Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association The Bee Line · English Lady with Bad Teeth Reportedly...

Mission Statement:

To promote interest in, and aware-

ness of, the vital importance of the

honeybee and beekeeping to agri-

culture, commerce, and the public

at large.

2 0 1 5

A S SO C I A T I ON O F F I C E R S

President: Nathan Amboy

[email protected]

Vice President: Debbi Gable

[email protected]

Secretary: Mar� Ikehara

[email protected]

Ac�ng Treasurer: Debbi Gable

C � � � � � � � � C � � � � � !

Class Coordinator: Ron Nies

Inventory: Howard Mann

Library: Doug & Gail Houck

Membership: Vacant

Honey Bee Ordinance Commi-ee:

John Sullivan

Mentor Coordinator: Rob Meneley

Webmaster: Nathan Amboy

Newsle-er: Richard Begley

[email protected]

President’s Corner 2

October Meeting Minutes 2

HBOC Interim Report 2-3

New Member 3

November Meeting Agenda 3

November in the Apiaries 4-5

Honey Pumpkin Bread 6

Links of the Month 6

Bee-Friendly Plants 7

Calendar of Events 8

2015—Issue 11

IIII NS IDENS IDENS IDENS IDE TH ISTH ISTH ISTH IS I S SUEI SSUEI SSUEI SSUE ::::

November 2015

www.sacbeekeepers.org

Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association

________ The Bee Line ________________ The Bee Line ________________ The Bee Line ________________ The Bee Line ________

English Lady with Bad Teeth Reportedly Steals Honey

Police in Manchester, England, are looking for a woman with big-hooped earrings and bad teeth. They say she may have stolen three jars of honey. The honey jars were priced at £46 each – that’s about $90 per jar. Those were either really special honeys, or very big jars. The bad-toothed lady allegedly ran off with about $300 worth of honey.

It’s interesting that the store clerks noticed the lady’s bad teeth. After all, this happened in England. The people of the Isles have a reputation for unkempt teeth. I’ve been to England a few times and I disagree. I didn’t notice an excess of bad teeth. Maybe the rumour is a heritage stereotype, harking back to the days when sugar first hit the grocers’ shelves a few centuries ago in Britain. In the 17th century, refined sugar became the cul-tural rage there. Folks let their teeth blacken and rot to show that they were affluent and trendy enough to afford massive amounts of tooth-decaying sugar. How sweet is that?

There is more to England’s sugar tale. The enormous popularity of sugar peaked when it was prohibitively expensive. Before long, sugar lost its al-lure as a symbol of trendy status. The first-ever boycott, instigated by the radical left in 1792, was a protest against West Indies sugar companies which were fueled by the labour of slaves kidnapped in Africa and hauled across the Atlantic to cruelly work the Caribbean cane fields. The boycott gained momentum when drawings of slave ships were published, showing people packed in the hulls of the slave traders’ vessels. Sugar was sud-denly tainted by the obscenity of slavery. By 1800, sales of the white pow-der fell from 5 pounds per family per week to half as much. Temporarily. The English protests and boycotts worked, English involvement in the slave trade ended, and sugar consumption climbed again. Not that conditions actually improved for the slaves, of course.

Throughout the great sugar boycotts, honey continued to be popular. Since it was produced by rustic countryside bees and craftsmen, it avoided the brutal history of its sugary rival. Honey prices temporarily soared dur-ing the boycott. And teeth became whiter – an old tooth-whitening treat-ment included wine, vinegar, and honey. [Which I don’t recommend.] All of this makes us wonder about the lady with bad teeth, accused of lifting honey from that trendy shop in downtown Manchester. Be cautious. If you see a bad-toothed female wearing turquoise jeans and large hoopy ear-rings, don’t tackle her alone. Call the Manchester men in blue. After all, the whole episode may be nothing more than a sting operation.

