York County Beekeepers https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ York County Beekeepers Association, Maine Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:12:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2020/09/cropped-YCBA-Logo-32x32.jpg York County Beekeepers https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ 32 32 YCBA 2025 Bee Seasonal Recap https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ycba-2025-bee-seasonal-recap/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:12:00 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2349 It was one of the coldest nights of the year, but that didn’t stop more than 30 members from enjoying a potluck and raffle! The raffle generated an amazing $550 and several members went home with fantastic prizes, such as extractors and an uncapping tank. As this was also the annual meeting, members voted on a slate of officers and updated the YCBA by-laws. Many thanks to the committee who made this happen!

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]]> It was one of the coldest nights of the year, but that didn’t stop more than 30 members from enjoying a potluck and raffle!

The raffle generated an amazing $550 and several members went home with fantastic prizes, such as extractors and an uncapping tank.

As this was also the annual meeting, members voted on a slate of officers and updated the YCBA by-laws.

Many thanks to the committee who made this happen!

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]]> YCBA Meeting, November 10, 2025 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ycba-meeting-november-10-2025/ Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:53:49 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2341 Sixteen members met in person and several more members joined via Zoom on November 10th at the York County Government Offices. Following a brief business meeting, we listened to a presentation by member Tom Sorrentino via Zoom on his recent wax moth infestation. He provided slides and gave us information on how to control and prevent wax moths. Members Shawn and Jennifer Markham brought in their new Lyson hive and explained the modifications that they have made. It’s a very ...

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]]> Sixteen members met in person and several more members joined via Zoom on November 10th at the York County Government Offices.
Following a brief business meeting, we listened to a presentation by member Tom Sorrentino via Zoom on his recent wax moth infestation. He provided slides and gave us information on how to control and prevent wax moths.
Members Shawn and Jennifer Markham brought in their new Lyson hive and explained the modifications that they have made. It’s a very impressive set-up, and we look forward to hearing updates on the bees’ progress through the year.
Kevin McDonnell spoke about his September trip to Apimondia in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was interesting to hear about different beekeeping practices in other parts of the world.

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]]> YCBA MEETING OCT 13, 2025 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ycba-meeting-oct-13-2025/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:21:30 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2318 Twenty members met at the York County Gov Offices for a brief business meeting. The evening’s presentations included a show-and-tell of gadgets and equipment that members like to use, including items to have in a hive inspection bag, frame-sized posters that can be used in hives for events, and items for use on hive entrances and for working with honey. Members also had a chance to learn how to use a honey refractometer and test honey that was left over ...

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]]> Twenty members met at the York County Gov Offices for a brief business meeting.

The evening’s presentations included a show-and-tell of gadgets and equipment that members like to use, including items to have in a hive inspection bag, frame-sized posters that can be used in hives for events, and items for use on hive entrances and for working with honey. Members also had a chance to learn how to use a honey refractometer and test honey that was left over from the MSBA Bee Fest.

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]]> YCBA MEETING SEPT 8TH, 2025 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ycba-meeting-sept-8th-2025/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:20:52 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2316 Members met at the new location (York County Government Offices, 149 Jordan Springs Rd, Alfred) for the first in-person meeting of the fall/winter season. After a brief business meeting, several members gave presentations on preparing hives for winter. We had demonstrations on condensing hives and making candyboards, discussions on whether or not to wrap and more overwintering tips, and a Powerpoint presentation of pests (other than varroa) that bother hives.

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]]> Members met at the new location (York County Government Offices, 149 Jordan Springs Rd, Alfred) for the first in-person meeting of the fall/winter season.

After a brief business meeting, several members gave presentations on preparing hives for winter. We had demonstrations on condensing hives and making candyboards, discussions on whether or not to wrap and more overwintering tips, and a Powerpoint presentation of pests (other than varroa) that bother hives.

