Wake County Beekeepers Association

Congratulations to past WCBA President Jim Blye! He passed the practical Master Beekeepers test today and with that achievement has become a full fledged Master Beekeeper.

Photos from today’s booth at Mud Day! Thank you to all the volunteers that helped!

2023 Mud Day - Wake County Beekeepers This gallery hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.

Honey Bee bites contain a paralyzing agent?!?!
Yes, bites not stings!

WCBA at the state meeting!

Dr Sammy is updating us on latest mite research.

Down time after day one of the beekeepers conference.

Our monthly meeting is under way with nearly 60 beekeepers in attendance learning how to get our colonies prepared for winter. That starts now!

We are also holding out monthly photo contest and approving our 2023 donation to the NCSU Apiculture Endowment.

Thank you to all our volunteers who made it possible to be at Bee Jubilee today!

Drone photos from today’s Bee Fest!

You can’t win it if you ain’t in it! Get your raffle tickets today! Over $1000 in prizes available.

Vendor Spotlight:
Boutique Beekeepers will be providing information about his bee removal services and custom crafted bee hives.

Also, we will have Wake The Truck Up serving breakfast/brunch items during the event from 1p-4pm!

Gift Basket Spotlight:
We will have a GOLF LOVERS gift card valid for 4 ANY DAY, ANY TIME passes to NC State Lonnie Pool Golf Course, these passes are worth as much as $300 depending on the day chosen to play.

Gift Basket Raffle Spotlight:

Honey Bee Lovers Basket $90 value
Gizmo Beekeeper Wheat Ale - Mark Shepherd
Comb Honey - Andy McGee
Local Honey - Barbra Burgess
Honey Roasted Peanuts - Barbara Burgess
Honey Bee Dish Towel - Jenny Ingraham
Hihey Bee Plate Cover - Susan Benton
Beeswax Candles - Tony Gaddis
Honey Bee Coffee Mug and Soap - Oak City Collection
Beeswax Soaps and Cosmetic Products - Tony Gaddis
Bee Socks - Stacie Hagwood

Market Vendor Spotlight:
Garden Supply Company will be on site to promote pollinator gardening and beekeeping. Garden Supply carros a full range of beekeeping equipment and can help you with lots of bee and pollinator friendly plants, shrubs and trees!

Pop Up Market Spotlight:

Rise Pest Management will be there to explain their bee-friendly pest control and honey bee removal services. Rise is a family run business with Stephen and Krissy Ross. They are WCBA members and keep bees at their home. They remove bee colonies from structures in Wake and surrounding counties.

Gift Basket Preview for BEE FEST!

Got To Be NC $85 value

Cheerwine - Barbara Burgess
Hatteras Wine - Greg Morrison
Moravian Cookies - Jill Perkins and Eric Green
Creative Snacks Yogurt Pretzels - Andy McRea
NC Peanuts - John and Abby Agocs
Flat Rock Cider - Mark Shepherd
Videri Chocolate Bars - Erin Trefaro
Angus Barn BBQ Sauce - Lee Playford

Pop Up Market Spotlight:
June 3 we will have Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Wake County at the pop up market. Ask questions of local master gardeners so your garden can be its best!

Gardening Books by Master Gardener℠ volunteers - Wake County Master Gardener Volunteers Proceeds benefit the Master Gardener Program of Wake County, North Carolina A month by month illustrated Gardener's Guide to best practices for your garden and home landscape in the North Carolina Piedmont, researched and written by NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Wake County. $20 +...

Gift Basket Raffle Spotlight!

Get Outside Gift Basket - $150 value

Apex Outfitters Certificate $50
Great Outdoor Provision Co. certificate $50
Weber Grill and Charcoal from Ace Hardware
Pool Toy - from member Lee Layman
Campfire Marshmallow Kit - from members Keith and Janice Buchanan
Headlamp - from member Jim Ronk

Pop up market vendor spotlight:

We Plant It Forward will be at the event to promote tree planting! Visit their website at https://weplantitforward.org/what-we-do-page for more info.

Have you made your plans to attend?
Lots of great prizes in store for the raffle!

