Got a Honey Bee Swarm?

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…

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macayran @ Pixabay, carpenter bee on pink flower

Carpenter Bees

Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association is a club for honey bee keepers. There’s really no such thing as “keeping” or “moving” carpenter bees, but here is some basic information if you’re concerned about carpenter bees in your home. Freshly stained/painted wood doesn’t attract carpenter bees. There’s a brief page on them in this booklet published by the USDA that refers to this: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5306468.pdf —scroll down to page 10 People report diminished carpenter bee activity on freshly sealed or painted wood.    A great natural solution is to nail up (in an unobtrusive place) a 2 x 4 section of untreated lumber- it can…

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2026 MABA Beekeeper of the Year Nominees

Below are this year's nominees for MABA's annual Beekeeper of the Year honor. All have worked hard this year on behalf of the club and in furtherance of beekeeping in metro Atlanta. Learn more about them below. This year's winner will be announced at MABA's annual honey show and potluck dinner on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Westside Provisions District.   SHELLI GODFREY Nomination #1 Shelli has excelled as an instructor for the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association’s Certified Beekeeper and Journeyman programs. She thoughtfully prepares PowerPoint presentations for both certification levels and patiently supports beekeepers who arrive unprepared or struggle with…

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October 2026 MABA Meeting

At our October 12 meeting, MABA will welcome Randy McCaffrey (AKA: 628 Dirt Rooster). His topic will be: "Recognizable Patterns in Honey Bee Behavior." Randy  has 31 years as a contractor and structural claims specialist.  At the age of forty he developed a fascination with honey bees.  He discovered beekeeping after assisting his brother who is also a beekeeper, with the live removal (cut out) of a bee hive in an old furniture warehouse.  In 2010 armed with his knowledge of construction and his newfound fascination with bees he began removing and relocating feral bee colonies from commercial and residential…

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2026 MABA Honey Show and Fall Potluck

Our annual MABA fall potluck picnic and honey show is THIS SUNDAY, September 27, 2026 at Westside Provisions District (1170 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30318 -- corner of Howell Mill Road and 14th Street).  It's time to GET THOSE HONEY SHOW ENTRIES READY!! Please RSVP here so we know you're coming.Our gathering will have everything we love about being together: ~ A honey show where you can win cash prizes and bragging rights! (Click here for the honey show rules.) Remember to READ THE RULES, READ THE RULE, READ THE RULES!~ If you and your bees produced honey this year, enter our…

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August 2026 MABA Meeting

At our Monday, August 10 meeting, our topic will be Medicinal Beekeeping: Wellness from the Hive.  Our speaker, Emily Mueller, will introduce us to the world of apitherapy and the wellness benefits of hive-based products. We'll examine the medicinal properties of honey, pollen, royal jelly, bee venom, and beeswax, along with their therapeutic uses, wellness applications, and basic preparation methods. She will also discuss current research and historical uses of bee products in natural wellness practices. Emily Mueller is a beekeeper, researcher, and integrative health sciences student with a deep passion for the connection between bee health, natural medicine, and education. Her…

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NEW, New Meeting Location

We heard your concerns about the low lighting and questionable A/C. MABA's June meeting will be our first held at our NEW, new Westside Provisions District meeting space (1170 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30318; corner of Howell Mill Road and 14th Street). Park in the WSPD parking deck (validated parking), and follow the MABA signs. This newest meeting space is a former retail space (Unit P12B) located on the ground-floor level of the building three doors down from the Flower Child restaurant, and directly across the street from Shake Shack.

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2026 MABA Hive Inspections

SIGN UP TODAY TO ATTEND AN UPCOMING INSPECTION! MABA’s Hive Inspection program is a great way to learn tips and tricks from some of our most experienced members, and gain confidence in your beekeeping skills. Also the hands-on component  of our Introduction to Beekeeping short course, MABA hive inspections are held March through October at multiple mentoring apiaries located throughout the greater Atlanta area. We encourage you to register by visiting: metroatlantabeekeepers.org/hive-inspections   How to sign up for a hive inspection:   1 Look at the list of available dates in the chart below and pick a date when you…

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Join MABA’s Speakers Bureau

If you are a UGA Certified Beekeeper and enjoy public speaking about honey bees, consider joining MABA's Speakers Bureau. Each year, MABA receives dozens of requests for speaker-presenters to visit schools, garden clubs, festivals, etc. and present information about honey bees. For it bureau speakers, MABA can even provide a sample Powerpoint presentation if you need one, as well as a fun kit appropriate younger kids. Speaking engagements like these can earn you Public Service Credits towards Journeyman and Master certifications. Complete this form to sign up.

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April 13 Meeting – Jennifer McLaurin

MABA has an amazing line-up of guest speakers planned for 2026. Mark your calendars and join us! On Monday, April 13,  MABA will welcome Jennifer McLaurin, who will speak on environmental sustainability, land management, native plants, and beekeeping.  Jennifer has a background in green space planning, as well as in implementing environmental and public outreach programs, environmental management, sustainability initiatives, and park management. This experience has equipped her with a broad knowledge base and a diverse skill set. A nature enthusiast, Jennifer lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia, with her two children. Our April meeting will be our first held at our…

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2026 Swarm Call List

Want to be a volunteer swarm catcher in 2026? Register for  MABA’s Swarm Call List. Each spring, MABA members who which to volunteer to chase/catch swarms can request to be added to the club’s swarm call list.  You will indicate how high you are willing to climb to retrieve a swarm and where you live. The swarm list manager will make the call based on queue order, location, and preferences. Swarm calls come in at all hours. If you are on the swarm list, you may be called at any time. Being on the swarm list does not guarantee that…

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