Message forum etiquette 

The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between registered club members. The forum is not open to non-club members.The message forum is perfect for the exchange of ideas related to beekeeping and club issues or questions. All registered club members will receive a notification that there is a new message posted on the forum and have the ability to post a response.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.

HOW TO USE THE MESSAGE FORUM:
To create a new meaage or reply to an existing message select, POST RESPONSE and add your message/reply. You may always return to the message forum to edit or delete your response. Just select, EDIT or the DELETE choice above your message and make the modifications. It's that easy! Remember, the message forum posts responses from oldest to the newest. On the top right side select, VIEW NEWEST AT THE TOP to view the latest message. I'd be glad to assist you if you have any message forum issues.
Please send me an email, Paul Peters 

Denise Vowell

I have two packages of MAQS that expire in December.  Can anyone use them?  Free to a good home.

Laurie L. Shifflett

What a great day! I went to the Grand Opening of the Shenandoah Bee Supply store in Woodstock, Va. Met the owners and chatted about Bee's. They have A great supply of bee keeping equipment. We talked box hives, long langstoph,  and of course my favorite, TopBar. He said he would be able to order in whatever we needed. Just give him a call. 1(540)-481-9555.

After 33 years I finally won a drawing, get outta here! Second place!!! So heading back up next week to pick up my prize,.What a great day today was. Wish you could have been there too.

Douglas Koch

Does anyone have plans to build (DYI) solar wax melter you will share?  It could be a good winter project.

Thanks!  Either post or send to koch.doug@gmail.com

Marty & Tom Morrow

Bruce- a Saturday picnic type meeting in December would be fine for us.  As long as it is not too cold.  Maybe can use a park where we can light a fire if gets too cold? 

Paul Peters

We’re saddened and sorry to announce that the club has lost another member. Jill was a past treasurer of the club and loved her grandchildren, beekeeping, gardening, and birding.  Due to her illness, she was unable to raise and work her bees over the last few years.   Jill was a remarkable woman. In addition to being a good friend and a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother she had a long and successful career as a science teacher in the Loudoun County public school system. She had a profound impact on their studies, many of whom made choices about their lives and learned to see things differently and more clearly as a result of her influence and example.  Jill was very strong-willed and determined when the situation called for it; it still amazes us that, undeterred by a little thing like a worldwide pandemic and advanced cancer, this spring Jill and her twin sister managed to fulfill a longtime dream by arranging and treating themselves to an African safari.                     

We'll miss her smiling face and can-do attitude!

Douglas Koch

https://www.blog-veto-pharma.com/us/most-asked-questions-concerning-apivar/

If you use or plan to use Apivar at some time this would be a good short read for you.  It comes from Phil Craft who spoke to our club in September 2020 at our zoom education meeting.  If you missed it most of them are on the BONS website but here is that one:  "Why We Should Treat and Our Options"

Tim Riggleman

Need Feedback - I have a potential customer asking for quarts of honey.  I've never sold my honey in quarts.  What is the going price for a quart of honey?

Marty & Tom Morrow

Tim I sell my quarts for $32 (quart = approx 2# 13oz x $10/# +overhead for jars)  If you do not understand my shorthand let me know.  I often have requests in the country for quarts and half gallons ( $62)  Have sold out of all my quarts and half gallons.  Have about 3 doz comb honey left and 1-2 doz pint jars left out of 35 gallons we processed.  Good year for honey for us (our first year harvesting)

John Petrie

Good morning!

Has anyone had to move their hives during the winter months?  We may have to move ours soon and I am worried that messing with them during the cold months will kill them.  

Thanks!  John

Timo & Shannon Brandstetter

Sorry for the sideways pic, but I'm looking for a good home for this. It's a Scensy brand scented wax melter. Never been used. It's about 6" tall. Comes with 6 different kinds of scented wax melts and an extra light bulb. Let me know if you're interested!

-Shannon 

Anthony Murray

Hi all, unforunately I lost my hives already. I inspected and I found some varroa mites on the bottom board, but I also noticed a lot of honey left. Reseraching online  it seemed likely that it might be CCD or varroa. There were also bees that whose bodies were split in half, this happed with a couple of the hives I had and I could not find information about that. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify the problem that killed the hives. Thank you

John Petrie

It could be moisture in the hive.  We lost ours between March 10-20th and they still had lots of honey left and no mites.  The guy at Hive House told us that when there are drastic swings in temperatures during the day/night, that causes moisture in the hive and will kill the bees.  I am worried about tomorrow (Sat.) because it will be in the 60's during the day and drop to the 20's at night.  Not a good scenario for our hives. 