Today’s spotlight is on the Garden Lovers Basket with a value of $120
Homewood Nursery & Garden Center Gift Certificate $75
Hummingbird Feeder - donated by member Erin Trefaro
Pot and Trowel - donated by members Scott and Toni Sweetland
Pot Hanger - donated by member Randy Owens
Welcome SIgn - donated by member Michelle Mango

Stay tuned for more basket highlights!

A lawn festival with pop up market, a food truck, raffle and games is coming to Lonerider Taproom in Wake Forest on June 3rd from 12-4.

This festival will help fund a first-of-its-kind endowment in apiculture at NCSU, ensuring North Carolina has a program for bee research in the future. Learn more about this at the NC State Beekeepers Association website.

In addition to donating a portion of proceeds from Lonerider, the WCBA will conduct a raffle of themed gift baskets and other donated items. Current gift baskets include:

Garden Lovers - gardening producs- $120 value

Country Chic Handmade Soaps - $100 value

Get Outside - Apex Outfitters, Great Outdoor Provision Company - $150 value

Got To Be NC - includes NC foods and products - $75 value
Taste of the Triangle - local foods and gift certificates - two baskets valued between $85 and $110

Honey Bee Lovers - honey and other products of the hive - two baskets valued between $90 and $100

Golf Lovers - 4 anytime passes to Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NCSU - $300 value

Peddler Steakhouse Gift Certificate - $100 value

So come visit us in the lawn to learn more about bees, shop for local wares, and enter our raffle to win fantastic prizes!

Participating market vendors and groups:

Double B Apiary & Farm - honey and hive products for sale

We Plant It Forward - providing free trees and education

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Wake County - information on the Master Gardener Program

BIPOC Beekeepers

Rise Pest Management - bee friendly pest control and honey bee removal

Boutique Beekeepers - custom hives and honey bee removal

Garden Supply Company - information on bees and beekeeping

Something Fishy Jewelry - bee themed jewelry

Bulletproof Sauces - custom sauces

Sharp Creations Cutting Boards - cutting boards

Herbs and Special Teas - specialty teas

Dog-Gone Good Dog Treats & Knaughty Knots Keychains

Wayne Country Day School - paintings and other art

Julie Wervey Designs - jewelry

Waiting out the next band of rain then opening up the booth!

It looks like after a front moves though with rain this morning, we should be able to be out today at Arbor Day in Chavis Park. Stop by our booth to check us out!

The WCBA will be hosting an in-person beginner bee school on Wednesday nights, February 1 through March 22, 2023. Classes will be from 7p until 9pm at the Wake County Commons Building at 4011 Carya Drive, just off Poole Dr near the Raleigh Beltline.

Proceeds from this class will benefit the NCSU Apiculture Program for the endowed professorship program through the NC State Beekeepers Association.

Cost: $75

What’s included:

Annual membership to the WCBA. Membership benefits include monthly educational meetings, fellowship with other beekeepers, participation in the club mentoring program including assignment to an area mentor, and free use of club-owned beekeeping equipment such as honey extractors.
Bound student manual to accompany class lectures
Beverages and snacks provided during class
Club T-shirt or hat based on current available stock - may not have all sizes needed

What’s NOT included:

Class Text The Beekeeper’s Handbook by Diana Sammatoro and Alphonse Avitabile, 5th edition. This book is recommended to be purchased by all students. Lectures and out-of-class assignments will reference materials in this text.
Membership in the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. Membership in the NCSBA is required to test for Certified Beekeeper. Testing and participation in certification is voluntary. (See NCSBA website for complete info on the benefits of certification).

