Our May meeting will be Tuesday, May 25th at 7:00. The topic will be Varroa Mites and Treatments with Scott Venable as our speaker. Scott is the Monroe County Beekeeping Association President, a Tennessee Master Beekeeper and a local inspector for Monroe County. This will be a very informative and interesting meeting and we look forward to seeing you there.
Meet at the Athens AgCentral Farmers Co-Op
- Suzi Drumright
Looking for something to do Saturday, May 15th? Join the Cherokee Beekeepers for a Beekeeping field day. Hive inspection starts at 11:00 a.m. You’ll need to wear a veil to join the fun. Call Jim Gentry at 423-263-2248 for location. If no answer leave a message and he will return your call. See ya Saturday.
WOW! Cherokee is having their first 2021 meeting Tuesday, April, 27th. Meeting will be at the Ag Central Farmers CoOp in Athens. Start time is 7:00pm . Come early if you like. Meeting room will be set for social distancing
Topics: 10 Mistakes Often Made by New Beekeepers.
I've Installed my Package Bees " Now What?"
Why Split a Perfectly Good Hive?
Information about May 15th Field Day will be covered.
COME EARLY AND BRING A FRIEND.
The Cherokee Beekeepers Association has extended the deadline for bee packages. Checks must be received by March 1, 2021.
Payment should be mailed to Cherokee Beekeepers Association, P.O. Box 71, Athens, TN 37371.
The packages will be Italian bees and will come from Willbanks Apiaries in Claxton, GA as they did last year. Cost will be $125.00 for a 3# package with a marked queen. We expect delivery on March 27th, weather permitting. Pickups will be similar to last year with the location to be determined closer to delivery.
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and your bees are too!
Suzi Drumright
If you are considering starting beekeeping and are looking for good advice the Cherokee Beekeepers Association (CBA) ask that you read "Beekeeping In Tennessee"*. This booklet is published by the University of Tennessee, Agricultural Extension Department. The information below came from that publication. CBA will work to post timely advice through the coming months. CBA Leadership Team
Beginning Beekeeping Basics
• Start small. Two colonies is an ideal number for an inexperienced person to keep for one or two years.
• Expand as your experience and confidence grow.
• Start right. Avoid discouraging mistakes at the very beginning by thorough preparation. Read, read, read and ask questions of beekeepers and Extension staff.
• Buy new equipment. The experience of assembling new hives is very informative for the inexperienced beginner.
• Plan ahead. Order your bees, hives and tools in the fall. The hives and tools should be delivered in time to be assembled before your bees arrive the following April.
• Be ready. When the packaged bees arrive, your hives should be assembled and located on the site selected for your apiary.
* Google Beekeeping In Tennessee