State Calendar

February 10-11, 2009: New Jersey Annual State Agricultural Convention, host to our Annual Honey Show at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2349 West Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ. 2009 WINNERS! Honey Show Rules have not changed for 2009. Click here for current rules, sample score sheets and an entry form. If you have any questions, please contact the show chair, Janet Katz.

**Seeting Capacity Reached--Late registrants standing room only; no additional fee at door if you choose to stand.** February 14, 2009: 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM, NJBA Winter Meeting, New Jersey Museum of Agriculture, North Brunswick, NJ. The meeting will start with registration, followed by a business meeting (with voting on bylaw amendments--see your current state newsletter), speaker and lunch. Featured speaker will be Kirk Webster of Champlain Valley Bees and Queens. Located in Middlebury, VT, Webster has focused on producing hardy, northern-bred bees resistant to mites, eschewing chemical mite controls since 2002. The first place and division winners of the Annual Honey Show will be auctioned to the highest bidders. Cost is $22 in advance per person 12 years and older for members ($25 at the door). Cost for non-members 12 years and older is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Children and students are $12 each. RSVP to Curtis Crowell by February 8, 2009 (609 651-4585). Make checks payable to NJBA and mail to Curtis at 152 Broad Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520. For a detailed agenda, click here. Directions to the Museum.

June 6, 2009: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. NJBA Spring Meeting, JCC Camps at Medford, 420 Tuckerton Road, Medford, NJ 08055, hosted by the South Jersey Beekeepers Association. This meeting will employ a hands-on format focused on beekeeping skills for beginners. The activities will include hiving a swarm, performing a cutout on a bee tree, hive inspections and IPM. SJBA President Seth Belson has worked with Blue Stone Perennials to have bee-friendly plants available. Click here for a description of the plants and an order form (deadline April 30, 2009 to order for pickup at meeting). Guest will include Molly and Carly from "Hives for Lives". If you pre-register, cost os $22 for members. At the door is $26, if there is still room! Children under 12 $10. RSVP no later than May 30, 2009 to Curtis Crowell, 609 651-4585. Checks should be mailed to him at 152 Broad Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520. Details, directions and registration information will be posted when available.

August 15, 2009: Saturday. Annual picnic and auction at the home of Bob Hughes in Yardville, NJ. Find used equipment bargains, sell equipment you no longer need, talk about bees all day, good food, good company and swimming! Details to come.

The Northeast Beekeepers Association of New Jersey meets on the third Friday of the month, at the Glen Rock Municipal Annex (sign on north side of building), 678 South Maple Avenue (near the corner of Rock Road), Glen Rock in Bergen County. There is usually a yellow meeting sign outside to guide new members. Specific meeting dates and programs are contained in Northeast's newsletter. You can contact Branch President Fred Canavan at (201) 394-7040 to find out if a meeting is being held.

June 19, 2009:Friday, 7:30 p.m., monthly meeting. There will be a regular business meeting followed by a discussion of the current conditions of members' hives, the appropriate activity for those conditions and the season in general. We look forward to seeing some of the work done by Rich Schluger on the branch website and a few pieces of artwork. Contact Branch President Fred Canavan with questions or comments at (201) 394-7040 or canavan.fred@gmail.com.

May 15, 2009: Friday, 7:30 p.m., monthly meeting. New beekeepers bring all your questions!

March 20 , 2009: Friday, 7:30 p.m., monthly meeting. There will be a regular business meeting followed by a discussion of the current conditions of members' hives and appropriate activity for those conditions and the season in general. We are asking all members to bring books that they don't need to offer to new beekeepers, and books that they recommend for others to take note of. We are also looking for members to cooperate in ordering equipment to take advantage of quantity discounts. This includes bottles, woodenware, foundation, and medications. Contact Branch President Fred Canavan with questions or comments at (201) 394-7040 or canavan.fred@gmail.com.

For Northwest Jersey Beekeepers Association website, click here.

March 21, 2009: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Snyder Research Farm (Please note this is a change in location from the Jan./Feb. branch newsletter!). The subject matter will be "Spring Management". Email the branch secretary if you plan to attend or need further information.

