Bullthistle Beekeepers met Thursday for the first time since pandemic began
Some members of the Bullthistle Beekeepers at Thursday's meeting. The meeting was the first the group has held since before the pandemic began, and was host to nearly 30 participants. (Photo by Sarah Giglio)
NORWICH — A local group of avid beekeepers, Bullthistle Beekeepers, met at Hidden Springs Brewhouse on Thursday, marking their first meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meetings are open to the public, meaning anyone with even a passing interest in bees or beekeeping can attend. Thursday's meeting had a massive turnout, with nearly 30 participants, including some new faces.
"I am so happy that we're all together again," said group leader and 15-year beekeeper Candy Boise. "I'm so glad to see everybody. And I'm so glad to see all the new faces. This is great."
Boise first started holding the meetings approximately ten years ago. She said the group has gone through several changes in those years, including splitting off from another group, and changing meeting locations.
"We started in Fly Creek, but they wanted to be an association and we didn't want to be an association. We didn't want to pay dues or any of that. So we 'swarmed' and we started having meetings at the Deer Path in New Berlin, and then we went to Taylor's and we were at Taylor's until the pandemic," said Boise.
The purpose of the meetings is to discuss beekeeping topics, give advice, and allow participants to ask questions.
"This is all about helping each other out, especially the new people," said Boise.
The group also runs a mass email, to keep members up to date about future meetings and important information. Members can also ask questions, which will be sent to the entire email list.
"If you send a question out in the email you'll get 300 answers," said Bullthistle Beekeepers member Paul Greer.
The meeting had a similar format, where there were pre-planned topics of discussion, but members could call out questions and suggestions, and be met with feedback from the group.
Topics at Thursday's meeting included where to hold future meetings, selling equipment, swarms, bear attacks, and more. One member, Josh Winchell, stood up and explained the use of lemongrass oil in attracting bees and controlling swarms.
A new member described an invasive flower species in her yard, and her plans to dig them up. The group erupted in friendly protest, explaining that those flowers produced delicious and expensive honey.
"Everybody's so helpful in this group," said Boise. "And that's what I love about this group."
Next month, Bullthistle Beekeepers will be meeting on July 15. The location of the meeting is still pending at this time.
Topic suggestions for next month's meeting included mite prevention, preparing for winter, what beekeepers should be doing this time of year, and, jokingly, bees.
The meetings are open to the public, meaning anyone with even a passing interest in bees or beekeeping can attend. Thursday's meeting had a massive turnout, with nearly 30 participants, including some new faces.
"I am so happy that we're all together again," said group leader and 15-year beekeeper Candy Boise. "I'm so glad to see everybody. And I'm so glad to see all the new faces. This is great."
Boise first started holding the meetings approximately ten years ago. She said the group has gone through several changes in those years, including splitting off from another group, and changing meeting locations.
"We started in Fly Creek, but they wanted to be an association and we didn't want to be an association. We didn't want to pay dues or any of that. So we 'swarmed' and we started having meetings at the Deer Path in New Berlin, and then we went to Taylor's and we were at Taylor's until the pandemic," said Boise.
The purpose of the meetings is to discuss beekeeping topics, give advice, and allow participants to ask questions.
"This is all about helping each other out, especially the new people," said Boise.
The group also runs a mass email, to keep members up to date about future meetings and important information. Members can also ask questions, which will be sent to the entire email list.
"If you send a question out in the email you'll get 300 answers," said Bullthistle Beekeepers member Paul Greer.
The meeting had a similar format, where there were pre-planned topics of discussion, but members could call out questions and suggestions, and be met with feedback from the group.
Topics at Thursday's meeting included where to hold future meetings, selling equipment, swarms, bear attacks, and more. One member, Josh Winchell, stood up and explained the use of lemongrass oil in attracting bees and controlling swarms.
A new member described an invasive flower species in her yard, and her plans to dig them up. The group erupted in friendly protest, explaining that those flowers produced delicious and expensive honey.
"Everybody's so helpful in this group," said Boise. "And that's what I love about this group."
Next month, Bullthistle Beekeepers will be meeting on July 15. The location of the meeting is still pending at this time.
Topic suggestions for next month's meeting included mite prevention, preparing for winter, what beekeepers should be doing this time of year, and, jokingly, bees.
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