A.S.M.B.
The Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers (ASMB) is a non-profit organization in Southern Maryland that offers support to beekeepers and education to the public about the mighty honeybee. Our aim is to assist beekeepers in our region with new skills and knowledge and to help them become the very best at the art of keeping bees. Our mission is to educate the public about honey bees, and their importance in our ecosystem. We achieve these goals through outreach, education, and volunteer opportunities throughout the community.
The Board of Directors 2024
Diane Wellons
President
Contact: asmbeekeepers@gmail.com
Diane has been keeping bees for 10 years. Is a graduate of the University of Montana Master Beekeepers Program. She stays busy these days with her animals and farm in
SO. MD
She is one of the admins for our Facebook group and an active lifetime member of our association. She enjoys walking her dogs, going on flights in her husbands' airplane and adventures that keep her outdoors.
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Allen Craft
Honey bees have always fascinated me. Two years ago I borrowed a swarm trap, thinking I had some time to learn before I caught anything. I had bees in a week. I reached out to the ASMB and found a place to learn. A place I grew to belong. I have 16 colonies to date and enjoy spending time with my Bee Friends. From working in the hives to simple bee chats with friends, I enjoy all aspects of it.
I look forward to growing and the opportunity to help others with this fun hobby.
Joy Burroughs
Treasurer
Contact: asmbtreasurer@gmail.
com
Joy is an accountant by trade and recently fell in love with beekeeping and making products from the hives her husband and daughter started in 2022. It has turned into a family affair. She is excited to be able to utilize her accounting skills, attention for detail and meld that with her new love of the bees. Supporting fellow beekeepers and "beeing" a vital part of the ASMB greater beekeeping community.
Kara Buckmaster
Secretary
Contact: asmbsecretary@gmail.com
Kara is a fourth year beekeeper and graduate student with a background in public administration and emergency management. She enjoys beekeeping as a way to disconnect and decompress from her work and studies. She also appreciates the educational aspect of the hobby and the opportunity to socialize with other "beeks" in the community.
Upcoming Events
Happy Keeping Friends!!
January Meeting-was a huge success. Thank you to all who joined us for the meeting and dinner- and more thanks to the folks who stepped up to volunteer their time and energy as executive committee members to make your association a success.
Joy Burroughs and Allen Craft have joined the team and Joe Myers and Monika Herdlick have stepped down. Thank you all for your service to the organization We appreciate you!
Next ASMB Meeting -Social Meeting Format-
​ March Meeting March 23rd 2025
Spring Meet and Greet 4pm- 7pm
Come join us for the business meeting and afterward members in good standing can stay for social opportunity to meet local beekeepers from around the region. Find a mentor or become one. We hope students from the graduating Beginner Beekeeper Short Course will join us. Your first-year membership is free with your tuition
to the class.
​ LOCATION: Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire House​​
​Please see your email for Newsletter with more information-
You Must RSVP on sign-up genius to stay for dinner!
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Looking for some out of the way fun that involves beekeeping?
Invitation
APIMONDIA 2025 - A SOCIAL CONGRESS
It is with great pleasure that on behalf of the Scandinavian beekeepers we can invite you to participate in the 49th APIMONDIA Congress in Copenhagen September 2025. We are eager to present you to our beekeeping, countries and culture.
The congress will be organized jointly by the beekeeper associations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark: Sveriges Biodlares Riksförbund, Norges Birøkterlag and Danmarks Biavlerforening.
There are so many things dividing us people in the world today - and there are so few precious things bringing us together. Beekeeping and our common love for the bees and their world is one of them. It is so important for us to create a space in Copenhagen where people can meet and create bonds and friendships for life.
In short, we want to make this congress for the bees, beekeepers, scientists, the industry and for the people from all over the world who care about bees and honey and beekeeping.
Our visions for the congress are:
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Showcasing pure apiary products!
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Unity and knowledge sharing.
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Together, we make the world bloom.
We will work hard to obtain this and to give you a unique experience in Scandinavia.
We look forward to seeing you in Copenhagen 2025.
Education-Completed for 2025 See you Next year
Thank you to all of our Students and Member Volunteers!
