About the MBA

The Monadnock Beekeepers Association is a beekeeping club for both beginning and experienced beekeepers in the Monadnock and Connecticut River Valley regions. We usually meet on the first Thursday of each month either at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH or at the Dublin Public Library in Dublin, NH. Please feel free to come to a meeting or contact us if you have an interest in beekeeping.

2017 Announcements

We have an exciting schedule planned for 2017. Our focus this year will be hands-on opportunities.

We will continue to offer monthly meetings including discussions, and speakers, as well as fun activities such as our Mead Tasting in July, and Honey Tasting in December. A shift towards sharing experiences in our hives will be this year’s focus. No matter how much time you have spent in the hives, there’s always more to learn. The membership will be offering instruction during our monthly Beginner Workshops. These will all take place in and around the Monadnock Region on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10am to 1pm. Additional open hive workshops will be offered throughout the season. These are also offered by our membership. One of our goals is to offer lots of learning opportunities. We know it’s tough to find and the confidence you might be looking for, and here’s a great opportunity. We have several beekeepers who have already offered to host a visit. This is what beekeeping is all about!

We encourage you to become a member, participate in our activities, and enjoy this amazing hobby!

Thank You, Heather Achilles and the NHBA

At the June meeting in Dublin, Heather Achilles of the New Hampshire Beekeeper's Association presented the results of the 2017 Hive Loss Survey. If you missed the meeting, you can find the information on the NHBA site.

The Concord Monitor wrote an article about the survey results. The Associated Press also picked up the story. Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey.

New Site Devoted to Bee Swarms

There is a new site devoted to connecting people who find swarms with local beekeepers. It is called HoneyBees911.com

"If someone in the community sees a swarm, they can report it to HoneyBees911.com and they will be given a list of all of their nearby beekeepers who can come and rescue the swarm. Reporters can upload a picture, and share basic information about the swarm size and location, while beekeepers can share specific information about experience, availability, and fees.

We will be using the swarm data to gain further insight into the decline in honey bees throughout the country, and hopefully discover new ways to promote their survival."

Members of the 2017 bee class discussing varroa identification. Photo by Jodi Turner.

The Monadnock Beekeepers Association meets the first Thursday of the month February-December; No meeting in January. Most meetings take place at Stonewall Farm, Keene, NH; Except for the March & September meetings, which take place at the Dublin Public Library, Dublin, NH. Join us for interesting speakers, workshops, sharing, and beekeeper comradery.