VBA AMA #2 – Ask Me Anything

Mid-summer management

June 23rd 2026

7:00 to 8:30 pm

via Zoom

Focus on Varroa and why it's so important to manage their population plus how to do that. Weather impacts and what to expect. Basics of extracting and dealing with honey that's too "wet." And more.

Intended audience: 1st & 2nd year beekeepers

Hosted by Fred Putnam, Jeff Battaglini, Tony Antonucci.

Register on the VBA website calendar.

VBA membership and login are required.

 

VBA Zoom meeting Making nucleus colonies

June 11th 2026

7:00 to 8:30 pm

via Zoom

This will be a workshop discussing how to make up nucleus colonies to overwinter, hosted by Andrew Munkres.

Intended audience: 2nd year and beyond beekeepers

If you have already registered, the Zoom link you got will still work.

Register on the VBA website calendar.

VBA membership and login are required.

 

VBA Summer Meeting

Saturday, July 18th, 2026

Montpelier

(location to be confirmed)

We’re looking forward to seeing you all in July for our Summer Meeting to be held in Montpelier on July 18th, 2026. We’re working on the agenda but here are a couple of things that we can confirm:

• The keynote Speaker will be Julia Mahood, a Georgia Master Crafts beekeeper from Atlanta

  • Her keynote speech will be: It's all about the Drones

  • It will be followed by a second talk of Winter Bees: the skinny on fat bees

  • Her afternoon workshop will be covering Record Keeping Methods

• Other workshop topics include: Splits, Nucs, and Swarm Control, Horizontal Hives, Grafting Workshop, Feeding Workshop and a Candle Making Workshop

• The Pastry and Baked Goods Potluck is back again. No need to sign up but we are asking for items to share for breakfast or dessert

• We are asking for members to make any beekeeping donations to the summer raffle. Please contact Colin Whitehouse for more details: cwhitehouse@gmail.com

As the agenda for the meeting progresses, we will share more information about registration, workshops, Drone Congregation Area workshop (taking place before the Summer Meeting) and the lunch option.

June 11th BCBC Monthly Meeting 

Hello Beekeepers!

The June meeting of the Bennington Beekeepers Club will be held on Thursday June 11, 2026. Our guest speaker, Ann St. Peter, a past BCBC member, will give a talk on Apitherapy. Brooke Decker, our state Apiarist, has rescheduled to present on August 13.

If you are able, please bring a dish to share with the group, as well as a plate, cup, and utensils for yourself, if possible.

Please note the library closes at 7 pm. If you arrive late you may call me at 347-419-3910 to gain entry.

6:30 Potluck

7:00 Meeting begins

Best,

Liz Baker

Club Secretary

 

VBA AMA #1 – Ask Me Anything

Early summer management

May 27th 2026

7:00 to 8:30 pm

via Zoom

• Spring weather issues and impacts on colony development

• “Reading” queen cells - 30-day queen development cycle

• Recognizing when a colony is ready to swarm and swarm control methods

• The latest on Varroa control

Register on the VBA website calendar.

VBA membership and login are required.

 Jeanne Davis's Bee yard visit postponed 1 week

Jeanne has notified us that the visit to her bee yard, scheduled for Sunday May 24 will be postponed due to this weekend's weather forecast. The visit will be rescheduled for next Sunday, May 31st at 2 PM at the same location, 173 Pratt Rd. in Pownal. 

 BCBC Members and Beginner's Course Graduates Hive Visit May 24th

Jeanne Davis has graciously offered her bee yard for a visit on May 24th at 2PM

Bring protective gear, water, and a note pad.

We will be doing a mite count on one of her hives and inspecting others

Jeanne's address is 173 Pratt Road in Pownal (Off Ladd Road on the east side of Route 7 south, before the Route 346 intersection)

Parking is limited on the gravel driveway so be considerate when parking

We will see you there