MABA Fieldtrip to Auburn University Bee Lab Join us for MABA’s next club field trip to the Auburn Bee Lab on Saturday, November 15. We’ll receive a research update from the lab’s post-doctoral students, a tour of their apiary, and learn about how they conduct their field assessments. There will be a break for lunch and time to rotate between topics. The event itself is free, but the lab will have merch for sale like t-shirts and hats.For more details and to register, complete this form:https://www.memberplanet.com/s/mababc/fieldtriptoauburn

MABA maintains a BEE Neighbor list to help connect MABA beekeepers within their local neighborhoods. This can help you to find a nearby person who can answer your questions or assist you with bee issues. We’re also imagining new ways that the BEE Neighbor list might be used. For example, people might like to arrange carpools to go to MABA meetings/events. Neighborhoods might want to organize social events to get to know each other better. And, of course, it will continue to be a place where you can find BEE help from someone who lives nearby. If you are interested…

At our Monday, November 10th meeting, MABA will welcome Master Beekeeper Steve Esau. Steve began beekeeping in 2011 with two hives and the intent of making his East Atlanta neighborhood a better place through urban agriculture. Those two hives quickly grew into what is today known as the Little Bee Project. Consisting of more than 100 colonies, the Little Bee Project is hardly little. Steve will share with us his journey to becoming a sideliner honey producer.  Our November meeting will begin at 6:30 pm with a mentoring session. This month's session is our annual Ask-Me-Anything style panel Q&A with…

MABA's 2025 Beekeeper of the Year: Micah Coletti This year, MABA received many wonderful nominations for Beekeeper of the Year. The voting by the club’s executive officers was very close, but one beekeeper rose to the top. Please join me in celebrating Micah Coletti, MABA’s 2025 MABA Beekeeper of the Year honoree. Here is a bit about Micah from his nomination: Micah has contributed a great deal to MABA since becoming a director and continues to take on new responsibilities. I appreciate the work he has done running the Junior Beekeepers program. He was able to acquire new bee suits…

At our October meeting, MABA will welcome Justin Schoendorf, owner and mead maker at Monks Meadery (579 N Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307). Founded in 2011, Monks specializes in fun, modern dry-style carbonated meads. As the official mead of the Georgia Renaissance Festival and Dragon Con, Monks brews whimsical flavors like “Dragons Nectar” — a delightful fusion of dragon fruit, passion fruit and hibiscus — and “Faerie Dew” —  an enchanting lavender honey blend. Our October meeting will begin at 6:30 pm with a mentoring session led by MABA member Bryan Luffman, who will discuss his recent unfortunate experiences…

2025 MABA Show Results Senior Honey Judge Brutz English announced MABA's annual honey show winners on September 28 at the Galloway School. We had an amazing show this year consisting of 70 entries from some 21 participants. The winners of this year’s honey show are: Black Jar - Best Tasting Honey: Cathy Shanks Best in Show: Deb DeWitt (shown at right, for her entry in Notions, Potions and Lotions) Light Extracted Honey 1st: Brian Harris 2nd: Holly Snow 3rd: Jeremiah Young Highly Commendable: Ori Kistenberg Amber Extracted Honey 1st:  Deb Dewitt 2nd: Brian Harris 3rd: Trent Mosely Very Highly Commendable:…

  If you find a large pile of dead or twitching and shaking bees in front of your hive, they likely have encountered pesticides. It may or may not kill the entire colony, but it’s important to report it and request an investigation. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has procedures in place to process your report and send an inspector to your apiary to investigate. Fill out this online form https://gdaforms.wufoo.com/forms/pesticide-incident-form/ Within one business day you will be contacted by the Pesticide Complaint Coordinator who will schedule an inspector to come to your apiary. The inspectors understand that it’s important to…

Got a honey bee swarm at your location? MABA's beekeeper volunteers can give unwanted honey bee swarms a proper home. Call MABA Swarm Commander Dave Marshall at 812-369-0401 A.S.A.P before the swarm flies off to its new home.  Before you call, please have the following information: How long has the swarm been at this location? What is the exact address of the property where the swarm is located? How high off the ground is the swarm? Is the swarm in a structure or on a tree, bush, fence etc.? What size is it? Softball? Cantaloupe? Football? Basketball? Is there a phone number where…

 MABA's annual potluck dinner and honey show is THIS COMING SUNDAY, 9/28. As part of the fun, we'll have both live and silent auctions. On the block this year are offerings including bee colonies, mentoring sessions, and of course Linda Tillman’s famed, highly-prized "Honey of a Dinner" for six. There will also be new and used equipment, including items like: A complete 8-frame hive set-up, honey extractors, full-body suits, gloves, pollen patties, an oxalic acid vaporizer wand, heated decapping knives, plastic waxed foundation, unassembled deep boxes, assembled deep frames, and much more. Everything must go. This your opportunity to get…

Nominations for MABA’s Beekeeper Of the Year are now bee-ing accepted!Each year, MABA bestows this honor on a club member who has not only demonstrated and promoted good beekeeping practices, but who also has served the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association as an outstanding volunteer. Any member is eligible except the club's executive officers who will evaluate the submissions and pick the winner. Additionally, past recipients are not awarded the honor a second time.This annual award is announced each year at our September potluck dinner and honey show. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, September 28th, 4-8 pm, at the Galloway School…