Autumn Gathering

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

By |November 7th, 2022|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Autumn Gathering

Beekeeping 101 Virtual Course

This Virtual course offers beginning beekeepers an introduction to honey bee biology and beekeeping basics. The course covers honey bee castes, races, pests & diseases, beekeeping equipment, and seasonal management necessary for a successful first year. We are upgrading our text book this year to Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping and we provide a package of reference materials on critical topics. In addition to BK101 in the classroom we are including the Installation Demonstration, BK101W Beekeeping Workshop, and a 2019 Burgh Bees Membership at no additional cost. The Install Demo will show you how to install bees into a hive and the BK101 workshop will be a hands on event showing you how to inspect a hive. The Installation Demo and BK101W will be held at the Burgh Bees Community Apiary and scheduled in the spring as conditions permits. For more information, email [email protected]  Space is limited, So register today! Cost: Individual: $115 – Includes BK101 class, text book, package of reference materials, Install Demo, BK101 workshop, and a 2018 Burgh Bees Membership. Honey of a Deal: $195 – Includes 2 seats in BK101 class, 1 text book, 1 package of reference handouts, 2 spots at the Install Demo, 2 spots at the BK101 workshop, and either a 2018 Family Membership or 2 Individual Memberships. Dates: Virtual Location: Online Instructor: Will include a variety of Burgh Bees Directors Textbook: Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping by Dewey Caron & Larry Connor Note:  A confirmation letter and directions will be mailed out once a registration with payment is received. Exams: Brief quiz at the end of each session, graded in class by students. Course Fee:  includes the textbook, which will be handed out to students at the class. Payment:

By |February 28th, 2022|Categories: FrontPage, Uncategorized|Tags: |Comments Off on Beekeeping 101 Virtual Course

2017 Peck Family Foundation Donation

Burgh Bees was recently select as one of the 2017 Peck Family Foundation gift recipients. We recently had the pleasure to meet Josh Bailey a family member, who recently relocated to the Pittsburgh area to pursue a opportunity in the real estate industry. Josh became very interested in Burgh Bees mission, our educational outreach, and community events and decided to sit down with the board in July to talk about the future of our organization and how the Peck Foundation might support Beekeepers in the local Pittsburgh area. At the Annual Peck Foundation Yearly Meeting in Seattle WA this August, Josh made a formal presentation on Burg Bees our accomplishments and his interest in having the Peck Foundation support our organization in future expansion projects, specifically the Brookline Apiary. Josh requested a $2,000.00 donation and was granted a $2,900.00 contribution from the Foundation. We appreciate the support of Josh, the Peck Family and The Foundation for its generous support of our organization and future development of the Brookline Community Apiary. The Peck Family Foundation is the legacy of Norton L. and Barbara B. Peck. The Foundation web site is The Peck Family Foundation

By |October 5th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on 2017 Peck Family Foundation Donation

Burgh Bees Queen Improvement Field Day

In cooperation with the PA Queen Improvement Project and Burgh Bees, a field day has been planned that will provide an outstanding educational opportunity and daughter queens reared from instrumentally inseminated queens of Purdue improved genetic stock (AKA: Leg Chewers). This event is limited to 50 participants as we expect a large number of interested beekeepers. Due to the anticipated interest in this event, we are requesting that you complete a simple questionnaire that will help us select participants with the best potential to overwinter the queens, propagate the genetics, and meet the overall goals of the PA Queen Improvement Project. We do not want to discourage anyone with interest from applying, so please apply if you are interested! While there are challenges in raising new genetics and propagating these queens, the field day will provide training to increase everyone’s chance of success. The plan for the field day is for participants to bring one or two 5 frame nucs to the field day, participate in educational sessions, and install the virgin queens. The nucs will remain on site surrounded by apiaries with known quality genetics for the virgin queens to be mated. When the queens are mated and laying, participants will be scheduled to pick up the nucs. Prior to the field day, there will be a workshop on creating strong queenless nucs to ensure that participants show up at the field day with nucs ready to accept virgin queens. Schedule: Creating Queenless Nucs Workshop: 25 June; 10 AM – 12 PM Queen Improvement Field Day: 8 July; 8 AM – 5 PM Nuc Pick Up: Weekend of 29 July (scheduled as queens start laying) Program: The 50 participants will attend a few sessions