Ron Miksha, h�p://badbeekeepingblog.com/ © 2015

The President’s Corner

On September 6, 1901, President McKinley was assassinated. Fortunately, there was a

vice-president, and Teddy Roosevelt succeeded him. Under his administra�on, the USA

became the first na�on with a Na�onal Park system! SABA needs a vice-president too . . .

SABA needs you!

Meanwhile, back at the beehive . . . Recently I’ve had several SABA members tell me that

their bees took off this fall. Remember to store any used, empty equipment in a manner

hos�le to wax moths. Leave it uncovered, open to bright light and air. Spread the frames

if you can. If the comb is old, consider removing it and prepping your frames for new

comb next year. Save capped honey & pollen frames in the freezer.

Nathan Amboy

———- THE BEE LINE ——— November 2015

Minutes of October20, 2015 General Membership Meeting (unedited)

Quorum met, one officer and more than 10 members

No changes to September minutes. Mo�on to accept by Bill Ralston – all in favor.

Treasurer Report: SABA laptop needed repair, it’s back.

$7619 checking Wells Fargo

$500 savings WF

$9111 Schools CW

$318 at PayPal

$17,549 total

Debbi Gable con�nues to manage Sign-up Genius

Classes: Ron Nies, nothing to report. We do have 2016 dates

Events: Green Acres Fall Fes�val crowds were dampened by rain. All 4 stores were covered by SABA. Talked to a few

folks at each store. Doug and Larry sold out of their honey.

State Beekeeping Conv. Coming up. Nov. 17-19 @ Hilton on Arden. Bob Sugar has copy of agenda/program. Web-

site registra�on for all forms, $100 all 3 days.

Bee Ordinance Commi-ee – Ernie repor�ng. They have met up with the county twice. Ag, zoning, Parks & Rec all

in the mix. All livestock under review. $10 fee to register hives.

Old Business: Does anyone remember who was taking care of name tags? We haven’t had them for 4 months.

S�ll looking for a volunteer or business for website maintenance.

New Business: Mar� Ikehara to run for secretary. Doug Houck running for Treasurer. Nathan Amboy will run for Presi-

dent again. No VP candidate at present.

Larry Hu-eball made mo�on to adjourn. Second by Bob Sugar. All adjourn.

HONEY BEE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT - October 19, 2015

ANer many months, Sacramento County Planners met twice on a long-planned revision of urban agriculture regula�ons. Titled

the “Urban Agriculture Ordinance Working Group,” the body includes county planning staff, code enforcement staff, Agricultural

Commissioner’s Office and representa�ves of non-government interest groups, including SABA.

A bit of history regarding the overall process: About a year and a half ago, SABA approached the county, hoping to change the

status quo regarding “hobby” beekeeping. Preliminary mee�ngs were held, aNer which the county chose to include any bee-

keeping proposal within the overall process they were undertaking with a coali�on of groups proposing major changes in urban

agriculture statutes.

Con(nued on next page


Monthly Membership Meeting Agenda November 20, 2015

I. Meeting called to Order

II Quorum confirmation / Approval of September 2015 Minutes

III. Treasurer Report

IV. Committee Reports

a. Classes - Ron Nies

b. Events - Debbi Gable

c. Honey Bee Ordinance Committee

V. Unfinished Business

VI. New Business

VII. Meeting Adjournment

HBOC Report (con�nued)

The Sacramento Urban Agriculture Coali�on (SUAC) is a group focused on expanding ag-friendly regula�ons and zoning in the

city. It has been successful in working with the City of Sacramento regarding the opportunity for individuals and groups to “farm”

within the city limits, and to sell the fruits of their labor at neighborhood stands. Because the City of Sacramento currently has

beekeeping-friendly standards, the group did not a-empt to modify the city’s beekeeping ordinances.

Since early this year, SABA has been coopera�ng with SUAC, and the group has broadened its focus to encompass Sacramento

County, and it is working with SABA on implemen�ng our plan for bee-friendly rules in the county.

