Welcome to the Madison County Beekeepers Association’s Newsletter.
The Prez Sez
Thanks to all for your confidence in electing me again as your president. I will endeavor to serve you well. I do not plan any major changes in the way Harold ran the association meetings. I would like to see some organizational changes but that is a matter to be handled later.
The Association did not do a group medication buy this year because we used up Bill Mullin’s good will. Bill handled the group buy for the past 10 years and always did a super outstanding job as he does with any project he is involved in. I had planned to pick up the project this year but to do so I needed to get in touch with all members either by email or telephone. I could not do either because we had no current roster.
I need your help in reconstructing a membership roster. I will pass around what I have managed to stitch together at the next meeting and ask that you make corrections and or additions as needed. I will finalize the list and post it on alabees.com with password protected access to all members.
I also need to make sure that all dues paid up members have a current membership card as you may need one to take advantage of our State Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption. See Don Love, our Secretary, for a list of all suppliers that currently honor the certificate. Also, see Don if you would like other suppliers added.
A volunteer or two is needed to manage the Botanical Garden Observation hive. Bill Mullins and Harold Green are stepping down from managing the hive. The Garden staff has expressed their appreciation to me on several occasions for the way Bill and Harold have managed the hive. They will be a hard act to follow.
The Annual Alabama Beekeepers Association convention will be held October 8 and 9, 2010 in Montgomery. Remember that you can pick up beekeeping supplies from Rossman Apiaries, The Walter T. Kelley Co.., and Brushy Mountain Bee Farm at the convention and save shipping charges. (See “News and Events” for more details.)
Get your honey off your hives and get started medicating by 15 September if possible. I have recently updated the medication guide on alabees.com. I do not have instructions for treating ABF with Tylan (Tylosin tartrate) listed but I am working on it. It is pretty simple for large users but for a guy with 2 hives it becomes much more difficult. Whatever you do, follow the label on all medications to protect yourself from health hazard for you and others that eat your honey.
Submitted by Bob Fanning, President MCBA
VP Corner
As I begin my first term as VP of the MCBA I see many challenges ahead of the orginazation, but I am also grateful for all the talented beekeepers within our ranks. Part of my job as VP is to schedule programs for the meetings. This is where I would like to ask each members feedback on programs for next year.
I have several in mind such as "Honey Production and Marketing", Beehive Equipment and its uses, or improvements", "IPM", "Inside the Hive and what to look for", "Healthy bees and medications", "Beekeeping History and its effects", and "Queens and Bees". Now this is just a few ideas, but I would like to hear from you if you are interested in presenting a program, or any ideas for presentation.
Since beekeeping is such a diverse hobby, I'm interested too know if members in the MCBA are interested in focus groups, to learn and present more about such subjects that I have listed, please let me know your thoughts. See you at the next meeting in September, and the Eating meeting the second Tuesday of November at Gibbsons B'Q on south parkway at 6PM.
Submitted by Roger Owens, Vice-President MCBA
Beginners Corner
Note: For additional information and more detail explanations on recommendations for beginning beekeepers please see our pages on alabees.com and click on the current months.
• Get your honey off and hives medicated as soon after 15 Sept as practical.
• Click here for details on medication options and recommended application recommendations.
• Watch for weak hives and combine if needed.
• Store dark combs (dark from brood) with Paradichlorobenzene (PDB).
• Store “non dark” combs cross stacked, in an open area with good air and light.
• Make sure your bees have 100 lbs of food for winter. If they do not have adequate stored honey, feed sugar water.
• Feed as needed before the weather gets cold. You can feed for survival in cold weather but if the bees have the opportunity to store food where it is most advantageous to them, they have higher survival rates.
News and Events
For the time being, the Young Beekeepers Program is suspended due to cost and lack of success.
Madison Parade - The MBA Board of Directors is looking into details regarding the participation in the Madison Parade in September. This is entirely dependant on whether the membership desires to participate. If you would like to participate, be prepared to volunteer at the September meeting.
The November “Eating Meeting” will be held at Gibson (same as last year) on the second Tuesday evening of the month.
Meeting Presentations - Give some thought about what programs you would like to see during next year’s meetings. These programs are for our benefit, so let the president know what we would like to be informed about.
MBA Picnic – Do we still want to hold a picnic next year? Think about it and let the president know at the next meeting.
Observation Hive – We are in need of a new observation hive and some volunteers to maintain it. Give it some thought for discussion.
Alabama Beekeepers Association 2010 annual convention
The 2010 convention will be held October 8 & 9 at the Taylor Road Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama.