By |April 13th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Burgh Bees Queen Improvement Field Day

2017 Open Apiary Days

Would you like to learn more about honeybees and beekeeping?  Are you curious about seeing the inside of a beehive?  Then come to our monthly Open Apiary.  You will be given a guided tour of the inside of a beehive by an actual beekeeper. Our apiary tours are held at our Community Apiary in the Homewood Neighborhood of Pittsburgh. 6933 Susquehanna St., Pittsburgh, 15208 Protective head gear will be provided.  Please wear or bring long a long sleeved shirt, preferably with a collar, and long pants (no Capris or shorts please!)  Also, closed toed shoes such as sneakers are recommended.  Honeybees are gentle but we want to keep as covered up as possible. A donation of $10 per person is appreciated. Open Apiaries are limited to 15 people so please register early.  RSVP by email to Kyle Pattison ([email protected]) by 5pm on the Friday before the scheduled Open Apiary. The tentative schedule is below.  Actual dates will be determined by weather and will be posted in the events section on our website.  Events will start at 11:00am (gates close at 11:15am - no late arrivals are permitted. Please allow 2 hours for the event. Sunday May 21 Saturday June 17 Sunday July 23 Saturday Aug 19 Sunday Sept 17 We have also partnered with Penn State's Master Gardener Program.  We will have students from the Master Gardener program on hand to discuss pollination and pollinator friendly gardens.  

By |April 12th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on 2017 Open Apiary Days

2016 Open Apiary Days

Would you like to learn more about honeybees and beekeeping?  Are you curious about seeing the inside of a beehive?  Then come to our monthly Open Apiary.  You will be given a guided tour of the inside of a beehive by an actual beekeeper. Our apiary tours are held at our Community Apiary in the Homewood Neighborhood of Pittsburgh. 6933 Susquehanna St., Pittsburgh, 15208 Protective head gear will be provided.  Please wear or bring long a long sleeved shirt, preferably with a collar, and long pants (no Capris or shorts please!)  Also, closed toed shoes such as sneakers are recommended.  Honeybees are gentle but we want to keep as covered up as possible. A donation of $10 per person is appreciated. Open Apiaries are limited to 15 people so please register early.  RSVP by email to Lynnetta Miller ([email protected]) by 5pm on the Friday before the scheduled Open Apiary. The tentative schedule is below.  Actual dates will be determined by weather and will be posted in the events section on our website.  Events will start at 11am (gates close at 11:15am - no late arrivals are permitted. Please allow 2 hours for the event. Saturday April 30 (11am) Sunday, May 22 (11am) Sunday, June 19 (11am) - Father's Day Sunday, July 24 (11am) Sunday, August 21 (11am) Sunday, September 18 (11am) We have also partnered with Penn State's Master Gardener Program.  We will have students from the Master Gardener program on hand to discuss pollination and pollinator friendly gardens.  

By |April 1st, 2016|Categories: FrontPage, Uncategorized|Comments Off on 2016 Open Apiary Days

US National Beekeeper Survey

While there are very succinct colony loss and honey production surveys each year, there hasn’t been a comprehensive “beekeeper” survey since 2007. With the popularity of beekeeping on the rise, no one can argue with the fact that the beekeeper demographic has changed in the last decade. As educators, researchers, and individuals making up an industry, we should know who we are. Moving forward, having a grasp on census data of the industry will help us to know where, who, and how to reach out for better policy making, research, issue advocacy, continuing education, etc. Through this brief questionnaire we are hoping to gain a better understanding of current beekeeper demographics. We aim to provide current statistics to the beekeeping industry, beekeepers, and also better focus our education, outreach, and networking efforts in the beekeeping community. Your information is completely anonymous. Data will be analyzed by the Bee Girl organization’s Executive Director, Sarah Red-Laird, and Scientific Adviser, Scott Debnam, and published on www.beegirl.org This survey will close on March 18th, 2016. Click here to complete survey:

By |March 2nd, 2016|Categories: FrontPage, Uncategorized|Comments Off on US National Beekeeper Survey

‘Round Up’ in Support of Burgh Bees!

