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Newsletter for December 2022
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Holiday Meeting Coming Up
Thursday December 8
It's our annual holiday celebration and refreshment potluck!
Our meeting this month is on Thursday, December 8th, at 7 PM at the Burlington Public Library.
It is going to be an informal affair, our annual holiday get-together.
Bring snacks and items to share. We hope that lots of folks will bring seasonal cookies, so that we can trade them around and take some home - adding variety to our holiday stashes. Extra points awarded if you use honey in the recipe...
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The Scoop on the 2022 Honey Harvest
It was an OK Year
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The results of
our informal member poll indicates that the 2022 harvest was, at least
for those that responded, about the same as for the previous year.
That's good news in view of the late, wet, cold spring. It also suggests
that the weather was good enough for an extended blackberry bloom,
which is a mainstay of our local harvest.
Even better luck to us all next year.
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We'll keep an
eye out for the national and state information and see how the rest of
beekeeping world fared in 2022. The national statistics are published in
March every year. According to the last report issued by the National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 2021 was a bad year for
production (down 14 percent), but correspondingly a good year for prices
(up 21 percent) as producers dug into their stocks to supply the
markets. Looking at current price reports, it seems that 2022 retail
prices are continuing to rise, running to about $9.00 for a one pound
jar in the Western states.
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With our president Brad Raspet stepping down
at the end of the year, the SVBA will rely on a committee-led approach
for a spell.
In the meantime, Les Scott has stepped up to take on the roles as Web Page Administrator and Meeting Location and Reservation Coordinator.
Steve Cecil will take on the role of Zoom Meeting Coordinator, so that we can continue to provide an at-home attendance option for our meetings.
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December Beekeeping Tip
From Bee Culture Magazine for us Northwesterners
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Bee Culture magazine is a
fascinating monthly magazine geared to everybody from hobbyists and
commercial beekeepers, and from research biologists to agricultural
educators.
They provide regional advice each month, and you might be interested to know their big tip for December for our area:
"If you are a good beekeeper...you are done"
But realistically, they also note that you should check to see if
supplemental feeding is needed, and consider an application oxalic acid
to keep those mites on the run.
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Les's Bees has a full line of beekeeping woodenware and supplies in Bellingham - SVBA
member Les Scott has gone into business providing a wide range of
beekeeping supplies. We featured Les and his operation in the September
newsletter. Check out at leszbees.com or contact Les Scott directly by e-mail, call, or text: 360-303-0396.
If you have supplies and equipment that you may be interested in
swapping, selling, or just plain giving to other interested members of
the SVBA, send a brief description, price, and contact information to
your editor, cecilbees121@gmail.com.
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SVBA Membership
It's Annual Renewal Time
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It's time for
the New Year, which is the kick-off for your 2023 SVBA membership. You
can mark the holiday by sending in your annual renewal fee of just
$12.00. For those who wish to join, take the timely opportunity to sign
up and send in your membership dues - a tremendous deal for the many
programs, events, education, advice and connections that we offer. The
form and instructions are found at:
http://skagitvalleybeekeepers.org/SVBAMembership.htm
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Brad Raspet, President
360-708-9424, brad.raspet@gmail.com
Dawn Beck, Vice President
206-719-3666 , dawnrunner@live.com
Rob Johnson, Treasurer
360-770-6170, rsjohnson2u@yahoo.com
Susan DeLawter, Secretary
818-259-9059, susandelawter@sbcglobal.net
Steve Cecil, Newsletter
617-719-7870, cecilbees121@gmail.com
Alvin Forar, Board
360-435-3316, alforar@hotmail.com
Heather Oates, Board
360-391-7357, hoates@gmail.com
Seth Smith, Board
360-770-0481, seth_smith@live.com
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