At the first of the two mee�ngs referenced above, held on September 29th

, a number of non-honey bee issues dominated the

discussion. Regarding bees, Ernie Buda, a member of SABA’s Honey Bee Ordinance Commi-ee, presented an overview of the

commi-ee’s draN recommenda�ons for a non-commercial beekeeping ordinance in Sacramento County’s unincorporated areas.

The SABA proposal has two parts. The first is a compact “ordinance” that defines and “regulates” urban beekeeping based on

honey bee behavior rather than arbitrary factors and distances. It addi�onally establishes an advisory group chaired by the

County Agricultural Commissioner. This group would include four experienced beekeepers and provide advice to any county

agency dealing with a complaint concerning non-commercial beekeeping. The second part of the proposal, not presented in spe-

cific detail at this mee�ng, is “Beekeeping Best Management Prac�ces,” providing more detailed guidelines.

Following the brief overview of the SABA proposal, only two responses were presented. The first was from County Agricultural

Commissioner Juli Jensen, who stated that she would want to see language that required apiary registra�on with her office con-

sistent with current state statute. The registra�on fee would be ten dollars. The second comment was from a community mem-

ber represen�ng C-PACs (Community Planning Advisory Councils) who felt there should be a maximum quan�ty of hives allowed.

His oSand sugges�on was two hives, mirroring the current City of Sacramento standard. (The SABA proposal does not place any

numerical limit on the number of colonies allowed per parcel.) This issue is likely to arise again as the discussion proceeds. We

remain strongly in favor of the proposed non-numerical standard.

At the second mee�ng held on October 15th

, no �me was spent on beekeeping issues. Only one comment regarding honey bees

was made, by code enforcement staff during their comments on other detailed issues being discussed; “The problem is some

people do not take care of their bees and they end up finding water elsewhere.” The next mee�ng, yet to be scheduled, will

probably be in early to mid-November.

Time will tell, and certainly there is much discussion yet to take place. The beekeeping por�on of the revision of urban agricul-

ture regula�ons is but a small part of the broad changes being considered. We hope to isolate the beekeeping ques�ons and

deal with them in a focused manner as the process proceeds. We are pleased so far with the general response to the detailed

SABA proposal, and we remain op�mis�c of a posi�ve outcome.

SABA Honey Bee Ordinance Commi�ee.

NEW MEMBER

Robert Mills, Sacramento


Shed Bees by Serge Labesque

[On a sunny Labor Day morning, in Glen Ellen, CA]

“I wrapped a chain around the shed, hooked it to my pick-up truck, and I pulled the whole thing down to the ground.

And man, did I get stung! It’s over there in the backyard.”

Without any more explana�on than that, the man hurriedly drives away, leaving

me to remove bees from the wreckage.

A cloud of bees fills the air above the fla-ened structure. Thousands more are

collec�ng honey from the debris. It’s robbing on a grand scale. I’ll have to work

fast to have a chance of saving the colony that lived here.

I find the nest aNer liNing disjointed wood planks, torn tar paper and old roll

roofing. What had been a very large colony now lays in a mass of mashed comb

and bees. I mount sec�ons of brood combs in frames as quickly as I can, and

soon two supers are filled. It’s unlikely that much of this crushed brood will sur-

vive though, but there are eggs, and along with them there may be an opportunity for the bees to produce a queen,

if it is necessary. I add as many of the bees as I can collect and I close the hive. Soon, Lizanne joins me and together

we pile chunks of honey combs in nuc boxes. This feral colony had a very decent amount of stores, but these are

disappearing rapidly, taken away by thousands of robber bees.

Having salvaged as much of the hive as we could, we search the remaining combs that once extended from floor to

ceiling for any sign of a live queen. No such luck. We load the hive in my pick-up truck. What else can we do other

than to abandon the rubble to the robber bees?

