What is the Vermont Beekeepers Association?
The VBA is a group of hobby and commercial beekeepers dedicated to beekeeping education, and community awareness.
How much does it cost to join the VBA?
VBA membership costs $15 per year. Use the form located on this site to join.
Can anybody join the VBA?Anybody with an interest in honeybees, or bee related topics, would enjoy the VBA.
Are there any membership benefits?
We hold two meetings a year, with informed speakers, and valuable how-to topics. During the active bee season, several workshops taught by our most experienced beekeepers, giving you valuable hands on lessons. Our web site will answer many of your questions. When you really get stumped, you can consult with one of our “noted Authorities” in the VBA mentoring program.
The Vermont Beekeepers Association has two meetings a year. The first is held in conjunction with the Vermont Farm Show. It is always held on the last Tuesday of January. The second meeting is held in the summer at a different location around the state. In addition to our two big meetings, a series of workshops are held in the two VBA apiaries. Local clubs have their own meetings, as well. Check the Calendar Page for dates, times and contact information.
The winter meeting is held at the green Presbyterian Church on Seminary St. in Barre. The summer meetings are held at various locations around the state. The workshops are held at the VBA apiaries. The southern apiary is at Yankee Kingdom Orchard in Addison, and the northern apiary is located at the Intervale in Burlington.
Why should I join a beekeepers association?Beekeeping is an ever changing profession. By joining a beekeepers association, you keep up on timely topics, learn new methods, and meet a group of friendly folks with an interest in beekeeping. Plus, there's the fun and camaraderie of shared interests.
Are there any other beekeeping associations within the state of Vermont?
Yes, there are several. These include:
The Franklin County Beekeepers - Contact Michael Palmer
The Southern Vermont/Northshire Beekeepers Association, in the Manchester area -Contact Maddie Sobel
We will be adding more clubs to this site shortly after the winter meeting.
Beekeeping does require some strength, and a bit of physical labor, although both handicapped people and blind people have been known to keep bees. There are ways of reducing the physical labor involved. Join the association, and find out how.
How much time does it take to keep bees?
Beekeeping is a seasonal hobby, and therefore, the time varies with the seasons. In the winter, there is practically nothing to do except to occasionally check for physical damage or snow blocking the entrances. The busiest time is in the early summer when each hive should be checked weekly to prevent swarming, and to add additional honey supers. This need take no longer than a few minutes once you get the hang of it.
How much will it cost me to get started?
There are several bee supply houses that offer a variety of beginner kits. These contain all the equipment you will need to start your first hive. The wooden ware can often be purchased pre-assembled. While these kits are handy, they tend to have some things that may not be needed by the beginner, and are a little expensive. They range in price from $215 to more than $300.
Where can I buy my beekeeping equipment?
There are several bee supply houses online. Some are:
Dadant and Sons, Inc.
Mann Lake Ltd
Betterbee, Inc.
Mid-Con
There are two local suppliers of beekeeping equipment, as well. They are:
Kevin Postasiewicz
Lost Nation Apiary
46 Lost Nation Rd.
Essex Jct., Vt
802-878-2271
Lynn Lang
Browns River Rd.
Essex Jct., VT
802-879-7977
langfarm@together.net
What equipment do I need to start keeping bees?
First you will need the hive. This consists of a bottom board, two hive bodies with frames and foundation, three medium honey supers with frames and foundation, an inner cover, and an outer cover.
Secondly, you will need a smoker and hive tool. Buy a large smoker with guard, and the long hive tool.
You will need some sting protection. You can buy a veil and gloves for about $25, a full deluxe English type bee suit and gloves for around $100, and several in between to fit your budget. While you may learn to shed your protection with time, good sting protection makes sense when you are just starting out.
That depends on the strength of the colony, and the weather. While the Vermont average is around 70 lbs, a strong colony on a good honey flow have been known to make 200 to 300 pounds per year.
To come to the point…yes. But, it really isn't as bad as you think. Stings on the hands and arms don't really hurt much, if you learn to remove the sting properly. Some seasoned beekeepers actually enjoy the first stings of the year, for it means that spring is surely here.
Bite your tongue, and pull out the stinger…quickly. Never grab the bulb (venom sac) of the stinger and pull. That squeezes all the venom into your skin, like a hypodermic syringe. Instead, scrape the stinger off with a fingernail, or the sharp edge of your hive tool. This grabs the shaft of the stinger, and pulls it out, leaving most of the venom in the sac.
If I swell when stung, am I allergic?
No, swelling is the body's natural immune system at work. Some swelling is normal at first. With enough stings, swelling is non-existent.
Do I need a license to keep bees?
No, but your beehive/apiary must be registered with the Vermont Department of Agriculture. The name of the bee inspector is Steve Parise .
Most of the bee supply houses listed above have bees for sale. There are some local producers who sell bees, and many suppliers are listed in the beekeeping periodicals. These are The American Bee Journal and Bee Culture.
Yes, you can. It is advisable that you use a gentle strain of bee, and have the entrance facing away from work areas. Sometimes a barrier such as a low fence or hedge placed ten feet in front of the hive, will force the bees to fly up, and away from traveled areas of your property.
Will bees bother my neighbors?
No, not usually. Just remember to locate the bees’ flight path away from traveled areas. Often, if the hives are hidden from view, no one knows that they are there.
Bees take nectar gathered from flowers, and mix it with enzymes from glands in their mouths. This nectar/enzyme mix is stored in honeycombs, and ripened until the moisture content has been reduced to about 17%. When this level is reached, each cell is capped over with a thin layer of beeswax, to seal it until the bees need it. Capped honey can keep almost indefinitely.
Honeybee colonies do not hibernate in the winter months, but stay active and cluster together to stay warm. This requires a lot of food…honey…stored from the summer before. Honeybees are special in that they over-winter as a colony, unlike wasps and bumblebees. Although a hive needs 70 to 80 pounds of honey to survive the winter, the bees are capable of collecting much more. This “surplus” honey is what the beekeeper takes.
On the average, honey is 1 to 1.5 times sweeter than sugar. Liquid honey is approximately as sweet as sugar, yet contains only 82.4g carbohydrates/100g (vs. 100g for sucrose) and provides only 304 Kcal/100g (vs. 400Kcal for sucrose).
Why does the color of honey vary?
The color and flavor of honeys differ depending on the blossoms visited by the honeybees. The color ranges from water white to dark amber, while the flavor varies from mild to strong. The color of fresh honey is related to its mineral content.
What is the shelf life of honey?
Honey stored in sealed containers, can remain stable for years.