Coweta Beekeeper Association

Coweta Beekeepers Association
June 2021 Presidents Message

Dear Fellow Beekeepers,

GREAT NEWS! We can meet in person without any restrictions at the Coweta Extension Office. As mentioned, our first meeting in person will be our Annual Picnic Monday, June 14, 2021, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Coweta Extension Office back courtyard (255 Pine Road; Newnan, GA). Coweta Beekeepers Association will provide paper products, beverages, and chicken.  You will need to bring you and your family, your favorite dish to share based on your last name below, and chairs. It will be an evening of fellowship with your fellow beekeepers and delicious food!
Last name starting with A - H, please bring a SALAD

Last name starting with I - P, please bring a SIDE

Last name starting with Q - Z, please bring a DESSERT

Your colony population should be LARGE at this time. Sometimes during the hot weather, your bees may "beard" on the outside of the hive. Bees bearding or clustering on the front of the hive is normal during the summer months. Bearding occurs when the hives have increased their colony size to take advantage of the nectar flow. The bees do not want to overheat the brood, so some of the bees will hang out on the outside of the hive and fan to increase the airflow, cooling down the hive. As a beekeeper, you can assist by propping up the back of the top cover.

It's time to start preparing for next Spring and making splits. If you want more information on Coweta Sustainable Beekeeping, subscribe to the free newsletter on the Coweta Beekeepers Association website @ http://www.cowetabeekeepers.org/.

The bees have worked hard making honey, and now it's time for the beekeeper to start planning to extract the honey. One of the best things about keeping bees is harvesting the honey. How sweet! Remember to set some honey aside for the October Honey Show.

There will be NO JULY Membership Meeting. The NEXT Membership Meeting is August 9, 2021, at the Coweta Extension Office.

Newnan/Coweta Tornado
Assistance with Displaced Bees

In addition to beekeepers in the area who had hives destroyed by the storm, honey bees naturally live in tree cavities and in structures such as homes and outbuildings.

If you or your cleanup crew find a swarm of bees or a bee hive in a damaged structure, we are here to help.

Please click on Member Services to access our swarm and cutout lists for those able to come in and remove bees.

Swarm - bees hanging out on a branch or wall or other area which is open to access and does not have honeycomb built.
Cutout - bees who have made comb inside a wall or tree or other structure which require physical cutting away to remove.

Alternatively, you may also reach us by contacting Kara Bassett via text at 770.668.6625. Please provide the following:

Your name or name of contact person for accessing the property
Address where bees are located
A photo of the AREA where the bees are located
A CLOSE UP photo of the bees in question (Get as close as possibe, THEN zoom in camera. Don't be fearful; bees have no interest in stinging you unless you threaten them by swatting at them or disturbing their nest.)

**This information will be distributed to our Facebook group for quick response from our members.**

Response times will vary based on availibility of beekeepers and their work schedules.

Swarms are typically removed for free but removing bees from homes and structures which require carpentry skills may incur a cost. Cutouts require skill, experience, and complete removal of all honeycomb and honey to prevent infestations of pests or reoccurance of bees in the future.

Please stay safe and we are all praying for quick recovery for every family impacted by the storm.

Kara Bassett

CBA Webmaster