Nineteen members, including three new members assembled at Neale and Diana Braithwaite’s home in Featherston for the August meeting of the Wairarapa Hobby Beekeepers Club.
With spring just around the corner the intention was to do a spring cleaning exercise on Neale and Diana’s hives. Unfortunately the day turned out to be very cold and wet and we were confined indoors to talk about spring cleaning without any hands-on practical work.
The time was not wasted however and we had some good discussion on what we should be looking for and doing as we head into spring. Building new boxes and frames in preparation for the coming season, feeding (when necessary), Varroa control and how to check our hives for American Foulbrood were some of the topics covered. It is important though not to open the hives until the weather is warm enough to do so.
Now that the weather is warming up a little the bees are starting to emerge from their hives. It is fascinating to sit and watch the continuous stream of bees returning to the hive with their large cargoes of pollen.
It was also decided that in keeping with the Olympic Games that were in full swing at the time that we should hold a smoker lighting competition.
Several members had brought along their smokers and their favourite fuel to take part in the competition. It was interesting to see that almost everyone that took part had a different technique for getting their smoker going and keeping it going. The gold medal was awarded to Eileen Brindle, silver to Mike Spink and Bronze to Emma Ballantyne
Our next meeting is scheduled to be held in Carterton on Sunday 09 September at 2pm where, weather permitting, we will be having a practical session on spring cleaning a hive. Prospective members and their families are very welcome to attend and should contact one of the club contacts for further details.
Neale Braithwaite 06 308 9101 or Kent Murrell 06 379 5611 – kmurrell@paradise.net.nz