R. I. Beekeepers Association's website

The Association's website has been redesigned and its forum reorganized.

Since the summer of 2007 RIBA volunteers have been attempting to devise a dynamic and user-friendly website and cyber discussion group for its members.

There's informative content about the association at RIBeekeeper.org

The discussion groups' threads, a calendar of events, and a colony count data base are currently found at RI Beekeepers Discussion Group

Both websites are constantly being updated so visit them often!

The new RIBA class at East Farm

The East Farm school completed its second week last night and the room has been filled to capacity with 45 attentive and enthusiastic students. The classes have been enjoyable and informative under the leadership of volunteer instructors Mark Robar of Trail's End Farm, and Louis Chasse of Arson Alley Apiary.

For last night's gathering RIBA member and one of this year's presidential candidates, Everett Zurlinden, assembled a power point presentation to accompany Mark's lecture. Louis donated his materials and expertise and led the students in a hands-on frame-making demonstration. It was so much fun to watch the students work with Louis that Everett documented the session with these photographs taken on his mobile phone.

Beekeepers Celeste and Ed have also generously offered their assistance during the classes, too. And it's been great fun to see them there!

Tentative Course Outline for East Farm Beekeeping School

Mark Robar has permitted us to publish his tentative syllabus for the upcoming beekeeping school, sponsored by the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association (R.I.B.A.), to be held at U.R.I.'s East Farm starting at the end of February. There could be some last minute changes to the course listing, so please keep that in mind if you are planning to attend.

Some time ago Mark mentioned he would like to invite Louis J. Chasse of North Kingstown, proprietor of Arson Alley Apiary, to demonstrate equipment assembly. Like Mark, Louis is also very generous with his beekeeping knowledge and experiences. If he is going to appear at East Farm, we'll let you know!

R.I.B.A's East Farm Beekeeping School, 2008 Syllabus
Feb. 27th
Introduction to R.I.B.A.
Brief history
Why do we keep bees ?
The honey bee colony
Basic beekeeping terminology
Basic beekeeping equipment

March 5th
Excerpts from The Honey Harvest (video)
Choosing an apiary site
Acquiring equipment
Construction of equipment
Purchasing bees

March 12th
Feeding bees
Bee swarms
Supercedure
Re-queening

March 19th
Honey bee pest and diseases (video)
Treatments or IPM's for pests & diseases
(Video)

March 26th
Preparing for the honey flow
Supering
Extracting and comb honey
Fall feeding & IPM's
Wintering
Spring Inspections
Spring flower (video)

New beekeeping school in South County

South County residents who are interested in learning about beekeeping will now have the opportunity to attend courses in the local area, thanks to Mark Robar of Trail's End Farm, the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association, the University of Rhode Island, and several volunteers.

RIBA has presented classes annually at the William M. Davies Career and Technical High School, known in Rhode Island as Davies VoTech. As interest in bees and beekeeping has grown nearly exponentially the class sizes have, too. In 2007 students and beekeepers in the southern part of the state petitioned the Association for a second location, and this year classes will be offered at URI's East Farm, a 70-acre complex on Route 108. The plan at the moment is for the classes to run for five weeks beginning on Wednesday evening, 27 February 2008, from 6:30-9 PM.

The course outline is being finalized and will be available here soon.