May 30 , 2009: Saturday, 11:00 a.m. Meeting at Echo Hill. Installation of package bees.

July 11, 2009: 10:00 a.m. to 1 or 2:00 p.m. Summer meeting at Echo Hill, with a trip to the club hives at Deer Path for an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) demonstration. The subject for the meeting will be how to manage a honey flow and summer dearth, and summer/fall medications and treatments. Please contact the branch secretary, Barbara Hill, if you plan to attend.

July 26 to August 1, 2009: Warren County Farmers' Fair, Harmony Township.

August 19 to August 23, 2009: County Fairgrounds, South County Park, Route 179, Ringoes, NJ (2008 Hunterdon County 4H & Agricultural Fair).

September, 2009: Fall meeting at Echo Hill. Details to follow.

December, 2009: Annual Christmas party and year end meeting at Echo Hill. Details to follow.

For Sussex County Beekeepers Association website, click here.

January 24, 2009: 1:00 p.m.. Fairground Administration Building, Sussex County Fairgrounds. Bring ideas for 2009. If you're interested in becoming an officer, visit the SCBA website for a description of officer responsibilities and for directions to the meeting. Call Linda Osborne at 973 875-5770 if you have questions.

February 21, 2009: 1:00 p.m.. Saturday, 4H building at Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, NJ. "Late Winter/Early Spring Management". For details, check the SCBA website. Questions to Bill Foley, 845 726-4211.

March 7, 2009: First session of Beginner Beekeepers course, 4-H Building, Sussex County Fairgrounds. Fees, times and details will be posted when available. For more information, contact Linda Osborne 973 875-5770 or Deb Brodhecker 973 702-1223.

March 14, 2009: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. second session of Beginner Beekeepers course.

March 21, 2009: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Fair Administration building at Sussex County Fairgrounds. Club members will put together hive bodies. Bring your own tools.

April 18, 2009: 1:00 p.m. Fair Administration Building at Sussex County Fairgrounds. Preparing honey and wax entries for competition.

May 16, 2009: 9:30 a.m. coffee. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will visit the bee yard for progressive hive inspections. Bring your veil, coveralls, gloves and a smoker, and head to The Osborne's, 23 Fox Hill Road, Lafayette, NJ 07848.

June 20, 2009: Saturday 1:00 p.m. MEETING CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF LOCATION.

July 18, 2009: 10:00 a.m. start time. Fair setup at the Fairgrounds in Augusta.

July 19 OR 25, 2009: Saturday 1:00 p.m. Extracting honey. Time and place to be announced.

July 31 through August 9, 2009: Sussex County Fair. (Sussex County Farm and Horse Show) Annual Honey Show judging on August 1, 2009. For a list of 2008 winners, click here!

September 20, 2009: Noon. Joint Meeting with SENY Beekeepers Association at the Brodheckers (see website for directions).

For details on Essex County Beekeepers Society calendar, click here.

Essex County Beekeepers Society (ECBS) meets at Essex County Environmental Center (ECEC) at 621B Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland, NJ 07068.

February 21 and 28, 2009: Saturdays, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Garibaldi Hall, ECEC. Short course in beekeeping. A field day will also take place on a day to be determined in April. Fee $70 per person, which includes a one-year NJBA membership, continental breakfast and afternoon snack. This course will take you through a full year of beekeeping. For more information and to register, contact Joe Treimel at 973 865-9043. Full-time students ages 12 to 22 may be eligible to apply for a scholarship. See the Education page for details.

March 10, 2009: Tuesday, "Splits & Nucs", ECEC. George Schaefer of Jean's Honey, Inc., Flemington, NJ. Coordinator Joe Lelinho.

March 11, 2009: Sunday, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. "Beeswax Decorating of Ukranian Eggs" by Pat Kotlar. ECEC. Open to the general public.

April, 2009: 9:00 PM - 4:00 PM, field day conclusion of the short course held in February (see above).

April 14, 2009: Tuesday, "Swarms; Catching and Trapping". Speaker will be Ross Conrad of Dancing Bee Gardens. ECEC. Coordinator Liz Nelson.

