January Meeting 
Thursday, January 8th at 7 PM
Burlington Public Library

We look forward to you joining us for our first meeting of the new year. The meeting will be at the Burlington Public Library at 7 PM (820 E. Washington Ave.) Please note that it will NOT be at our normal Sedro-Wooley meeting place because of a room scheduling conflict. Also, we are going to take a pass on our normal "bee chat" before the meeting, while we wait for Dawn Beck to return from her travels.

Here's what's up this month, as we catch up after last month's meeting cancellation:

• Bee talk - Derek Condit will be teaching use about mason bees and their contributions to the Skagit Valley environment.
• Post-holiday cookie exchange - We missed out at the December meeting due to the cancellation, but bring a batch to share for post-holiday enjoyment.
• Honey harvest survey - We will provide a brief survey to find out how fruitful (i.e. honeyful) the 2025 season was for our members.
• Zoom option - If you can't come, but want to participate, you can join us by Zoom. An e-mail with the link will be sent to members before the meeting.

Meet the Mason Bees
Presentation at the January 8th meeting

There is a growing interest in keeping and supporting mason bees, and Derek Condit will talk about their role and trends in maintaining them. 
 
Derek is the Director of the Natural Beekeeper's Path, a non-profit that he founded in Mount Vernon. He is also the author of a new book, The Natural Beekeeper's Path: Treatment-Free Practices for a Living World.

Mason bees are part of a very large number of insects other than the honeybee that play roles in plant pollination, many of them native to the Northwest. Their name is linked to their nest-building method; mason bees often collect mud and patch gaps in their nesting locations.

Mason bees form an entire insect genus with multiple species, including the orchard bee and the blueberry bee that are native to North America. They are solitary insects in contrast to the collaborative behaviors of the honeybee, but are highly efficient pollinators. Mason bees are being used in some locations to augment or even substitute for honeybees as commercial pollinators.

Please come and learn more.

Annual Cookie Exchange
Thursday, January 8th at the SVBA Meeting

We hope you consumed all of the cookies and treats you baked for the December meeting, just before the great flood of 2025 cancelled our plans. But why not keep the tradition rolling? So please bake up another batch that we can share and enjoy and we will help prolong the holiday feasting into January this year.

Beginning Beekeepers Course for 2026
February and March sessions available

Saturday, February 7, 8 AM to Noon and Sunday, February 8, 8 AM to Noon
or 
Saturday, March 7, 8 AM  to Noon and Sunday, March 8, 8 AM to Noon

Presented via Zoom, these two-day classes will cover the basics of beekeeping in our area. Whether you're just getting started with the hobby or already have some experience, this course will cover the basics of honeybee biology, colony management, integrated pest management, local insights, and much more.
 
The $80 course fee includes two four-hour class sessions led by Dawn Beck, a Cornell University Master Beekeeper. It will be based on the Washington State Beekeepers Association's (WASBA) Beginning Beekeeper Manual, and  provide the opportunity to test and become certified as a WASBA Beginning Beekeeper.
 
To sign up for the February class, click here: February Sign-up
To sign up for the March class, click here: March Sign-up

P.S. Many thanks to our Treasurer Domie Bourgeois for setting up the registration and payment links.

SVBA Annual Potluck and Auction Event
March 12
Sedro-Woolley Senior Center
6-8 PM, setup at 5 PM

The March meeting is replaced by our annual potluck dinner and auction event.  It's all about food, fun, friends and funds.
 
The event is from 6 PM to 8 PM. But we will be setting up the display tables beginning at 5 PM, so come early to bring the items that you will be contributing to this year's trove of bee-related and non-bee goods (or services).
 
The SVBA provides a main dish, but we look forward to your contributions to all of the accompaniments to complete our late winter feast. 

Happy New Year!
Looking ahead to 2026
Dues are due

As a brief reminder, we start each new year with our new fiscal year, which includes gathering membership dues to keep all of these events and programs going. Look for the link at the bottom of this newsletter to join/rejoin/renew.

The Great Flood

The Skagit Valley and our neighboring counties hosted record-setting floods last month that disrupted more than our monthly meeting and holiday celebration. For SVBA members (and their bees) in low-lying flatlands, it was a direct and destructive threat. The levees and barriers in Mount Vernon held, but the communities in Concrete, Sedro-Wooley, and Burlington saw some serious inundations.
 
When the evacuation directives were broadcast, the agricultural and beekeeping communities needed to take quick action. Dawn Beck recounted the rescue mission for the Mount Baker Beekeeping Association apiary, which required reaching the stranded hives using a kayak. She sent along these images.

We hope that you and your colonies emerged with minimal damage. If you have a tale to tell, send us an e-mail at cecilbees121@gmail.com

Here is a January checklist of typical tasks inspired by Brad Raspet's monthly schedule of activities:
 

• Check - Inspect the hives for damage, and check the bottom board, to make sure the entrance is not blocked 
• Weigh - Weigh and record colony weight in pounds (that bathroom scale should help)
• Feed - Feed honey, bee candy, or raw sugar
• Bee ordering - Order bee packages or nucs if you know you will need them
• Get supplements ready - Purchase pollen patties for spring supplemental feeding

Membership in the SVBA
And donations

Annual membership renewals begin with the first of the year, so now is the time to renew, join, or rejoin. Annual dues are only $20 for an individual or $30 for a household. We use the proceeds to support the wide range of programs and events that we offer, including monthly speakers and special events. They support our outreach and educational activities including the SVBA Apiary at the Brewstillery in Bow - not to mention this fabulous newsletter, our website, and our Facebook page.
 
The membership form and payment instructions are found on our website or by clicking here: Membership

You can also make tax deductible donations to the SVBA with our new status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to promote responsible beekeeping, provide honeybee education, and support the agricultural community of Skagit County and beyond. To make a donation, click here Donation

Skagit Valley Beekeepers Association

Brett DeLawter             President  brettdelawter@gmail.com
Dawn Beck                    Vice President   dawnrunner@live.com
Domie Bourgeois         Treasurer   domie.bourgeois@gmail.com
Nathan Lee                    Secretary  clbrz1678@gmail.com
Susan DeLawter           Board  susandelawter@sgcglobal.net
Don Johnson                Board   homebrewtwo@gmail.com
Jim Kohl                        Board
Heather Oates               Board  hoates@gmail.com
Seth Smith                     Board   seth_smith@live.com
Chris Zimmerman         Board  gocougs87@gmail.com
Steve Cecil                    Newsletter and website cecilbees121@gmail.com
Matt and Nikki Jones   SVBA Equipment Managers  lamesican@gmail.com