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]]> YCBA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Zoom meeting August 11, 2025 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ycba-membership-benefits-zoom-meeting-august-11-2025/ Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:34:33 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2299 Thirteen members joined a Zoom meeting to learn and talk about the benefits of being a member of YCBA. Here’s the recap: YCBA Website – your go-to source for membership info and form, resources for equipment, education, and organizations, meeting dates and location, reporting a swarm, outreach events and upcoming classes, and more! (That’s this website you’re reading right now!) YCBA Google Group- if you are getting email, you are part of the Google Group. If you page down to the ...

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]]> Thirteen members joined a Zoom meeting to learn and talk about the benefits of being a member of YCBA. Here’s the recap:
  • YCBA Website – your go-to source for membership info and form, resources for equipment, education, and organizations, meeting dates and location, reporting a swarm, outreach events and upcoming classes, and more! (That’s this website you’re reading right now!)
  • YCBA Google Group- if you are getting email, you are part of the Google Group. If you page down to the bottom of the email, you can click on the link at explore the webpage function.
  • Swarm Google Group- see the YCBA website! Protocol asks that if you want to respond to a request, let other members know and wait several minutes to make sure that others haven’t already responded. Info at the bottom of the email. If you want to be part of this, please contact Rob Hull or Lynne Gobeil.
  • Extractors– did you know that the club has three extractors for rent? Each kit comes with cold knife, scratching fork, buckets with honeygates, honey filter cloth, and instructions on how to clean it. Check out the website for contact info. You can have the extractor for up to three days for only $10!
  • Observation Hive- did you know that the club has one that you can borrow for outreach events? There is a bit of a learning curve with it, so be prepared to spend some time learning how to make the best use of it with the least amount of stress on your bees. Contact Joe Barberi.
  • YCBA signage for events- we have two banners and lots of handouts. If you are speaking at an event or manning a table, you’ll appreciate having the items in this bag!
  • YCBA Apiary (Finson Farm)- our own teaching apiary. Hive visits are roughly every 2-3 weeks depending on the time of year and are announced the week before through the Google Group. All members are invited to take part in the visits. BYO personal protective equipment, and please come with clean boots and gloves.
  • Mentoring- if you are new to beekeeping, or want someone to help you out by taking a look or answering questions, we have members who are willing! Currently you can send out a request via email to the Google Group. Over the winter we’ll work on a list of willing mentors that will be on the website too.

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]]> JULY 26TH OPEN HIVE https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/july-26th-open-hive/ Sun, 03 Aug 2025 10:34:12 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2281 Several members met at Lynne G.s home on July 26th, 2025 for an open hive facilitated by State Apiarist Jen Lund. Jen inspected three hives, tested for mites, and gave us lots of great info regarding summer management of honeybees. She also demonstrated how to swab cells for disease and advised us on sending the swabs to the USDA Beltsville Animal Research Center (this site will be moving in the future: more info to come when available). Following the hive inspections, ...

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]]> Several members met at Lynne G.s home on July 26th, 2025 for an open hive facilitated by State Apiarist Jen Lund.

Jen inspected three hives, tested for mites, and gave us lots of great info regarding summer management of honeybees. She also demonstrated how to swab cells for disease and advised us on sending the swabs to the USDA Beltsville Animal Research Center (this site will be moving in the future: more info to come when available).

Following the hive inspections, we enjoyed a delicious potluck lunch and conversation about beekeeping, bee-ing good neighbors with other beekeepers, and even a few non-bee topics!

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]]> Recap of Pop-Up Zoom on May 12th, 2025 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/recap-of-pop-up-zoom-on-may-12th-2025/ Tue, 13 May 2025 10:44:12 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2277 Fourteen members took part in a Zoom pop-up on May 12th to ask and answer questions and compare notes. Topics covered spring feeding, mite treatments for spring, and getting started with the very first nuc. Thank you to all who attended and took part. Zoom pop-ups are opportunities for members to see each other between in-person meetings and talk informally about bees. They generally happen during the months when we do not have in-person meetings, but may take place anytime! ...

