Burgh Bees

12/17/2022

come see us today, and get your 💯 % organic burgh bees tee shirts.

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11/22/2022

Hello All.

I wanted to let you know that all our Burgh Bees Tee Shirts are back in stock and 100% eco-printed with plant-based inks on 100% ORGANIC Cotton in all colors.

We did a few new options, in addition to the traditional logo. (image samples below)

The Black and Gold - A Natural Dyed 100% Organic Tee:
Made with a sustainable dye system that uses minerals to transform these 100% organic cotton tees into colors that are not only beautiful and one-of-a-kind, and earth-friendly.

The Hive Mind:
This custom-illustrated graphic bee mandala is a reminder for all beekeepers to have an open mind, be supportive, encourage other beekeepers, and work together to have a thriving local bee-keeping network and community. The Illustration was created by Kyle Pattison, past Director, and Apiary manager for Burgh Bees.

Link to Order a.Tee: https://www.burghbees.org/product/burgh-bees-tee-shirts/

Link to Re-New Your Membership:
Individual- https://www.burghbees.org/product/individual-membership/
Family- https://www.burghbees.org/product/family-membership/

11/18/2022

Bee Informed Partnership is excited to announce that on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 6pm EST, BIP will host guest speakers Dr. Scott McArt (Cornell University), Dr. Judy Wu-Smart (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), and Dr. Reed Johnson (Ohio State University) for a panel discussion about pesticides and honey bee colonies!

The panelists will discuss topics such as:

The effects of pesticides on honey bee colonies.
The most commonly detected pesticides in colonies.
Understanding actual risk levels to honey bees.

To attend this event, register in advance through Zoom.

Upon registration, attendees will receive a Google form that can be used to submit questions to the panelists in advance. Please complete this form by Monday, Nov. 28th

Register:
https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMtfu6qrz4rE9NibVNAqor_AULL_mZbJjNB

11/08/2022

For the past two beekeeping seasons, the presence of the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has rapidly increased in the greater Pittsburgh area, affecting our local beekeeping community in a number of ways. Join Burgh Bees Director and Certified Master Beekeeper Christina Neumann at Hop Farm in Lawrenceville, for an open discussion on SLF’s impact, from both horticultural and apicultural perspectives. At the event, we’ll be organizing a honey swap, so we can begin to compare tasting notes for this unique new honey profile in our region. Bring a 1-1.5 ounce jar of your fall reserves to included in the profile.

Topic:
Spotted Lanternfly in the Burgh
Beer & Everything Bees

Location:
Hop Farm Brewery
5601 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Date/Time:
November 14, 2022, 7-8:30 pm

05/15/2021

Beautiful Evening for the “In the Hive Demo’s. Great turn out of experienced and new beekeepers all interested and full of good questions for the event. Come out again next Thursday evening at 6pm for another look in the hives. See details in Bio.

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05/09/2021

Check out our “In The Hive Demo’s”and all our Spring events in the Spring Newletter just published today! Link in our Bio Above 🔝

 

10/12/2020

We have not had the normal summer or fall at the Burgh Bees Apiaries, but are still offering private tours to those who are interested. We were able to give a full tour Saturday to two new interested beekeepers who were delighted in getting some hands on opportunities to explore our hives and see what an exciting adventure beekeeping can be.

07/22/2020

bit.ly/FTBDay202.

04/02/2020

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that Penn State Extension is currently offering its Beekeeping 101 Course for Free till April 30th, Typically a $195.00 value. This is a really good course, for anyone that is interested!

NOTE: you will get a lot of errors, in registering, but keep plugging away the system is overwhelmed at the moment.

If you choose to participate, you will:

Learn about the science of honeybees.
Be exposed to the practices of experienced beekeepers.
Understand more about bee biology and behavior.
Know how to use typical beekeeping clothing and equipment.
Be able to manage a hive throughout the year.
Be able to identify and treat common bee pests and diseases.
Know about various bee products you and your bees can make.
Have a working knowledge of pollination and the role bees play in it.

https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-101

Online courses from Penn State Extension offer a robust educational experience. Course offerings include Beekeeping 101 and Food for Profit.

03/06/2020

https://www.batesvilleheraldtribune.com/news/local_news/insecticides-becoming-more-toxic-to-honeybees/article_6b25a812-5663-11ea-bd4e-27ed40008ea3.html

02/16/2020

Western PA Beekeeping Seminar, with keynotes and staff at the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases University of Georgia.
Breakout sessions with Ian Steppler, Brock Harpur and Dwight Wells. Nice Job organizing an informing and engaging event.