ASMB in conjunction with the College of Southern Maryland
Beginner Beekeeper Short Course from 9amto 12 noon
All three Saturday's are filled with information that will help you on your beekeeping journey.
Saturday February 8th
Saturday February 15th
Saturday February 22th
CSM La Plata Campus- See winter catalog Beekeeping - CSM Continuing Education for more detail.
What's Buzzin'?
Seasons Change.....
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Spring is the time for growth...​
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I can feel the excitement in every fiber of my being. Warmish days. sunshine, bees flying and bringing in pollen. Opportunities to teach new beekeepers at the College Beginner Beekeeper Short Course (Welcome to all of you New-Bees!) The visual signs of Spring in the purple dead nettle (henbit) flowers popping up, slowly but surely. Overall, just a general feeling of happy anticipation. I know what's coming. Friends in the apiary, new students, bees preparing for natures miracle of swarming, the smell of warm wax and fresh pollen in the hive, the feel and smell of propolis on my fingers. I can hardly wait!
I won't say it has been an easy overwinter--The numbers coming in from around the country are a little alarming. Commercial beekeepers have taken a huge hit this year. They were short nearly 85,000 colonies for almond pollination due to overwinter losses. The heroes at the Beltsville Bee Lab in MD and many other labs around the country have been working tirelessly to figure out why the loss rates jumped this year to more than 60%. Some lost 90% or more. Truly a devastating year for them, what equates to nearly $635 million in losses not counting nuc sales or lost honey production. What we saw here, mimicked the dead-outs from around the nation. Many colonies, dead in the middle of a frame full of honey. They had been treated, fed, nurtured and cared for and still, the colonies collapsed. We are hoping to have some ideas as to why--soon. My overwinter loss rates are typically 10-12%- this season 27% already. I am hoping we are done with losses and beginning our build up.
At last check bees around the region are holding steady. Some are well into the brood rearing season with recent reports of 4.5 frames of brood with pollen in abundance to support those young bees. We have been seeing capped brood for several weeks.
What should you be doing this time of year you ask? If you have bees; Feed and treat for Varroa. Get to work; Preparing. Building. Painting. Order your bees if you need them. Cull your old comb (3-5 years is the recommendation to cull the old stuff out. There is a reason...see it and the how to, here Effective Comb Rotation in Your Beehives- Carolina Honeybees. Once processed you can use it to roll onto those new frames with little to no wax on them to improve acceptance. Or make candles, hive products or prepare those honey show entries.
Plant those seeds, bulbs, bushes, shrubs, and trees now. The Daffodils are already close to blooming. It happens faster than you think.
Most of all, enjoy the season. Every step of the prep and reconnecting with bee friends fills me with gratitude at being able to participate in this amazing hobby, with this remarkable community, right here in my rural Southern MD sanctuary. Have fun y'all
Happy Keeping!
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P.S. Double check your dues to make sure you are paid up--you can do this here on our site at the "Join our Hive" tab.
We will look forward to seeing everyone at the March meeting to enjoy dinner at the meet n greet and welcoming of new members and preparing for the season ahead.
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Excellent Tools for Varroa Management
Concerned about varroa destructor? Want to know what to do and when? Then take a look at this link to the honey bee health coalition and use their varroa management tool. Varroa Management Decision Tool
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Go to the RESOURCE CORNER page for more beekeeping information
Announcements
Congratulations to Diane --Have fun learning at the American Beekeeping Federation Conference in Reno come January.
Special thanks to the One Hive Foundation for their philanthropic work to help promote opportunities for beekeepers, education, collaboration and inclusivity around the country.
Some of our outreach: ASMB Beginning beekeepers short course with the College of Southern Maryland
Earth Day in Leonardtown and
Earth Day at Summerseat Farm
Chesapeake Natives Flower Sale
Annmarie Sculpture Garden Solomons Island Insectival
Charles County Fair
St. Mary's County Fair
Calvert County fair
State Fair Honey Booth
Sunflower festival-Farm Heritage Conservancy
POP up educational opportunities at schools, scout meetings, etc.
Get in Touch
To contact us, set up a meeting or inquire about an upcoming event, fill out the form and we’ll get right back to you.