name Swan has become synonymous with honey in Maine. I doubt there are any beekeepers in this region who haven’t learned something about their hobby from them.
Another highlight of the event is always the blind honey tasting competition. Beekeepers from all over the state will enter a sample of their honey. Last year the honey voted the best in Maine was shared by two beekeepers: Geoff MacLean of Red Brook Honey in Scarborough and local beekeeper Mahlon Wood of Uncle Woody’s of Hermon.
The event is always made more interesting by the presence of a great variety of vendors, as well as a huge array of raffle items. The proceeds of the raffles help to offset the cost of the event. If you have an item you would like to contribute to the raffle table, just let me know.
Peter Cowin, aka The Bee Whisperer, is President of the Penobscot County Beekeepers Association. His activities include honey production, pollination services, beekeeping lessons, sales of bees and bee equipment and the removal of feral bee hives from homes and other structures. Check out “The Bee Whisperer” on Facebook, email petercowin@tds.net or call 299-6948.