Douglas Koch

To Anthony and everyone,

We have on our website under Resources many bits of information.  You are capable of sending samples of dead bees to the Beltsville Laboratory.  I have attached the link for you and others to use if needed.  The service is free.  Check this out it may help you solve your problem:  Covid has affected their abilitiy to service everyone but you should see what is available.  Good Luck! 

https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/bee-research-laboratory/docs/bee-disease-diagnosis-service/

Adrian Rick

Happy new year everyone.

I have been watching for woodenware and package anouncements for this year but seem to have missed them.  Anyone willing to share information (or the links if I've overlooked it on the site)?

Tim Riggleman

Adrian please make sure to register as a member on the new BONS website that we just launched today.  It is bonsbees.com    You should have received an email today inviting you to register as a member of the new website.  This will allow you to log in and grant you access to the Members Corner.  This is where you can purchase bee packages with a credit card, paypal, venmo or by check. Packages are open for sale to every member in the club.  Woodenware is only available to new students for this year at this time.  Once the new students have ordered, we will open woodenware sales to all.  We will only be selling full hive sets.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tim Riggleman

Happy Saturday everyone!  Most of you received an email asking you to register for our new BONS Website yesterday, bonsbees.com  However, we had a slight technical issue in receiving responses with some of you wanting to remain on the BONS membership list.  The Membership and Website Committees thought this would be a good time clean up the list and for the most part worked well.  If you did not receive and email to register as a member for the new website, we are working on it.  It was discovered some of your requests found its way into a SPAM folder and overlooked.  Please be patient as we work to have you included.  We apologize.

William Mathews, Jr.

I would like to purchase bees this year. I need 6 packages. William Mathews

Tim Riggleman

Barry - please register as a member of the new BONs website, bonsbees.com

You should have received an email a few weeks ago, around January 27th, from bonswebcom@gmail.com.  It may be in your SPAM or Junk folder.  Follow the instructions to register for the new site.  One you are registered, go to bonsbees.com and click on Members Corner, then click on shop.  You can place your order there and pay via credit card, paypal, venmo or check.  If paying by check, do not mail the check, but bring it with you when the bees are picked up in April.  If you need assistance, just email me at riggleman.tim@gmail.com or call me at work and I can help you!

Tim

Barry Lewis

Wondering about bee packages for this spring 2022 ?

Info ?

Tim Riggleman

Barry - please register as a member of the new BONs website, bonsbees.com

You should have received an email a few weeks ago, around January 27th, from bonswebcom@gmail.com.  It may be in your SPAM or Junk folder.  Follow the instructions to register for the new site.  One you are registered, go to bonsbees.com and click on Members Corner, then click on shop.  You can place your order there and pay via credit card, paypal, venmo or check.  If paying by check, do not mail the check, but bring it with you when the bees are picked up in April.  If you need assistance, just email me at riggleman.tim@gmail.com or call me at work and I can help you!

Tim

Tina & Dan Blair(*)

Have they scheduled ordering bee packages for this year?

Douglas Koch

please register as a member of the new BONs website, bonsbees.com You should have received an email a few weeks ago, around January 27th, from bonswebcom@gmail.com. It may be in your SPAM or Junk folder. Follow the instructions to register for the new site. One you are registered, go to bonsbees.com and click on Members Corner, then click on shop. You can place your order there and pay via credit card, paypal, venmo or check. If paying by check, do not mail the check, but bring it with you when the bees are picked up in April. If you need assistance, just email me at riggleman.tim@gmail.com or call me at work and I can help you! Tim

Wallys Peltier

Lost 2 queens anybody have queens for sale text or email me 540-229-9915 or mtairyfarm@yahoo.com

Tom & Lisa Thayer

I was checking if there is any eta on the hive orders with fast approaching holidays and Boom to ensue we are in town? Thank you Tom 

Timo & Shannon Brandstetter

Look at Doug's message 2 posts previous. An email just went out about packages.