Back at home, I place the hive in a dark tool shed and I give water to the bees with wet sponges that I press against

the hive bo-om screen. Judging by the sounds they produce, the bees calm down rapidly. So much so that, the next

day, as I set the hive out on a stand, I am encouraged to peek inside for any sign of a queen. And… there she is! A

beau�ful queen surrounded by a respectable mass of bees. Elated, I immediately give her a nice frame with empty

drawn comb.

During the following days, forager ac�vity increases at the hive entrance, which I nonetheless keep rather small, be-

cause I also returned to the bees their fragrant chunks of honey.

Sunday brings a brutal and drama�c turn of events. Checking the hive as soon as I return from a mentoring session, I

find it under massive a-ack by robber bees. These are not just any robber bees. They are unmistakably Cordovan

bees, those yellow Italian bees that are bred by commercial bee producers for their pronounced yellow colora�on. I

close the hive entrance and make sure that there is no other entry. That’s when I spot a swarm hanging in an oak

tree, some twenty feet away, and I promptly hive it in a nuc box. Undoubtedly, the besieged colony has absconded,

abandoning everything to the robbers.

At dawn, the next morning, the hive and swarm box were moved to another apiary, away from these predators. But

unfortunately, the bees absconded again two days later, this �me not to be seen again.

Witnessing such a beau�ful feral colony ruined first by human ignorance and then by bees that do not belong here is

a sobering experience. But what irks me most is that I was unable to save it. I regret not mee�ng that man again, as

I wanted to tell him about the importance of the bees, and that calling a beekeeper beforehand could have safe-

guarded the colony, not to men�on sparing him a few s�ngs. Even though the condi�ons were not favorable, I

should at least have tried to raise a few queens from this stock in order to preserve some of its desirable genes. I

could have reduced the risk of robbing by only giving back to the colony what it could consume overnight. In hind-

sight, I think that I should also have discarded most of the mashed brood and placed the beat-up colony onto empty

drawn combs.

At this point, I can only hope that the bees found a safe nest cavity and that the queen will survive winter.

Con(nued on next page


November in the Apiaries

It’s all done. This year, the colonies were ready for winter in mid-October. Their hives are sound, secured against

mice and winter storms.

Now, the bees are huddling inside compact brood chambers with hopefully enough stores to cover their needs un�l

spring. Winter bees are being born and the brood nests are shrinking, the queens having reduced or stopped laying

eggs. On nice days, the last of the summer bees display a good level of forager ac�vity for a few hours. Yet, this

bustle probably brings li-le benefit to the colonies. Also, we know that these foragers will soon disappear. It’s the

young genera�on of bees that will have to carry the hives through the winter months. The longer nights and cooler

temperatures keep the bees clustered and quiet. When finally, toward the end of the month, all the brood has

emerged, store consump�on will be minimal. Then, the varroa mites will have no opportunity to reproduce and

hide. They will be exposed to the bees’ grooming behavior.

Since open hive inspec�ons at this �me of year may harm the colonies, if only by breaking propolis seals and dis-

turbing their clusters, I limit my hive checks to the inspec�on of the exteriors of the hives, of the flight paths when

the weather permits, and of entrances. I also glance at the monitoring trays to gauge what the bees are doing inside

the hives. During these walks through the apiaries, I verify that the colonies are safe, that no branch could possibly

come in contact with their nests when it is windy, as this would keep the bees agitated.

It’s �me to take care of the equipment that was removed from the apiaries earlier in the fall, to clean it and, if nec-

essary, to repair it. ANer scraping wax and propolis build-ups, I sani�ze the wood and metal surfaces with the flame

of a propane torch. Then, everything is placed in the storage racks, exposed to the wind and light for good protec-

�on against wax moths and mice. The old and misshaped combs that did not get melted in October will have to

wait un�l sunnier and ho-er days.

