September 2021 President's Message
Dear Fellow Beekeepers,
It may still be HOT, but not for much longer! Georgia typically has a small fall flow of Goldenrod; however, it is not for sure and not a lot. Your bees must store food that they will consume between November and March. Since they haven't had much to gather since mid-June, it's important to inspect your hives now. If your hives don't have enough honey stored away, feed sugar water to your bees (2 parts sugar to 1 part water). In Georgia, bees need about 30 pounds of honey to survive our short winter, which equates to about a full medium super of honey. It's essential to start early. Once the temperature gets below 50 degrees, the bees won't eat sugar water. Not enough food in the fall will give you a hive that has starved in March.
The Georgia Beekeepers Association's Fall Conference is on September 23 - 25, 2021 in Gainesville, GA IN PERSON. For more information, visit the Georgia Beekeepers Association website.
During our October Membership Meeting is our annual Honey Show. Remember that the Honey Show is NOT just honey. Besides honey, there are many categories you can enter such as Beeswax (block and candles), Beverages (meads, beer, and honey beverages), Foods (cake, confections, condiments), and Artisan (artwork, crafts, notions, photography, poetry, gadgets and label). Winners will receive cash prizes. Start working on your entries! The rules for the Honey Show will be available on the Coweta Beekeepers Association website.
The September Coweta Beekeeper Association Membership Meeting is on September 13, 2021, Monday, 7:00 pm at the Coweta Extension Office Meeting Room (255 Pine Road; Newnan, GA) IN PERSON! The presenter is Kara Bassett, a fellow CBA member and Welsh Honey Judge, on "Preparing Honey for Show." This is a must-see presentation if you are entering a Honey Show! See you Monday!
Debbie King
President