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]]> Fourteen members took part in a Zoom pop-up on May 12th to ask and answer questions and compare notes.
Topics covered spring feeding, mite treatments for spring, and getting started with the very first nuc. Thank you to all who attended and took part.
Zoom pop-ups are opportunities for members to see each other between in-person meetings and talk informally about bees. They generally happen during the months when we do not have in-person meetings, but may take place anytime! They don’t replace business meetings…no business, just bees.

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]]> DEADOUTS AND DESSERTS April 14, 2025 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/deadouts-and-desserts-april-14-2025/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:07:32 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2266 Thirty-one members met at the Little Theatre in Springvale for dessert, a brief business meeting, and an autopsy workshop. Two hives were examined and members had an opportunity to gather around the tables and participate. Discussion included the use of drone frames, how to do an alcohol wash for mites, mite treatments, and the importance of having healthy bees in July so that the winter bees are as strong as possible. The conclusion on the deadouts was that one was ...

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]]> Thirty-one members met at the Little Theatre in Springvale for dessert, a brief business meeting, and an autopsy workshop.

Two hives were examined and members had an opportunity to gather around the tables and participate.

Discussion included the use of drone frames, how to do an alcohol wash for mites, mite treatments, and the importance of having healthy bees in July so that the winter bees are as strong as possible.

The conclusion on the deadouts was that one was likely a weak hive and couldn’t survive the wild temperature changes that we saw this past winter, and the second hive’s demise was related to a high mite count.

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]]> YCBA BEE-SEASONAL Feb 18, 2025 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/ycba-bee-seasonal-feb-18-2025/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:37 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2237 Thirty people met at the Little Theatre in Springvale on a bitterly cold night for our postponed Bee-Seasonal event After a potluck dinner featuring lots of comfort food and honey themed cakes, we had a brief business meeting. Our guest speaker for the evening was State Apiarist Jen Lund, who spoke about the importance of biosecurity in beekeeping. Jen led us through brief descriptions of highly contagious viruses, bacterial and pest problems that plague bees, and discussed tips and techniques ...

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]]> Thirty people met at the Little Theatre in Springvale on a bitterly cold night for our postponed Bee-Seasonal event

After a potluck dinner featuring lots of comfort food and honey themed cakes, we had a brief business meeting.

Our guest speaker for the evening was State Apiarist Jen Lund, who spoke about the importance of biosecurity in beekeeping. Jen led us through brief descriptions of highly contagious viruses, bacterial and pest problems that plague bees, and discussed tips and techniques for preventing the spread of health problems.

The evening ended with a raffle of donated items, most of them bee-related.

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]]> JANUARY 13, 2025 – Summary of Zoom Presentation by Karen Thurlow https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/january-13-2025-summary-of-zoom-presentation-by-karen-thurlow/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 11:35:00 +0000 https://yorkcountybeekeepers.mainebeekeepers.org/?p=2228 Twenty-four YCBA members logged in to listen to Karen Thurlow’s presentation on recognizing healthy honey bee colonies. Karen, an experienced beekeeper who moved from Maine to Canada, gave a well-illustrated and informative talk on how important it is to know what things should look like in your hive so that you can recognize problems when they occur. With climate change, unanticipated shifts in weather, and corresponding changes in plant life and what is available for food, even experienced beekeepers are facing ...

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]]> Twenty-four YCBA members logged in to listen to Karen Thurlow’s presentation on recognizing healthy honey bee colonies.
Karen, an experienced beekeeper who moved from Maine to Canada, gave a well-illustrated and informative talk on how important it is to know what things should look like in your hive so that you can recognize problems when they occur.
With climate change, unanticipated shifts in weather, and corresponding changes in plant life and what is available for food, even experienced beekeepers are facing challenges.
In closing, Karen encouraged us to be proactive instead of reactive, act instead of procrastinating, and watch the bees, plants, and Mother Nature when deciding how to manage our bees.

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