02/05/2020

REMINDER • If you haven't registered for the upcoming Western PA Beekeepers Seminar, online registration ends this Friday!
The seminar takes place February 14 - February 15 $60 – $90 at Gateway High School, 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd
Monroeville, PA 15146
To register and for all other important information click here - https://beavervalleybees.net/index.php/event/western-pa-beekeeping-seminar/
See you there!

Our Seminar for 2020 will be held at the Gateway High School and is scheduled for: Friday, February 14th (7-9PM) All registrants are invited to attend the Friday Night presentation (including New B…

01/27/2020

Scientists analysed the bees' dances, which are called the "waggle dance." They found out that honey bees prefer strawberry fields, even if they flowered directly next to the oilseed r**e fields. Only when oilseed r**e was in full bloom were fewer honey bees observed in the strawberry field. Wild bees, on the other hand, consistently chose the strawberry field.

https://m.phys.org/news/2020-01-honey-bee-reveals-fondness-strawberries.html

Bees are pollinators of many wild and crop plants, but in many places their diversity and density is declining. A research team from the Universities of Göttingen, Sussex and Würzburg has now investigated the foraging behaviour of bees in agricultural landscapes. To do this, the scientists analyse...

11/10/2019

Join us for a Special Evening this WEDNESDAY
November 13th
with guest speaker Larry Connor.

How do you keep your bees alive and growing?

That will be the topic of honey bee guru Lawrence “Larry” Connor of Kalamazoo, Michigan. In five decades entomologist Dr. Larry Connor has been a university professor, run a bee-breeding program, and become established as a key voice in the beekeeping world. He has written dozens of articles for bee journals and a number of books, including Increase Essentials, Bee S*x Essentials, Queen Rearing Essentials, Bee-Essentials: A Field Guide, Swarm Essentials, and Honey Bee Biology & Beekeeping. From his newest book, Connor will discuss sustainable beekeeping, looking at the causes of colony loss and detailing how to keep colony numbers stable and growing. He also reviews concepts of biodynamic beekeeping.

Cost:
Individual: $10 – Includes Evening Presentation, book signing, drinks and appetizers for all guests!

Dates: Nov 13th , 2019 7:00am-9:00pm

Location:
Humane Animal Rescue 6926 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Register HERE >>>>>: https://www.burghbees.org/product/larry-connor-a-special-evening/

Optional Mail Payment: To reserve your place seat, please register online or if you prefer send a check payable to Burgh Bees to: Burgh Bees – Connor Lecture P.O. Box 90008, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

11/08/2019

Only 6 hours left until our Annual Membership Banquet! You can still buy tickets at the door. Come join your fellow beekeepers for an evening of wonderful conversation, delicious locally sourced food, and fabulous prizes. Check out the Menu and Schedule below. Can't wait to see you there!

Time: 6:30 PM
$10 per person for Burgh Bees Members
$20 per person for nonmembers ($10 Banquet & $10 Individual Membership)

Location: American Serbian Club
2524 Sarah St
Pittsburgh PA 15203

Schedule:
6:30 – Doors open
7:00 – Dinner
8:00 – Membership Meeting and Officer Elections
8:30 – Raffle baskets

The Dinner will be catered by https://sprezzaturapgh.com/ and feature the locally sourced items for the meal.

Menu Includes:
*Vegetable lasagna, layered with roasted eggplant, mushrooms/onion, spinach and ricotta, roasted peppers,
zucchini, and cheeses with marinara sauce.
*Roasted butternut squash in olive oil and local herbs (vegan)
*Vegan/vegetarian antipasti platter: gr**e leaves, local cheeses, roasted sweet baby peppers, flatbreads, etc.
*Greens salad with apples and fennel in a homemade Dijon vinaigrette
*BreadWorks rolls with butter and apple butter
*Dessert featuring local honey
*Additional dessert table items: cookies, brownies, pumpkin bread, gluten free lemon ricotta cheesecake, basic fruit
*Non-alcoholic seltzer with cucumber and lemon, coffee and herbal teas

Parking is available near the venue. Click For Parking Information Please do not park in areas not designated for American Serbian Club parking.

