Tonight’s speaker will be Frank Licata, Master Beekeeper and operations managers for Mann Lake Ltd.

As beekeepers, we all want our operations, big or small, to be sustainable and carry over, maybe even grow, from year to year. We worry that this is not possible, a concern reinforced by a multitude of media reports and survey results showing high colony mortality, reduced bee viability, and some tantalizing data that indicates that beekeeping globally is undergoing tremendous change. Sustainable apiculture, that which is able to maintain itself at its certain rate or level, clearly depends on our ability to manage population levels. As we start another season, it’s appropriate that our January guest speaker Frank Licata presents “Building Sustainability in your Apiary.”

Frank is an Eastern Apiculture Society Certified Master Beekeeper, owner of Bramble Ridge Honey Farm and Operation Manager of Mann Lake’s Wilkes-Barre location. His incredible knowledge and experience with honeybees is well respected within the beekeeping community.  With his colonies located in Northeastern Pennsylvania he is familiar with the problems and challenges facing beekeepers in the area.

Orders for Mann Lake beekeeping supplies can be placed in advance and picked up the evening of the meeting (call 877-827-4077 and specify pre-order for meeting pick-up).

In addition, beginner beekeepers from the 2018 class, Nancy Tasker, Peter Beukers and his wife who attended the Pennsylvania State Beekeeping Association Fall Conference, will share their experiences.