Southside Beekeepers Association December 2016 2016-17 OFFICERS: President: Harvey Joyner Vice President: Jerry Taylor & Bucky Moore Treasurer: Donna Rogers Secretary: Sue Moore Program Coordinators: Karen Joyner Newsletter Editor: Tammy Malkin The President s Corner The message of December is always in sharp contrast with the world as it is. Amid the carols of peace, goodwill, the fear of global terrorism accelerates. Expenditures for more and better weapons increase drastically at the expense of food and housing and medical care for the poor and oppressed. Agri-chemical companies are allowed free reign, while our environment is poisoned and honey bees continue to undergo colony collapse. It is not easy to be joyous or hopeful in a world so troubled and threatening as ours. It is unfortunate that we still remember Mr. Scrooge as the wretched scoundrel of Dickens story. It was in his deepest darkness that he found joy. There are few people in all of history that I would rather meet or have as a friend. For was there ever such a changed man, or such a glorious day when he awakened to his new self leaping, skipping, dancing, laughing, crying, giving, loving a child again? Wouldn t you like to know someone...no, wouldn t you like to be someone!... who was as changed, as radiant, as kind, and loving, as generous, and enthusiastic about life as was the new-born Scrooge? You see, the story of Scrooge is about you and me, of how holiday joy must be freely shared and allowed to wax and wane. The happiness of it all can never be possessed and never purposefully sustained. Accept the spirit of joy, let it go, and accept it again, but never let yourself be trapped by misguided maneuvers of the cult of happiness. Happiness, whenever it occurs, is a gift. Take it, enjoy it, and give it away. Don t try to buy it. And, if holiday depression comes, and it will for many of us, I pray that there will be someone who can be with you, listen to you, and see you through your deepest darkness. May the Spirits of all three, Christmas Past, Present, and Future strive with us. Let us listen for the lessons that they teach. And may God bless us, everyone! Reveling, Harvey
Southside Beekeepers Association Christmas Potluck Dinner WHEN: Saturday, Dec 17 th, 6:00pm WHERE: Emporia/Greensville Extension Office 105 Oak Street Emporia, VA 23847 POTLUCK DINNER We ask that everyone bring a potluck dish to share. If you haven t already, please decide what you would like to bring, and email Sue at sbmoore07@hotmail.com or call her at (804) 514-8196 so we can avoid any duplicates. Barbara and Bryant have volunteered to ensure the room is set up and ready for the party. GIFT EXCHANGE A Pollyanna/Dirty Santa gift exchange will begin shortly after dinner so start looking for that perfect gift now! The gift should be valued at approximately $20.00 and should arrive wrapped. It is hard to predict what the most popular gift will be. (We would like to try to stick with bee related gifts again this year a beekeeping tool, bee decoration, honey, etc.) This is the one time you will want to be the last one to choose a gift because when it is your turn you have the chance to steal any gift that has been unwrapped before yours, so the last person has the pick of them ALL!
Beekeeping in December What s Blooming in December Check under the telescoping top for condensation. Provide ventilation by propping up the telescoping top slightly. Moisture is a bigger concern than the cold for colonies during the winter. Make sure that your hives slope forward so that any precipitation rolls off the front and not into the hive entrance. You may open the hive on cold days to quickly check the strength of the hive or quantity of food stores. If the bees have plenty of food, you may not see them; they may be down inside the hive clustered on honey. You can gently exhale into the top of the hive or tap on the side and listen for their answering buzz to determine if they are alive. If the bees are clustered at the top of the hive when you open it on a cold day, they are running out of stores and emergency feeding is necessary. Don t break the cluster of bees by trying to find the queen during the winter; you will only do damage to your colony from the cold. Now is the time of year to take inventory of your equipment, repair the old and order new. Talk to other guild members before you order so you can combine orders and take advantage of volume discounts. Some suppliers are offering good specials this year, including free shipping for the holidays. It's also time to consider the scope of your beekeeping operation for next season, to plan and place your orders for queens and nuc boxes should you wish to expand. Most suppliers operate on a first come, first served, basis and if you wait until spring to order you may run into backordered items or sold-out queen producers.
Members Helping Members We have some very industrious members. Below you will find the member s name, their business and/or craft, and where you can find their product(s). If you want your business or craft listed, please email, Tammy Malkin, at holycow23@aol.com, or talk with her at one of our meetings. Amy Streich has a booth at The Gypsy Flea. She sells bee related products, along with other items. The Gypsy Flea is located on 206 W. Atlantic St, in Emporia. You can also find it on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/thegypsyflea. Sue Moore sells light and dark honey at Adams Peanut & Country Store, 9243 General Mahone Hwy, Waverly, VA. Tammy Malkin crafts handmade soaps, salves, and lip balms. You can find her products at www.twocairnssoapcompany.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/twocairnssoapcompany.
Ingredients: Ingredients: 1 cup white sugar 1 cup shortening 1 cup honey 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup butter, divided 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 cup honey 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: Directions: In a saucepan over low heat, melt together sugar, shortening, and honey. Let cool. Mix together eggs, vanilla, baking soda and ginger. Gradually add to cooled honey mixture. Slowly add 4 cups of flour to mixture. Stir until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) until golden (about 12-15 minutes). 1. Line an 8-in. square pan with foil; grease the foil with 1 teaspoon butter and set aside. 2. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the cream, honey, sugar and remaining butter. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until a candy thermometer reads 238. 3. Using a pastry brush dipped in cold water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 255 (hard-ball stage). Stir in walnuts and vanilla; return mixture to 255. 4. Remove from the heat. Pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Let stand until firm, about 5 hours or overnight. 5. Using foil, lift candy out of pan; discard foil. Cut candy into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends. Yield: about 1-1/2 pounds.