Class Itinerary

Week 1- Honey Bee Basics with Chris Hagwood - Chris is a Journeyman Beekeeper certified by the NC State Beekeeper's Association and has been keeping bees since 2015 and currently manages over 50 colonies of bees in the Garner area.
Week 2 - Honey Bee Anatomy and Communication with Gordon Goeking - Gordon has been a member of WCBA since 2008. He attended the January 2009 WCBA Bee School and installed my first 3 beehives in March 2009. He is a Journeyman and working on his Master Beekeeper level.
Week 3 - Beekeeping Basics with Dick Orander - Dick is a Certified Beekeeper and has been keeping bees for 6 years. Dick serves as a mentor for the WCBA and assists new beekeepers in their first and second year of beekeeping.
Plus History of Beekeeping with Cary Orange - Cary is a Certified Beekeeper and has been keeping bees for 2 years. Cary uses in-hive sensors to monitor his bee colonies
Week 4 - Basic Colony Management plus Foraging and Botany with Cary Orange
Week 5 - Diseases and Pests with Gordon Goeking and Tony Gaddis - Tony has been keeping bees off and on for the past 10 years. Tony keeps most of his bees at a farm in rural NC.
Week 6 - First Year Problem Solving including Colony Swarming and Queen Rearing with Katie Webber - Katie is a Certified Beekeeper with 3 years of experience. She loves to catch swarms!
Week 7 - Seasonal Colony Management and Products of the HIve with Rick Bordeaux - Rick is a Certified Beekeeper and has been keeping bees since 2009. Rick serves the WCBA as a mentor to new beekeepers and he keeps one to three hives of bees at his home in Raleigh.
Week 8 - The NCSBA and the Master Beekeeper Program with Susan Benton. If time allows we will administer the Certified Beekeeper written test. The written test is also available throughout the year and may need to be provided at a later date if Week 8 is needed to finish the class materials.

Wake County Beekeepers Association - Bee School

Here are the latest opportunities to volunteer! These hours count as service credits towards advancing your certification, help the community, and provide you an opportunity to meet with fellow beekeepers.

To receive notice of events and requests for speakers, please subscribe to the yahoo group email distribution list here:https://groups.google.com/g/wcba-speakers-202

Bugfest - NC Natural Science Museum Raleigh
*** WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS . ***
9/17/22
Coordinator: Jim Blye
Volunteer signup link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e44a9ad2eaafb6-bugfest

Farm Aid - Walnut Creek Music Park
9/24/22
Catherine Collier
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4aada72aa5f4c07-wcba

Wild About Nature
October 1, 1p-4p
Sugg Farm at Bass Lake
Coordinator: Susan McClintock Benton
Signup Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084EADA62EA46-wild

State Fair:

There are THREE (yes THREE!) ways to volunteer at the NC State Fair. First, the club is assembling a display booth for competition at the fair. Second, the club is staffing a day of honey sales that benefit the NCSBA. Third, you can volunteer at the NC Apiculture Program information booth. These are all in the same corner of the Expo Building at the fair.

State Fair WCBA Display Booth
Oct 13-23
Coordinator: Tony Gaddis ([email protected])
Signup link for needed display items:
https://tinyurl.com/stateFairDisplay22

State Fair Honey Sales
You must find your own parking. You will be reimbursed for your entry upon reporting for your shift.
October 15th 9am-9pm (yes, 12 hours need to be covered, shifts are 4 hours each)
Signup Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e44a9ad2eaafb6-20221

State Fair Apiculture Program Info Booth
Volunteer to answer questions about bees and beekeeping. You will generally be accompanied by an NC Apiary Inspector on your shift.
You must find your own parking. You will be mailed an entry pass if you sign up early enough.
Signup link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4baeaf2da3f85-state

Upcoming Events for Volunteers

To receive notice of events and requests for speakers, please subscribe to the yahoo group email distribution list here:�https://groups.google.com/g/wcba-speakers-2022

DONE: thanks to everyone that came out!
State Farmers Market Honey Bee Day
8/13/22 - 9a-5p
Coordinator: Susan Benton
Volunteer signup link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ca4af28a7fb6-honeybee1

Raleigh MUD DAY
Walnut Creek Wetland Park - Peterson St
8/20/22 - 9a-12n
Coordinator: Chris Hagwood ([email protected])
(Just email me that you can help and show up, I have everything)

WHO CAN TAKE THIS ON?
Wake Forest Farmers Market Honey Bee Day
Taylor St, Wake Forest
8/20/22 - 8a-12n
NEED COORDINATOR
NEED SIGNUP

Bugfest - NC Natural Science Museum Raleigh
9/17/22
Coordinator: Jim Blye
Volunteer signup link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e44a9ad2eaafb6-bugfest

Farm Aid - Walnut Creek Music Park
9/24/22
Catherine Collier
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4aada72aa5f4c07-wcba

State Fair Display Booth
Oct 13-23
Coordinator: Tony Gaddis ([email protected])
Signup link for needed display items:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084eadad28a13-2022

Looks like fun on Saturday April 30 in Henderson.