Burgh Bees was chosen as this month's recipient of the East End Food Co-op's 'Round-Up' program. Shop at the East End Food Co-op during the month of June, and 'Round-Up' your total to the next dollar amount in support of Burgh Bees! Learn More

By |June 14th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on ‘Round Up’ in Support of Burgh Bees!

It’s Time for Our Annual Membership Banquet

When: Friday, November 07, 2014 Time: 6:30pm - 10pm Where: Schenley Plaza - 4100 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15260. MAP Parking is on the street around the plaza (meters are free after 6pm) This will be a limited ticket event! Please RSVP HERE The Annual Burgh Bees Membership Banquet will be held on November 07 under the big tent at Schenely Plaza in Oakland and will be hosted by The Porch at Schenley. We are very excited to try out this new venue for our banquet this year! The banquet is open to all dues paying members of Burgh Bees. Memberships run from October 1st through the following September 30 (it does not start and end based on when you became a member). You can renew your membership at the door or online HERE. Your $10 individual membership will grant you one admission to the banquet (and one vote), or your $15 family membership will grant you two admissions (and two votes). Schedule: 6:30pm - Happy Hour* and hors d'oeuvres* 7:00pm - Meeting and Elections of  Board Members 7:30pm - Dinner*, Raffles, and Social *The Porch will be providing hors d'oeuvres and a main dish for dinner (vegetarian option will be available). Burgh Bees members are asked to bring side dishes, desserts, and wine, beer, mead, etc to share. Chance Raffle Items**: Books, Gift Cards, Equipment, Burgh Bees 201 Class Large Ticket Raffle Items: Fully Assembled Beehive, 2-Frame Hand Crank Honey Extractor **We are looking for additional Raffle Items. If you would like to donate items for raffle baskets, please contact Christy Diehl - [email protected]  This will be a limited ticket event! Please RSVP HERE

By |October 15th, 2014|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on It’s Time for Our Annual Membership Banquet

Upcoming Talk – “Apiforestation, the Future of Beekeeping” with Tammy Horn

Topic: “Apiforestation, the Future of Beekeeping” Speaker: Tammy Horn Time: Friday, September 28th @ 7PM (Doors will open at 6:30 PM for mingling) NOTE: Following the talk, Tammy will be signing copies of her books and there will be a tea and honey tasting for all to enjoy! Location: The Big Idea Cooperative Bookstore & Cafe 4812 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224 EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Biography: Dr. Tammy Horn graduated with a B.A. in English from Berea College in 1990. In 1997, she finished her doctorate at the University of Alabama in 1997 in Twentieth Century Modernism. This same year, she volunteered to assist her grandfather in his apiaries. The real education began. So, while teaching in English and Appalachian Studies departments in Alabama and Kentucky, she wrote Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation (University Press of KY 2005). She was a perfectly horrible beekeeper during this time. Then, while teaching at Berea College, she was named NEH Chair of Appalachian Studies in 2006. Horn started a small honey bee monitoring project on coal mine sites. She also traveled to South Africa and Hawaii to intern with Big Island Queens. This time in the field was a first-rate education into industrial extraction and industrial queen production. Horn began to formulate a way to reclaim with pollinator habitat on mine sites in an effort to set up industrial beekeeping in eastern Kentucky. In 2007, Horn traveled to Australia, specifically to study surface mining laws at Peabody Mine Sites, in MacKay, Queensland. In 2008, Horn started developing beekeeping-related reforestation methods on reclaimed mine sites at the Eastern Kentucky University. Her second book Beeconomy: What Women and Bees can teach us

By |September 13th, 2012|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |Comments Off on Upcoming Talk – “Apiforestation, the Future of Beekeeping” with Tammy Horn