BABA Potluck!! (Saturday 8/28, 10am-2pm)

[maureen coello]

The BABA Party & Playtime is this Saturday! 

Celebrate this year's bee season with fellow Boston beeks this Saturday, August 28, from 10am - 2pm, at MassAudubon's Boston Nature Center.   Drop in for a few minutes or (preferably) a few hours! 

WHAT TO BRING:  Yourself, and maybe a veil if there are hive openings, but also feel free to gather up a few goodies and bring them along for the....

• New & used equipment sell/swap/give-away station (no business sales please);
• Show-and-tell table (bring your most cherished beekeeping tool that nobody's ever heard of, or one you think everyone should use);
• Judging table, where judges will sample your favorite honey and award the Peak Honey prize;
• Smoker contest, where contestants will have 13 minutes to gather fuel and start their smokers.  The last smoker smoking wins!

FOOD:  With things the way they are, it's probably best to bring your own bagged lunch.  BABA will provide drinks and cups, and BABA will also bring a small amount of finger food to share, as well as a honey-drenched baklava for everyone.  Feel free to bring extra food and snacks to share with anyone in the sharing mood.

INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONS & WORKSHOPS, 10:40 & 12:45: The idea is to start a discussion or demo where everyone attending can share ideas/methods, actively participate, or simply listen-in.  Everyone has their own techniques, and some may work better than others.

Tentative schedule:

10:00am          Coffee & donuts
                          Set-up:                        
                                        Set up the used equipment swap, sell, and giveaway area
                                        Set up table – Interesting beekeeping devices
                                        Set up table -- Odd hives (long Langstroth, Warre, Slovenian, Flow,…)
10:15                   Welcome remarks, intros, an icebreaker called 'Two Truths & A Lie,' and reflections on the year so far
10:40 – 11:40    Discussion sessions #1:
                                   1a.  Working a hive -- tips & tricks
                                   1b.  Mite check techniques, gizmos & treatments
11:45                    Smoker contest
                              Set-up lunch table
12:00  -12:45       Lunch/picnic (no alcohol)
12:45 – 1:45        Discussion sessions #2:
                                      2a.  Winter prep & feeding
                                      2b.  Monitoring, recording, and taking notes
1:50                       Closing notes, observations, and probably a few quips

REGISTRATION:  BABA members (and a guest) are free.  Non-BABA members may attend, but are encouraged to join ($20).  To help with planning, please register HERE!

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beekeepers-gathering-food-fun-tickets-165072487253?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=de13ead5b3&mc_eid=1fb8059dff)