Home - Chester County Beekeepers Association

The Objectives of the Association:

To assist members in the art and science of beekeeping, including sharing effective techniques, coping with problems, meeting challenges, and supporting each other in our efforts; To educate members about and encourage compliance with laws pertaining to beekeeping, including inspection and suppression of contagious diseases among honey bees; To promulgate information to the public about beekeeping and the valuable role of honey bees in nature and agriculture; To encourage more people to become involved in beekeeping.

2021 Committee Sign-Up
Support the CCBA by serving on a committee, and learn a little bit more about honey bees!
Committee Sign-up

2021 CCBA Leads
A terrific team of wonderful people!

Officers/Key Positions:

President: George Datto

VP-1: Paul Lysko

VP-2: Mark Meaders

Secretary: Kathy Lopez

Treasurer: Jack McMichael

Asst. Treasurer: Howard Frysinger

Bee Chat: Myrl Stone
Bee Geek: Mark Meaders

Information Technology/Website: Jennifer Shannon

Librarian: John Federof

Member Relations: Tina Mekinc

Newsletter: Robin Martin, Vidya Rajan

Committee Lead/Co-Leads:

Advanced: Keith Jardine, Tim Murray

Apiary: Tony Dambro, John Federof

Beginners: Tom McKinney, Russel Lux

Citizen Science: Ray Walker

Conference: Janie Gordon, Debbie and Mike Haberland

Community Engagement: Janie Gordon

Education: Lauren Helfgott, Tracy Geddis, Darryl Barkhouse

Entertainment: Tracy Bhalla

Horticulture: Jessie Shiffler, Carla Jarosz

Innovation: Tim Ferris, Kevin Huntington

Mentoring: Walt Talunas

Nucs: Ed Sharp, Ali Darabi

Queens: George Datto, Steve Amelang

Woodworking: Ernest Blevins, Gary Shillat

Special Interest Groups Leads:

Apitherapy: Justin Shiffler

Horizontal Hives: Lynn Arnold, Hiroshi Iizuka

January Colony Management

1. Feed Colonies: feed solids sugar source (fondant, candy, cakes) in shim at top of hive if hive is light.

2. Mouse Guards: use 1/4 hardware cloth or metal mouse guards to prevent mice from finding a new winter home.

3. Top insulation: a 3/4 - 2 inch piece of insulation board between the inner cover and outer cover keeps the cluster warm and dry for the winter.

4. Top Entrance/Ventilation: flip the inner cover over so the notch in down or put a shim with a 5/8 inch hole at the top of the hive.

5. Wind Breaks: protect your hive from the northern and westerly winter winds. Close off the screened bottoms with white boards if in a windy location.

6. Minimize Inspections: only open colony when absolutely necessary and on warmer days (temps greater than 60) if possible.

7. Tape Seams: Duct tape any seams between boxes that maybe letting in cold air.

Apprentice and Mentoring Programs

One of the best ways to learn how best to keep your bees alive is to work with someone who has done it over many seasons. The CCBA has 2 programs that are available to help you achieve sustainability.

The Apprentice Program
(Enroll now for program to begin March 2021...go to storefront, apprentice program and purchase the apprentice program purpose to secure your spot. Program fee to be paid when program starts next March)

If you are a new beekeeper who is thinking about getting bees or who has not been able to overwinter a hive, the apprentice program maybe right for you. You will be paired up with an experienced beekeeper (teacher) who you will work with at the teacher's apiary twice a month for an entire bee season. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the apprentice will get a CCBA nuc the following spring. The cost for this program is $120.

The Mentoring Program

If you are looking for some intermittent advice from an experienced beekeeper, the mentoring program maybe right for you. Have someone who will answer your questions or may stop out at your apiary to see what is going on. This program does not have a cost and there is no incentives from the CCBA for participation.

Walt and Kathy are the leads of both the apprentice and the mentoring program. If you are interested in being either an apprentice or teacher in the apprentice program or mentor or mentee in the mentoring program.

Email Walt Talunas: wtalunas@gmail.com

Friday Night Bee Chat
See the CCBA Event Calendar for Details.
Bring your bee questions, share your experiences, offer advice or just listen and learn! It is all good.