Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers [KLCB] host their annual outdoor meeting on Saturday, June 23.  The topic is " Organic Varroa Mite Control in Beehives " and will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m.  at Ridge Mist Llamas Farm in Newcastle.  Our host is KLCB President, Jane Dunstan.

Speaker Ross Conrad from Middlebury, Vermont, learned his craft from the late Charles Mraz, world renowned beekeeper and promoter of apitherapy. Conrad is a former president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, a regular contributor to Bee Culture - The Magazine of American Beekeeping, and author of Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture. He has given bee related presentations and led organic beekeeping workshops and classes throughout North America for many years. His beekeeping business, Dancing Bee Gardens, supplies friends, neighbors with honey and candles among other bee related products, has 5-frame nucleus bee colonies for sale each June, and provides bees for Vermont apple pollination in the spring.

Beekeeping was the only major agricultural endeavor in the U.S. that did not rely on toxic chemical pesticides until the late 1980s when Varroa mites became established in America. Throughout history pests have always developed chemical resistance causing industry to rely on progressively higher concentrations and more toxic compounds in response.  Beekeeping has followed the same path as the rest of industrial agriculture.  Conrad will share the "how to" of numerous techniques to keep bees alive in the face of Varroa while getting off the chemical treadmill.  Topics covered include: Genetics and breeding, Trapping, Screened Bottom Boards, Essential Oils, Organic Acids, Small Cell Foundation, and more.

All KLCB meetings and presentations are free and open to the public.  Bring a veil/protective equipment, and lawn chair.  This month's public presentation will end by 1 p.m.

For details and directions, please visit the website at www.klcbee.com.  For more information or questions, call Jean Vose at 563-7564.