The church is located at 1685 Taylor Road, Montgomery, Al 36117. Take Exit 9 off I-85 and go south. The church can be seen as soon as you turn onto Taylor Road.
This is the same location as was the 2009 convention. Speakers are as follows: Dr. Keith Delaplane from the University of Georgia, Dr. James E. Tew from Ohio State University Kent Williams-commercial beekeeper & past president of EAS, and Sherry Ferrell from Ohio State University.
Fred Rossman (Rossman Apiaries), The Walter T. Kelley Co., and Brushy Mountain Bee Farm will be at the convention. Orders placed with either of these suppliers will be delivered to the convention with no shipping charge (you must be there to pick them up or arrange to have someone pick them up). Place your orders timely and request delivery at the Alabama Beekeepers Association annual convention. Their trucks and trailers fill up pretty fast and once full, no more orders can be taken from that supplier for the 2010 convention delivery so be sure and place your order as early as possible. Check your normal delivery costs; it may be that your convention delivery savings will cover your convention expenses!
See you at the convention. Click here for complete details and latest updates.
RECIPE CORNER
A Honey of a Chili
1 package (15 oz.) firm tofu
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbs chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15-1/2 oz.) red kidney beans, undrained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
1. Using a cheese grater, shred tofu and freeze in zippered bag or airtight container.
2. Thaw tofu; place in a strainer and press out excess liquid.
3. In large saucepan or dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot; cook and stir onion, green pepper and garlic 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and begin to brown.
4. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano and crushed red pepper.
5. Stir in tofu; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, honey and vinegar.
6. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Note: For those who cringe at the thought of Tofu in chili, you can substitute meat. If you want to secretly use Tofu though, I won’t tell anyone.
For the Holidays
Honeyed Yams
6 medium yams
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbs. butter
½ cup honey
¼ cup orange juice
2 tsp. grated orange rind
Cook unpeeled potatoes in a small amount of boiling salted water. Drain, peel, cut lengthwise. Place in shallow baking dish and sprinkle with salt and cinnamon. Heat honey and orange juice and pour over potatoes. Sprinkle grated rind over potatoes. Bake in 400 F oven 20-25 minutes, basting twice or more with liquid in dish.
Old-Fashioned Honey, Maple Syrup, Sorghum Recipes; Bear Wallow Books
Honey Glaze for Ham
¼ cup honey
¼ cup apricot juice
2 tsp. prepared mustard
Blend and spread on ham during last half hour of cooking by basting or brushing at 5 minute intervals.
Old-Fashioned Honey, Maple Syrup, Sorghum Recipes; Bear Wallow Books
Honey-Ginger Cookies
3 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup honey
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and ginger; set aside. In large bowl, beat shortening, sugar and egg until smooth and fluffy. Beat in honey. With wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until well blended. Stir in nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake in 375 F oven for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned.
Old-Fashioned Honey, Maple Syrup, Sorghum Recipes; Bear Wallow Books
To submit articles or items for sale, or if you have comments, send them to or:
William T. Bradshaw
118 Cheyenne Trl.
Huntsville, AL 35806
Madison County Beekeepers Association Minutes
Meeting was July 8, 2010
Meeting was called to order at 6:30 by the Vice President Bill Mullins. He welcomed guests and gave some introductory remarks.
Beginner’s corner presentation was made by Bob Fanning.
He stated the following:
1. Please use the Association’s Honey Extractor if you need one. Dale Rohe has it and will be glad to loan it to you.
2. This has been a good honey year. Take honey off now to reduce the area the bees have to protect from the hive beetle. Put honey supers back on if you are near cotton.
3. Beware of the wax moth. Protect combs with PCB or use other methods.
4. Keep bees strong. A few SHB on the hive inner cover is no problem.
5. Don’t forget when buying jars that they are tax free.
6. Medicate bees by Aug. 15 or Sept. 15 if you are near cotton.
7. You may make splits this year because of the late spring. Don’t split a hive unless it is very strong.
8. Mix weak colonies with strong colonies using the newspaper method.
9. Leave 60-100 lbs of honey on the hive for winter. Feed if not enough food.
The report from the nominating committee was as follows:
President – Bob Faning
Vice-President - Roger Owen
Secretary – Don Love
Treasurer – Beth Dunson
Board of Directors - Bill Mullins will fill Bob Faning’s remaining 2 years. Tom Morgan and Ray Latham nominated for 3 year terms.
The report was approved by a voice vote. There were no nominations from the floor.
There was no old or new business.
Gadget night concluded the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:47.
Minutes submitted by
Secretary Don Love