April 22, 2009: Wednesday, ECEC. Earth Day Celebration.

May 12, 2009: Tuesday, "Honey Plants", ECEC, expected speaker, Jim Bobb (PA beekeeper).

June 9, 2009: Tuesday, "Varroa Treatment", ECEC, Coordinator Landi Simone.

July & August, 2009: No meetings.

September 12, 2009: Saturday, picnic at Kip's Castle, Coordinator Joe Lelinho.

October, 2009: "Oktoberfest", ECEC.

October 13, 2009: Tuesday, "Making Mead", ECEC. Speaker will be Jay DeSimone, Mead Division Best winner at the NJBA 2009 Annual Honey Show. Coordinator Pier Guidi.

November 10, 2009:"Making Creams & Lip Balms", ECEC. Speaker and coordinator Landi Simone.

December 4, 2009: Friday, Christmas & Holiday Party.

Central Jersey Beekeepers Association Calendar

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For Central Jersey Beekeepers Association website, click here.

February 15, 2009: Executive Board meeting

Februrary 20, 2009: 7:00 p.m. Hope Academy Charter School, Asbury Park, NJ. General Membership meeting. Directions.

July 22-26, 2009: Monmouth County Fair, East Freehold Showgrounds, Freehold, NJ.

March 21, 2009: Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.at the Schuler's, Richland, NJ. We will be assembling equipment, repairing equipment and looking at some bees. Bring equipment you need help with.

May 9, 2009 : Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.at Rich Angelino's farm at 322 Old White Horse Pike, Waterford Works, NJ 08089. This is the location of the SJBA queen-rearing yard. In addition to looking at Rich's bees, we will be testing some colonies for hygienic behavior, setting up the colonies for grafting using the cloak board method, looking over grafting equipment, setting up a cell builder and trying the Hopkins method of queen rearing. Click here for a map.

September 12, 2009: Preparing for winter, which will include queen evaluation, cluster size and feeding. Details to follow.

Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month (except for July and December) at 7:00 PM at the Cape May County Extension Office, 355 Court House/So. Dennis Road (Route 657), Cape May Court House, NJ. Click here, for directions.

April 18, 2009: Saturday, 12:00 Noon. "Bring a Friend" Spring Hive Inspection. Hosted by member Mary Accorsey, 35 Lincroft Drive, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. NJ State Apiary Inspector Tim Schuler will be joining us and walking us through the hive inspection process. All members are encouraged to bring a friend, neighbor or co-worker who's been curious about beekeeping. Refreshments will be served. Please park in the cul-de-sac and walk back to Mary's house. Her driveway is shared with her neighbor and can't be blocked.

May 16, 2009: Saturday, 12:00 Noon, at Mark Muller's house, 2110 Arbor Way, Martinsville, NJ 08836. "Making Splits: A 'How To' Demonstration". Learning to make increase is the way to beat decrease. This hands-on demonstration will be given by Bob Hughes, former NJBA president. For directions, click here.

June 27, 2009: Saturday. 12:00 Noon. Summer Picnic, at the home of Estelle and Ricky D'Costa in Far Hills.

July 11, 2009: 9:00 to 1:00 p.m. Harvesting and extracting honey at Mark Muller's in Martinsville. Supers will be removed from the hives during the first hour, with extracting taking place the rest of the time. RSVP Mark Muller if you plan to attend.

July 24, 25, 26, 2009: Morris County 4H Fair, Chubb Park, Chester. Contact Fair Chairman Earl Rowe to volunteer for a shift of selling honey, answering questions, and getting in the demonstration cage with the bees to open the hive for fair goers. Shifts are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

September 12, 2009: Saturday, 12:00 Noon. "Fall Hive Inspection" at VP Rich Lepik's house in Bridgewater.

October 16, 2009: Friday, 7:30 p.m., "Minding Your Beeswax; What to Do With All that Wax". Chester Library. Speaker will be member Brian Rowe. We will also be having a honey tasting contest to start the evening. How well do you know your honey?

December 6, 2009: Noon. Annual holiday party brunch. The Lamplighter, 190 West Main Street, Chester, NJ. A chance to see old and new friends.