The year that is coming to a close was deeply marked by the persistent drought in my apiaries. Due to the lack of

ground moisture, there was very li-le nectar available to the bees, and the nutri�onal value of the pollen they could

collect is ques�onable. It’s �me to begin a review of the notes that were made during the year. There is always

something to be learned from them in prepara�on for next beekeeping season.

In summary, this month:

� Complete the prepara(on of the colonies for winter by the end of the first week of the month.

� Raise hives off the ground, if they are not already on stands.

� Remove old and misshapen combs (follower boards greatly facilitate this).

� Ensure that the hives are adequately ven(lated (upper ven(la(on slot open).

� Reduce the hive entrances.

� Install mouse guards.

� Secure the hive tops against high winds.

� Install clean monitoring trays. From them, we will obtain important informa(on about what is happening inside the hives

during the next months, without disturbing the bees.

� Inspect the exterior of the hives.

� Observe the flight paths.

� Clean and scorch tools and equipment.

� Store unused equipment to protect it from damage caused by

wax moths, mice and the weather.

� Review notes from the year.

� Start building frames and other pieces of equipment for the next

season.

� Look forward to next season.

� Enjoy some honey and be thankful for the bees.

Serge Labesque © 2015


LINKS OF THE MONTH

Copy & Paste in Your Browser, or Click on It.

1. Bees Buzz with Caffeine; 2. Africanized Bees Con�nue to Spread in California; 3. Flower Declines Shrink Bee Tongues; 4. Results of Bee Informed Survey; 5. EPA Registers New Varroa Mi�cide; 6. Threat from ‘Pollen Thief’ Bees; 7. Tests Show Some Pes�cides Less Toxic to Bees; 8. Bees Want More Respect - ‘We’re More Complicated than You Think!’; 9. Brazilian Social Bees and Their Special fungus; 10. Honey Bee Larvae Absorb Social Culture of Hive; 11. A Seasonal Tale; 12 New Link to UCD Apiculture Newsle-er

1. h-p://www.ny�mes.com/2015/10/19/science/the-caffeinated-lives-of-bees.html?emc=eta1&_r=0

2. h-p://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=f8c00134e8&e=52a8d1e6c5

3. h-p://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=f51282c315&e=52a8d1e6c5

4. h-ps://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#label/Ar�cles+for+Newsle-er/1500573995aa7537

5. h-p://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=e92b870249&e=52a8d1e6c5

6. h-p://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=727432641d&e=52a8d1e6c5

7. h-p://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=f9f6385be2&e=52a8d1e6c5

8. h-p://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=31fc1d9b1b&e=52a8d1e6c5

9. h-p://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=96c9c79940&e=52a8d1e6c5

10. h-p://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=4846640e06&e=52a8d1e6c5

11. h-p://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=27cb819c-a8c4-4199-83fe-16dfd43b3b04&c=48385780-92fd-11e3-

b786-d4ae527b77f8&ch=491e4ab0-92fd-11e3-b79a-d4ae527b77f8

12. h-p://elninobeelab.ucdavis.edu/apiculture_newsle-er.html

Pumpkin Honey Bread

� 1 cup - honey

� 1/2 cup - bu-er or margarine, soNened

� 1 can (16 oz.) - solid-pack pumpkin

� 4 - eggs

� 4 cups - flour

� 4 teaspoons - baking powder

� 2 teaspoons - ground cinnamon

� 2 teaspoons - ground ginger

� 1 teaspoon - baking soda

� 1 teaspoon - salt

� 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In large bowl, cream honey with bu-er un�l light and fluffy. S�r in pumpkin. Beat in eggs, one at a �me, un�l thor-

oughly incorporated. SiN together remaining ingredients. S�r into pumpkin mixture. Divide ba-er equally be-

tween two well-greased 9 x5 x 3-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour or un�l a wooden pick inserted in center

comes out clean. Let loaves cool in pans for 10 minutes; invert pans to remove loaves and allow to finish cooling

on racks.

