Plan to attend the July 11 meeting of the Wake County Beekeepers Association.  Master Beekeeper and NCSBA Historian Charles Heatherly will present “100th Anniversary of the NC State Beekeepers Association”. We can learn from the past to make the future better. The gathering begins at 7:00 pm and the meeting starts at 7:30 in the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya  Drive, Raleigh.

The next “Hands on in the Hive with Mr. Buzz Ben Crawley is Sunday, July 16 at 1:00 pm.  (That is the 3rd Sunday of July.) The beehives are located near the demonstration cotton field near the back of the park.  All are welcome.  The practical test for the Certified Beekeeper will be available for anyone who wants to take it.  Please remember, to become a Certified Beekeeper, you must be a member of the NCSBA, pass a written test and the practical test.  You need to have four months beekeeping experience before taking the practical test.  Our club offers the practical test monthly during March – September, weather permitting.  The written test is given upon request made to Susan Benton, Secretary WCBA.

“Extracting Honey” is the topic of our June 13 monthly meeting.  Club President Mike Childers is looking for some members to bring a frame(s) of capped honey to be extracted.  If you can bring some frames, please contact Mike at   The gathering begins at 7:00 pm and the meeting starts at 7:30 in the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh.

WCBA is conducting an essay contest.  The winner will represent our club at the summer meeting of the Eastern Apiculture Society, July 31 – August 4 in Newark, Delaware and make a presentation at a subsequent club meeting. This essay should outline your future outlook for beekeeping, your goals, and your plan to give back to the beekeeping community.  You may enter an essay and a small video, if you wish.  Please make your entry to by our June 13 meeting.

Make plans to attend Sunday’s “Hands-on in the Bee Yard” at 1:00 pm with Ben Crawley.  We meet at the Historic Oak View Park, Carya Drive, near the demonstration cotton field.  The practical instruction and exam for the Certified Beekeeper will be offered starting at 1:00.  The written exam will be offered at 4:00 if requested (please e-mail to make arrangements for the written test.)

Join the Wake County Beekeepers Association on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 for our monthly meeting at the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh.  Leigh Katherine Bonner of Bee Downtown will speak about her efforts to return honeybees to urban areas.  If you want to enter the essay contest to win a trip to the NCSBA summer meeting, please bring your typed essay to the meeting (Your one-page essay is about your passion for beekeeping and your ability to make a presentation about the summer meeting.)  The essays will be judged and a winner announced at the meeting.  The gathering begins at 7 pm and the meeting starts at 7:30.  Come with your questions and bring a friend.

Can you write about your beekeeping experience?  Are you interested in attending the NCSBA Summer Conference in Winston Salem and reporting back to the club?  If yes, please prepare a one page essay about your passion for beekeeping to enter the contest.  The winner will receive a free trip to the summer NCSBA meeting July 13-15, 2017.  The deadline for entering the contest is the next meeting, May 9, 2017.  Please type your essay and include your capacity to report back to the club.

Join the Wake County Beekeepers Association on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 for our monthly meeting at the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh.  Board Member Ricky Barbour will teach “Making Mead”.  After the presentation, a panel of experienced beekeepers will answer questions.  (The honey extraction demonstration has been postponed until July 11.)  The gathering begins at 7 pm and the meeting starts at 7:30.  Come with your questions and bring a friend.

The club is accepting pre-orders for the NCSBA’s Centennial Cooking-With-Honey Cookbook through April 30.  The price is $20.  All 300 recipes have honey as an ingredient. If you would like to pre-order one, please bring your check, (payable to WCBA), your information, noting how many you want to order to the April meeting.   Our club will get the books in July and distribute them at the August meeting. The NCSBA will donate all profits to the NC Agricultural Foundation and will directly benefit the Apiculture program at NCSU.  

The next “Hands-on in the Bee Yard” is April 23 at 1:00 pm.  We meet at the Historic Oak View Park, Carya Drive, near the demonstration cotton field.

The first hands-on in the bee yard of 2017, scheduled for March 19, has been postponed to March 26 due to the cold weather.  The activity begins at 1 pm.  Bee School participants may complete the instruction and practical test.  However anyone interested in learning how to handle honey bees is invited to attend.  The gathering begins in the parking lot near the Historic Oak Park Visitors Center (overflow parking near the Commons Building at the Wake County Office Park).  This event is weather dependent, so if it is too cold, it may be postponed.  Please check the website for changes. Other scheduled dates are April 23, May 21, June 25, July 16, August 20, and September 17.

Join the Wake County Beekeepers Association on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 for our monthly meeting at the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh.  Ben Crawley and a special guest will discuss how to “shake a package” (install it) and what to do with a swarm.  There will be a hands-on portion at this meeting.  Ben will bring a bee vacuum and show everyone how to make a bucket on a pole, along with a parts list so you can make your own. (Find out why you need a bucket on a pole!) The gathering begins at 7 pm and the meeting starts at 7:30.  Come and bring a friend.

The first hands-on in the bee yard, scheduled for March 19, has been postponed to March 26, due to the cold weather.

The 2017 “Swarm Zone Map” has been updated.  2017 swarm zone map

Wear your name tag from last year to the February meeting.  You will receive a 2017 label for your current name tag.  If you need a replacement name tag, please contact

We need your involvement.  We will form these 5 committees:

• Swarm Team
• Community Outreach/Teaching
• Bug Fest
• State Fair
• Selection committee to pick a representative to attend Eastern Apiculture Society (EAS)

Come prepared to volunteer.  Bring your sweetheart to this meeting.  Refreshments will be served.

Don’t miss our February 14 meeting, as we will learn how to build frames.  The gathering begins at 7:00 and the meeting starts at 7:30 pm.  Please renew your membership or join at the February or March meetings.

2017wcba-ncsbamembershipform

We had an enjoyable Beginner Bee School on February 11.  Be sure to welcome the newest beekeepers. Many thanks to our instructors and helpers who gave their time on Saturday to teach beekeeping.

2017-spring-beginner-beekeeping-workshop-registration-form

Bee School 2017 Agenda