In 2025 the club facilitated two very successful Mead making workshops. If you missed out , here is your opportunity to become a mead-maker Details of the workshop are: Sunday 5th July, 2pm-4pm In our usual meeting room "The Coop" at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Rd Wesburn 3799 Cost - $150 per person Cost includes: - Initial workshop 5th July, and 2 follow up sessions TBA. [Timing of later sessions for decanting and bottling depends on fermentation progress, but will be on Sundays @ 2pm] - 2 x 5 litre glass demijohns, with swing clip, silicone bung and airlock. [one for decanting the brew at the second workshop] - 1.6 kg honey - all required yeast, fruit, spices, yeast nutrients, - Ph adjustment with decanting [racking] at the second workshop.  - 12 x 375 ml clear glass wine bottles with stelvin closures, to be filled at the third workshop. [Ideal for entering one into the Lilydale Show in November!] - Printed notes and recipe for "Joe's Ancient Orange Mead", so you can make any following batches at your leisure. *This is a members only event, with numbers limited to 5 to ensure individual attention. So get in quick! Enquiries - Greg Huggins  0414 673 592 hello@yarravalleybeegroup.tidymail.co    

1.30 for a 2pm start 2pm - Speaker followed by Whats happening in my hive?  Speaker - Paul Kucera, CEO of Apis Innovation, located in the Czech Republic. Discover the innovation behind the Thermosolar beehive, engineered to support healthier, more resilient colonies. Paul is currently visiting Australia and has kindly agreed to come and speak to us about this invention. He will explain how the thermosolar's controlled heat treatment raises brood temperatures to levels that disrupt Varroa mites without harming the bees, offering an effective, chemical‑free approach to hive health. Learn why this hive is gaining attention among beekeepers worldwide who are focused on sustainable, bee‑centred management and who want to care for their bees without using chemicals. Join us and keep up to date with local conditions that effect your hive, connect with other beekeepers, share resources, improve your apiary skills and learn more about honeybee ecology. Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated. 

1.30 for a 2pm start 2pm - Whats happening in my hive?  Followed by our Speaker - Bernhard Dichtl VarroaMate - Smart Varroa management for Australian beekeepers The arrival of Varroa in Victoria is fundamentally changing the way we are keeping bees. Beekeepers need to learn heaps about mites (and bees), how the two interact throughout the season and how treatments work. All of this can be quite overwhelming. To support beekeepers on this perilous journey, Yarra Valley Bee Group members Nena and Bernhard set out to design a WORLD FIRST digital tool: VarroaMate. VarroaMate works in any web-browser on desktop, tablet and phone and it supports you when you are dealing with the following questions: How do I record alcohol wash counts and what do those mean? What treatments are available? How do I know that my treatment works as it should? When do I treat and which treatment works best and in which season? How will my treatment impact bees and mites and the hive? How often do I treat to get my bees through the year? How can I establish a treatment plan for the season? – or, in case you already have a plan – how effective is my plan and can I improve it? VarroaMate enables you to give your hives the best chance to thrive. At the meeting the numerous functions of VarroaMate will be demonstrated. In case that you would like to have a look beforehand go to varroamate.com and set up an account. Basic functionality for up to 3 hives is absolutely free! ---------------- Join us and keep up to date with local conditions that effect your hive, connect with other beekeepers, share resources, improve your apiary skills and learn more about honeybee ecology. Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated. 

1.30 for a 2pm start 2pm - Speaker - The Basin Backyard Followed by Whats happening in my Hive? - Bring your questions about preparing for Winter packdown. Speaker - The Basin Backyard is a small family business founded by Mike and his wife. They have been beekeepers since 2011 and have loads of hands on experience with over 150 beehives various locations throughout The Dandenongs, Eltham and Gippsland. At their shop in Knoxfiled they are authorised flow resellers as well as the HiveIQ and the Micro honey harvester. On Sunday, as part of his presentation, Mike will bring a HiveIQ and talk about the benefits of these hives, as well as demonstrate the Micro Honey Harvester. Join us and keep up to date with local conditions that effect your hive, connect with other beekeepers, share resources, improve your apiary skills and learn more about honeybee ecology. Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated. 

1.30 for a 2pm start 2pm - Whats happening in my hive?  Followed by our speaker - Graham Abrey from Buzzbee Beekeeping. An in-depth discussion and demonstration on the use of oxalic acid in managing varroa. Many beekeepers are interested in using non-synthetic (organic) treatments in their hives.  Graham will be talking about varroa treatment options with a specific focus around the available Oxalic acid options available, the different types of Oxalic acid treatment products, the way that they are administered, the safety measures & precautions that are taken when using the products and the pros & cons of each. Graham will also have with him various items of equipment beekeepers use when administering the various treatments. Come along with all your questions and leave with a sense of confidence that managing varroa IS possible and with the  right education, knowing what to expect and knowing what best practice is, we can maintain our hives with happy bees & look forward to some exciting times ahead! Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated. 