Courtesy Na(onal Honey Board


November 2015 Bee Plants of the Month

Native Plant of the Month Native Plant of the Month Native Plant of the Month Native Plant of the Month ---- Sedum oreganum / Oregon Stonecrop / Family Crassulaceae

Sedum is a huge family of succulents, usually low-growing, but some�mes up to 2

feet tall. Our lovely na�ve grows from California to Alaska, growing in crevices, cas-

cading down stone walls and making a drought tolerant groundcover. Please don’t

plant her where there is foot traffic. Like most succulents, sedum is easily crushed.

Evergreen, in cold weather tuning a rosy hue, she bears yellow nectar-sweet flowers

in summer that are beloved by bees and

bu-erflies. Only two to four inches tall,

she will spread out and fill in a rock gar-

den, or cover some well-drained soil.

Planted in a container with other succu-

lents or cac�, Oregon Stonecrop will spill

over the edge, adding texture and color

to the pot. Very frost tolerant (unlike some other sedums), the

only fatal problems would soggy soil and people and pets step-

ping on her.

Beneficial Plants of the MonthBeneficial Plants of the MonthBeneficial Plants of the MonthBeneficial Plants of the Month ---- Glaucium flavum auran(acum / Horned Poppy / Family Papaveraceae

OK, I have to confess I found Annie’s Annuals in Richmond (you have to

go looking for the nursery, it is very out of the way) this last summer.

They do most of their business on line or in local nurseries, but the

mother ship is spectacular! I wandered out wishing I had more: 1.

Money 2. Time to browse 3. Space for plants. I did find Horned Poppy

amongst many other plants, and it has done quite well so far in the

garden. I am expec�ng blooms next summer. They are scarlet-orange

with yellow centers that bees visit regularly like all members of the

poppy family. When finished flowering, they bear seed pods up to an

inch long.

The Horned Poppy is na�ve to Mediterranean Europe, where it is

also called Sea Poppy as it grows on sand dunes and cliffs there.

Well-drained, somewhat sandy soil is obvious for such a plant .Each

plant is 18 inches high as about as much wide. They are neat, com-

pact plants, forming a cute rose-e while you await the summer

blooms. She will look pre-y with her gray- blue-green toothed foli-

age growing with other coastal plants such as Eriogonum (na�ve

buckwheat) or Erigeron ( seaside daisy).

Alice Ford-Sala, Sonoma County Beekeepers Associa(on

CCCC A L E N D A RA L E N D A RA L E N D A RA L E N D A R O FO FO FO F EEEE V E N TV E N TV E N TV E N T SSSS

� November 17, 7:00 p.m. - SABA Monthly Mee�ng, Sacramento County Coopera�ve Extension Center,

4145 Branch Center Road: Dr. Elina Niño will be our guest speaker

� November 17 - 19 - California State Beekeepers Associa�on Annual Conven�on, Hilton Sacramento

Arden West. 3-day advance registra�on is $100.

h-p://www.californiastatebeekeepers.com/

� December 15, 2015 6:00 p.m. SABA Annual Holiday Party/

Potluck Sacramento County Coopera�ve Extension Center, 4145

Branch Center Road, Sacramento. Note special star(ng (me. Bring a

salad, casserole, baked goods, dessert, or just come and socialize with

the members of our wonderful Sacramento Area Beekeepers Associa-

�on. SABA will provide coffee, tea, cocoa, and sparkling cider. Volun-

teers needed for set up (5:00 p.m.) and clean up.

Contact Debbi Gable at [email protected] or 916.202.8320.

SACRAMENTO AREA BEEKEEPERS ASSOC IAT ION

P .O . BOX 188851

SACRAMENTO , CA 95818

Website: www.sacbeekeepers.org

E-mail: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/365785396939251/

Newsletter Editor: [email protected]

Address Correction Requested

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