09/14/2019

Hi All, we are very excited and wanted to let you know that we will be having two SPECIAL evenings in October and November.

Ross Conrad will join us on October 3rd and Dr. Larry Connor on November 13th. Please visit our web site to sign up space will be limited so make sure you reserve your seat soon.

Ross Conrad will cover the following Topics:
--Getting Started with Organic Beekeeping
--Treatment-Free Varroa Management
--Key Strategies in Organic Beekeeping

Dr Connor will cover the following Topics:
--causes of colony loss and detailing how to keep colony numbers stable and growing. He will also reviews concepts of biodynamic beekeeping.

REGISTER BELOW >>>>
https://www.burghbees.org/shop/

Beaver Valley Area Beekeepers Association Country Barn Beekeepers NW PA Beekeepers Association PA State Beekeepers Association Ohio State Beekeepers Association East Central Ohio Beekeepers Association WCBA -Westmoreland County Beekeepers Association Central Western PA Bee Association Indiana Pa Honey Bee Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

09/10/2019

We are proud to participate in the 2019 Pittsburgh Urban Farm Tour! Our farm is one of 11 community spaces open to the public on Saturday, September 14th. Learn how you can help support our farm here: www.eastendfood.coop/farmtour.

AND we can still use some helping hands! Reach out to [email protected] if you would like to participate in this event! Thanks

08/28/2019

August Meet-Up
A Continued Discussion of Disease & Pest Management

Thursday Aug 29th 6:30pm – 9pm
Homewood Community Apiary
6933 Susquehanna St, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Please join us for our August Meet-Up Aug 29th, 6:30 at the Homewood Apiary. The topic of discussion will be disease and pest management with a heavy focus on continuing the discussion of American Foul Brood, ways of recognizing disease as well as best practices for sanitation and controlling the spread of disease. Christina Neumann, of the Burgh Bees Board of Directors and Apoidea Apiary will be leading the discussion. We will begin with a conversation of disease and pest management around the picnic tables and then continue with in-hive inspections and a Q&A inside the hives. We're going to jump straight into the discussion this month and skip the pot luck.

As urban beekeepers and with the density of hives kept in the city of Pittsburgh our threat of spreading disease is much higher than most. We hope that you all are able to attend to continue this important conversation.

Warm Regards,
Burgh Bees

07/30/2019

Our first event at the new Cranberry Highlands Apiary was a blast! Burgh Bees would like to thank everyone who came out to make this kick-off event a huge success. We want to send a huge thank you to Mason Miller, all the officials at Cranberry Township and the staff at the Cranberry Highlands Golf Course for creating a truly stunning apiary space! If you live in the Cranberry area and would like to keep bees at this new space shoot an email to [email protected] for details 👍

07/17/2019

Hello,

I know this is a long post, but I hope you will read it, and the attachments, to learn some important information for beekeepers and their honey bees. This email is meant to educate, inform, and encourage beekeepers to be extra vigilant when working their colonies. Beekeepers should always be on the lookout for diseases, pests and problems.

A registration form is on the Burgh Bees Resource Page. You are already registered and do NOT need to use this form. However, you are welcome to use it if your Apiary License has expired. Please share this form, email, and attachment with other UNREGISTERED beekeepers you may know. We would like to keep all honey bees safe and healthy and having them registered helps the Apiary Inspectors plan their inspections more efficiently.

On Friday, July 5, 2019, PA Department of Agriculture (PDA) Apiary Inspectors Bonnie Hall and Ken Hoover inspected the bee yards of a Pittsburgh beekeeper who suspected a problem in his bee colonies. Bonnie and Ken found six colonies that showed signs of American Foulbrood.

They followed inspection procedures for suspect AFB cases by running various field tests and taking samples of the affected brood. Both the visual and rope tests were positive in all samples. The Holst milk test also came back positive. The inspectors took samples of the brood which will be sent to the Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Maryland for testing. Samples will be tested to confirm whether the disease is AFB or European Foulbrood, and to see whether the disease is resistant or susceptible to antibiotics. Final test results have not come back yet, but based on the field tests and the serious threat the disease poses to bee colonies, we are treating these bee yards as positive AFB sites.

The beekeeper was offered the option of waiting for confirmed positive test results before taking definite treatment action, but he decided to destroy the sick hives immediately. He killed the bees, dug a hole, burned, and buried the affected equipment and dead bees. PDA commends this beekeeper for his proactive, conscientious actions to help prevent the spread of this contagious bee disease by promptly contacting his regional PDA Apiary Inspector and destroying the sick hives.