YVBG will be having a stall at the 2 day Crank Up Festival 14th & 15th March 10am-4pm. Volunteers are desperately needed to man our bee group and honey sales stall. Please consider coming along and lending a hand for a few hours. Looks like a great day. Please email us at hello@yarravalleybeegroup.tidymail.co and let us know what times best suit you - Sat 14th or Sunday 15th - 7-9am / 9-12.30 / 12.30-4.  We'll then be in touch.  This is a great family outing in the beautiful Warburton Valley! Learn about heritage trades and vintage machines, browse through the Museum collections, and enjoy food and drinks while listening to some live music. ​Crank Up Heritage and Community Festival - organised since 1978 - takes place at the Upper Yarra Museum in Yarra Junction. This event showcases vintage machinery (moving and stationary) and vintage cars; live blacksmithing and heritage trades demonstrations; an exciting wood chop competition and working draught horses; live music and fun kids' activities as well as market and food stalls. ​Vintage car show takes place on Saturday and wood chop competition on Sunday. ​Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome! ​​​This is their biggest fundraising event of the year so do come along and support the museum!  Facebook  Website

1.30 for a 2pm start 2pm - Whats happening in my hive? Feel free to bring your questions for a group discussion. Followed by a discussion and demonstration on how to undertake an alcohol wash to test for Varroa and how to log your inspection on Bee Max. A must for every Beekeeper! Join us and keep up to date with local conditions that effect your hive, connect with other beekeepers, share resources, improve your apiary skills and learn more about honeybee ecology. Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated. 

Come and see the Yarra Valley Bee Group at the Kilsyth Festival - we will have a honey stall. The 2019 Kilsyth Festival (formerly the Kilsyth Chelodina Festival) will be held on Sunday 23rd November and is run by the Kilsyth Community Action Group in conjunction with the Friends of Elizabeth Bridge Reserve. The Festival is held at the beautiful Elizabeth Bridge Reserve in Durham Road. Its main aim is to engage our local communities by offering a wonderful environment for people of all ages to enjoy the natural setting. It is a fun way to promote environmentally sustainable businesses and activities from across the Yarra Ranges, and to encourage people to shop, play and eat locally.   Volunteers needed We also need volunteers to man our YVBG stall. Each year we have a stall to sell our honey, educate the community about beekeeping and the joys of beekeeping clubs. You don't have to be an expert on beekeeping, Newbees will be rostered on with more experienced people. 2 hour timeslots. All volunteers will now need a Working with Childrens Check. However, this is free and easy to complete online.  Please email your interest to volunteer to yarravalleybeegroup@mail.tidyhq.com.   

Join us on Friday 21st November for our end of year break up and Trivia Night. 6pm for drinks and a chat with our Trivia starting at 6.30!  Great Prizes to be won and raffle tickets for sale on the night to win a 2 box paradise hive! (dontated by Graham at BuzzBee!)  The best dressed bee themed outfit will win a $100 voucher from Bens Bees!  Please bring: a plate of food to share BYO drinks  a sense of humour! We look forward to seeing you there. Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated.  There will be no meeting on the last Sunday of November or December.

**Entries close Sunday 9th November Honey Competition YVBG will be running the honey competition in conjunction with the show. Click here for the schedule and to find out how to enter your jarred honey, frame of honey, wax block, honeycomb and mead! CLASSES 1. Jar of Liquid Honey (H) 2. Jar of Creamed Honey (HCR) 3. Jar of Crystalised Honey (HCRY) 4. Capped Frame of Honey (F) 5. Wax Block (W) 6. Cut Honeycomb Block (CHB) 7. Home Made Mead (M)-Sub classes M1A Dry Mead, M1B Semi-sweet Mead and M1C Sweet Mead  Download the schedule for all the details To enter you need to purchase tickets and drop off your entries Monday between 2-8pm. Details are in the schedule. Visit the Lilydale Show Website to find out whats on this year Volunteers needed We also need volunteers to man our YVBG stall. Each year we have a stall to sell our honey, educate the community about beekeeping and the joys of beekeeping clubs. You don't have to be an expert on beekeeping, Newbees will be rostered on with more experienced people. 2 hour timeslots. All volunteers will now need a Working with Childrens Check. However, this is free and easy to complete online.  Please email your interest to volunteer to yarravalleybeegroup@mail.tidyhq.com.   

1.30 for a 2pm start 2pm - Whats happening in my hive?  Followed by our monthly Speaker - Biosecurity Officer Agricultrual Victoria Agriculture Victoria’s biosecurity team has a specific role in protecting and managing bee health and biosecurity risks across the state. Their work with bees covers both protecting honey bees  and managing risks from exotic pests and diseases. They monitor, respond, educate, regulate, and support beekeepers to keep Victoria’s bees safe from pests and diseases. A member of Biosecurity team will be joining us to speak about the The Honey Bee Industry Code of practice, Varroa update and details of the Agriculture Victoria Apiary team. Join us and keep up to date with local conditions that effect your hive, connect with other beekeepers, share resources, improve your apiary skills and learn more about honeybee ecology. Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated. 

1.30 for a 2pm start 2pm - Whats happening in my hive? - Geoff Meehan  Followed by a group discussion lead by Greg Huggins - Spring preparedness, Swarms and splitting hives. We'll also be talking Hive hygiene and Varroa mite checks and reporting. As well as how to present honey for judging at the Lilydale show.  Join us and keep up to date with local conditions that effect your hive, connect with other beekeepers, share resources, improve your apiary skills and learn more about honeybee ecology. Non members are welcome too. Meetings are held at ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, in the ‘Coop’ (past the old house, over the green, down the bottom). Gold coin donation appreciated.