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.
ASMB June 2026
50th Anniversary Celebration with the MSBA and Dr Dewey Caron
The Board of Directors 2026
Diane Wellons
President
Contact: asmbeekeepers@gmail.com
Diane has been keeping bees for 11 years. Is a graduate of the University of Montana Master Beekeepers Program. She stays busy volunteering with the MSBA as a new director.
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.
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.
Todd Degrosselliers
Secretary
Contact: asmbsecretary@gmail.com
Todd is a first-year beekeeper and a retired U.S. Marine. He is also an avid fly fisher and gardener. Bees have always fascinated him so he recently added beekeeping to his hobbies as a way to learn more about them. Todd also enjoys the educational and mentoring opportunities that beekeeping provides as well as the opportunity to socialize with other beekeepers in the community.
Upcoming Events
Happy Keeping Friends!!
Summer beekeeping safety-Tell a friend you are going out to work the bees
PRE-Hydrate- Lots of water, magnesium, potassium. Heat emergencies can happen so
fast. Dizziness, excessive fatigue, confusion are all signs of heat exhaustion. GET INSIDE AND HYDRATE! If you stop sweating, you need to get indoors, hydrate and get someone you trust to monitor you. This could turn into a medical emergency quickly.
Please use caution. Work hives early morning to avoid heat. Late evenings are also ok, but all the foragers are home and you have to deal with their attitudes. Stay safe.
Next ASMB Meeting -Standard Meeting Format-
Sunday Evening July 12, 2026
Charles County Fairgrounds
8440 Fairground Rd, La Plata, MD 20646
From 2pm-5pm
Business: Education and Mentorship Program check-in, Governance
Discussions: -What's in your hive
- Member Discussion requests: Breakout demos on preparing exhibits for the fairs
Education Content-July Meeting (Pre-Fair Circuit)
- Exhibitor Lecture: Guidance on entering hive products in local fairs.
- Interactive Breakouts (20 mins each):
1. Wax Rendering & Molds – Stan T.
2. Hive Products/Salves/Wax/ Soaps & Balms– Diane W.
3. Honey / Photography– Joe M.
4. Mead Making –Aaron Y.
Post breakout discussions (30 min) What's in your hive Discussion
Lecture from our own Joe Myers on Tropilaelaps
Education Opportunity- Welcome Summer (I think)!
Sentinel Apiary Testing- Learn about taking bee samples for the UMD bee lab by doing. See your Sign-up Genius emails for details.
Member Volunteer Opportunities-
INSECTIVAL - Saturday, July 18, 9am-1pm at Ann Marie Gardens
13470 Dowell Rd, Solomons, MD 20688
We will host an activity booth with Live bees, and demos of our gear and perform mock inspections, harvest etc. Easy fun day with kids and friends talking about bees.
Maryland State Fair-The ASMB will be helping with the MD state Honey Sales booth again this year. August 29th and 30th. If you want to consign your honey to sell, we can give you information on how to make that happen. You are required to volunteer to help in the booth. We will work as a team to help sell honey from around the state and do honey extraction demos daily. It is a fun interactive weekend of helping, learning and tasting. Plus, you get to enjoy some time at the fair. The sign-up genius will go out soon- Keep an eye out!
What's Buzzin'?
Seasons Change.....
Living in the moment...but planning for the future.
In beekeeping we are always looking to the season ahead. What we are doing right now is typically planned out weeks or months in advance. Our routines are cyclical in nature. We follow the sun just as the bees do as it dictates what comes next.
Spring buildup. followed by nectar flow which moves to honey production then summer treatments, fall condensing and feeding then mite treatments again and on to winter preparations with more feeding if necessary. This circle continues year after year. It's predictable and steady constants keep us looking to the future.
We had an amazing summer meeting hosting the Maryland State Beekeepers Association and Dr Dewey Caron to Charles Co Fairgrounds. It was a fun day of celebration, learning and making new friends and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
We are looking forward now to the coming State and County Fair season on the horizon.
Showing off our products of the hive and some healthy competition amongst friends. It is always so much fun to talk with the public and entertain the kids at the fair by showing them the honey bees and telling them all about the factoids we have learned and memorized about our favorite hobby. The heat of summer will give way to fall and cooler temps and we will follow the cycle as it moves through the seasons.
I want to remind you all to stay safe out there. Enjoy the learning and have a wonderful summer.
Happy Keeping Friends
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
Go to the RESOURCE CORNER page for more beekeeping information
Announcements
Congratulations to Allen, Todd, Mike B. Aaron Y. Ryan P and Diane and many others from the MSBA who went to NAHBE in January.
Fantastic trip we are already planning to go again next year- Hopefully with a bunch more members.
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.