American Foulbrood (AFB) is an infectious brood disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Paenibacillus larvae. The infection begins when nurse bees feed larvae food contaminated with spores. The spores germinate into the active vegetative form of the bacteria in the larval intestines, rapidly spreading and infecting all larval tissue. The larvae die, usually after the cell is capped. This creates unfavorable conditions for the vegetative form of the bacteria. The bacteria then form millions of infective spores in the larval remains. The dried remains of AFB infected larvae are called scale and they become “glued” to the cell.

Adult bees can carry the disease-causing bacteria, but they do not appear to be affected by the disease. AFB can be spread several ways including moving frames (“empty” or with brood, nectar, honey, or pollen) or equipment from an infected colony to a healthy colony, allowing bees to clean up frames after extracting honey from infected hives, using hive tools or other gear in an infected hive and then in a healthy hive, robber and drifting bees, swarms, and re-using infected equipment. Please note that American Foulbrood does not affect humans and the honey is safe for human consumption, but the extractor and equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

The vegetative form of the bacteria can be killed with antibiotics, but the spores found in scale are extremely difficult to kill. These spores can remain viable and “come back to life” for at least 80 years. Extreme weather conditions (heat, cold, desiccation, etc.), antibiotics, and most chemical disinfectants will not kill these spores. Fire will kill the spores. Killing the sick bees and burning the equipment is often the recommended method and the best solution to treat an AFB problem in a bee yard. (Be aware of burn regulations in area.)

Irradiating equipment will also kill the spores. Mark Antunes and the Montgomery County Beekeepers have been taking equipment to be irradiated at Sterigenics, a facility in Salem, New Jersey annually. Contact Mark for additional at [email protected]

PDA Apiary Inspectors will be inspecting all registered bee yards within a 2 ½ mile radius of the bee yards where AFB was found. When possible and as needed, Bonnie Hall will be assisted by Apiary Inspectors Kent Kaster and Ken Hoover from the two neighboring regions. Our goal is to inspect each registered bee yard and educate each beekeeper about AFB. We realize that there are many beekeepers in the area who are not registered. We would encourage these beekeepers to contact Karen Roccasecca ([email protected] -State Apiarist in Harrisburg). We do not want the honey bees of unregistered beekeepers to unknowingly spread AFB to other bees. The PA Bee Law requires anyone who manages honey bees to register them with the PA Department of Agriculture. The form is easy to complete and there is a $10 fee for a license which is valid for up to two years. If you register now, your Apiary License is valid until December 31, 2020. Registration forms and additional information on American Foulbrood and how to help prevent the spread will be available at www.agriculture.pa.gov.

American Foulbrood outbreaks are a serious matter, but I am confident that with the help, awareness, and cooperation of beekeepers, the PA State Beekeepers’ Association, local beekeeping organizations, the Apiary Advisory Board, and Penn State working with the PDA Apiary Inspectors and PDA, we can stop the spread of AFB. This is an opportunity to refine and improve on our plans to all work together when serious beekeeping problems occur.

Thank you for your help, assistance and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Karen Roccasecca and the PDA Apiary Inspection Team

Karen Roccasecca

State Apiarist

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

2301 North Cameron Street

Harrisburg, PA 17110

07/15/2019

Great time yesterday as we had the opportunity to set up another community apiary for at the Cranberry Highlands Golf Course, outside Pottsbirgh Pa. A certified chemical free golf course this is a beautiful spot with vast foraging opportunities on the countryside of older farms with unharvested fields of goldenrod, aster, weeds and wildflowers. Many thanks to for supporting the bees and bringing Burgh Bees into the project as a partner. come on out to the first open apiary on the 27th of July. DM me for details. @ Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania

06/11/2019

Nice article about our beekeeping friends James Fitzroy and Michelle Wright WTAE written by Doug Oster

https://gardens.everybodyshops.com/honeybees-pittsburgh-best-bees/

Honeybees on rooftops in Pittsburgh offer another way to help pollinators. The Best Bees Company is installing hives on city buildings to help bees.

06/07/2019

Interesting Morning collecting swarms with WTAE-TV Pittsburgh Kyle Pattison Apiary Director Burgh Bees and Jeff Shaw President Burgh Bees

https://www.wtae.com/article/thousands-of-bees-removed-from-manhole-in-south-side/27821747?fbclid=IwAR3q7EvFWVTsg2WeIU7RwrCYaXGy-6upI6RFXwV-yw7n1unWGHxrMdxGm8U

'Don't spray them. Don't spray them, because honeybees are very special, they pollinate most of our food sources'

06/07/2019

The rare and elusive Sewer Honeybee😜 We got a call this morning about a swarm that had made a home under this manhole cover. A few bees fell off the cluster when we wrestled the lid open. Swipe right to see Jeff spelunking for the queen - we got her! And thanks to for coming out to get some video!✌️🐝 @ Brew House Association

05/30/2019

Hi All,

Given the rain forecast for tonight, the Meet-Up is going to be moved to Saturday and combined with our Creating Queenless Nucleus Colonies Field Day.

You are all welcome to come out to this event, as it is hands-on training for establishing a queenless nuc prior to introducing a new queen you have purchased or acquired to improve the genetics of your Apiary.

TIME: 11:00am -12:30pm
Location:
Burgh Bees Community Apiary
6933 Susquehanna St
Pittsburgh, PA

We will be distributing queens next week as part of the QUEEN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. If you have not registered to receive queens you can do so at the link below. Registration is not necessary for the Saturday's Meet-Up and Training Session, but if you are still interested in acquiring queens you will need to register to attend the June 8th event.

https://www.burghbees.org/product/queen-improvement-field-day-2019/

Warm Regards,

In cooperation with the PA Queen Improvement Project and Burgh Bees, this two-part event will provide an outstanding educational opportunity and daughter queens reared from instrumentally inseminated queens of Purdue improved genetic stock (AKA: Leg Chewers).

05/23/2019

Purdue Mite Maulers are coming!

Only a few days left to register for this workshop covering varroa hygienic genetics and receive your Purdue Ankle Biter/Mite Mauler virgin queens

For more info and to register click here -https://www.burghbees.org/product/queen-improvement-field-day-2019/?fbclid=IwAR1Ih-_CSus7tzkEDKcHIvknH0Y5yV42VXstyE41pPtPEGmqKvBPQBDwF6M
✌️🐝

05/20/2019

There’s still time to join us, in the PA QUEEN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM For more info and to register click the link below! ✌️🐝 In cooperation with the PA Queen Improvement Project, Burgh Bees has planned an event that will provide an educational opportunity and virgin queens reared from improved genetic stock exhibiting mite biting behaviors (AKA: Purdue Leg Chewers or Mite Maulers). Getting these improved genetics out to beekeepers will help the overall sustainability of beekeeping.

https://www.burghbees.org/product/queen-improvement-field-day-2019/

Beaver Valley Area Beekeepers Association West Central Ohio Beekeepers Association WCBA -Westmoreland County Beekeepers Association Tree Pittsburgh Grow Pittsburgh NW PA Beekeepers Association Washington County Beekeeper's Association of Tennessee Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association Lancaster County Beekeepers Association of SC Central Western PA Bee Association

05/20/2019

There’s still time to join us! For more info and to register click here - https://www.burghbees.org/product/queen-improvement-field-day-2019/ ✌️🐝

In cooperation with the PA Queen Improvement Project, Burgh Bees has planned an event that will provide an educational opportunity and virgin queens reared from improved genetic stock exhibiting mite biting behaviors (AKA: Purdue Leg Chewers or Mite Maulers). Getting these improved genetics out to beekeepers will help the overall sustainability of beekeeping. Attendance is limited to the first 40 people to register so hurry to the link in our bio for more details and to register today!

05/09/2019

🐝WORK-DAY POSTPONED🐝

We are postponing tomorrow's apiary clean-up day due to poor weather. We will be rescheduling for the near future and hope to see you at the apiary on a sunnier day!

05/06/2019

The Queen Improvement Field Day is here again! In cooperation with the PA Queen Improvement Project, Burgh Bees has planned an event that will provide an educational opportunity and virgin queens reared from improved genetic stock exhibiting mite biting behaviors (AKA: Purdue Leg Chewers or Mite Maulers). Getting these improved genetics out to beekeepers will help the overall sustainability of beekeeping. Attendance is limited to the first 40 people to register so hurry to https://www.burghbees.org/qip-field-day/ for more details and to register today!