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Hive inspection of a new queen and possible marking plus simplified approach to harvesting honey.
Monthly Zoom Chat and Q & A for All New Beekeepers - just starting in 2024 or started in 2021 - 2023
This is a meeting to bring your questions, concerns, and observations about your colonies: swarms, nectar flow, feeding, varroa mite treatment and colony growth. Any topics or questions are welcome!
There will be beekeepers from your area clusters, area coordinators, and MDBA board members to help answer your questions.
Pleasant Hill Community Center
MDBA General Meeting (Thursday, May 9th, 2024). This is our fifth General Meeting of 2024! Our General Membership meetings occur every 2nd Thursday of the month, 7PM to 9PM, doors open at 6:30PM. Come early to chat, meet beekeepers and find out about our bee club. Our meeting will be at the Pleasant Hill Community Center Pavilion where we will welcome our beekeepers back and meet new members of our bee club!
Phil Stob will be joining us as our guest speaker. He‘s been beekeeping for nearly 10 years, has a passion for catching swarms in swarm traps, and will be showing us how to do it. His presentation is titled, "Fishing for Bees; Bait hives, swarm traps, etc. Catching swarms while you do life."
The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center
Date: Saturday, May 11th
Time: 12:00PM - 2:00PM
Title: Mini Bee Day / Regional Group Meeting (Live … In Person, At The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center!)
Address: 3932 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549
Register online by logging-in to the website, clicking on “Event Calendar”, click on the May 11th Beehive Deep Dive & Learn event link, and then the “Register Now” button (on the right side of the webpage). Please note, you must be logged-in to the MDBA website under your account ("Member Login") to complete attendance registration.
Please park at the far east end of the parking lot.
If you have any problems or need any assistance, please email Roger Billeci - vpmembered@diablobees.org
Mark your calendar and bring your questions! Member Education invites you to participate “live” on Saturday, May 11th, at 12:00PM to kick off the fourth Beehive Deep Dive & Learn session of the 2024 beekeeping season! Hosted by experienced MDBA beekeepers, this is your opportunity to learn “in person”:
TOPIC: SWARMS, SPLITS, AND GETTING READY FOR SUMMER
How to assess your colonies’ growth to manage swarms.
What is a split and how do I split my colony?
How to assess your colonies’ to see if they’re ready for harvesting honey.
What treatment techniques can be used to stay ahead of the varroa mite?
Describe concerns / seek advice re: your colonies in late spring / early summer.
Discuss important steps that can be taken to prepare your colonies for summer.
Special focus will be on new (years 1 - 4) beekeepers getting started. This Beehive Deep Dive & Learn session will examine what‘s happening in MDBAs community hives to assist you in managing your colonies as we begin transitioning to the summer months! Remember: there is no stupid question when it comes to beekeeping! It‘s a continual learning process.
The second class for beginner Beekeepers is a hive inspection.
You will be in a small group working with an Apprentice or Journey Master Beekeeper.
Be sure to bring your Beekeeping Jacket or suit and veil to the class. If you have gloves bring them too.
All are welcome to register for the class. However, priority will go to MDBA beginner beekeepers who completed the Beginner Beekeeper Class 1.
You will learn and practice:
• safely lighting a smoker
• approaching a hive and observing the bees
• how to use a hive tool
• how to inspect a colony
• recognize the caste of honeybees in the hive
• name and recognize how bees organize a frame of brood
• observe how bees organize their colony
• perform a varroa mite test
There will be a discussion about Varroa life cycle, fomites, and how to clean your tools.
There will be a discussion/practice about Queen cages and how to install a Queen.
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email from MDBA.
On Tuesday or Wednesday before the class, you will receive a welcome email with more information you will need to know and bring. Don‘t forget your beekeeping jacket and veil.
The second class for beginner Beekeepers is a hive inspection.
You will be in a small group working with an Apprentice or Journey Master Beekeeper.
Be sure to bring your Beekeeping Jacket or suit and veil to the class. If you have gloves bring them too.
All are welcome to register for the class. However, priority will go to MDBA beginner beekeepers who completed the Beginner Beekeeper Class 1.
You will learn and practice:
• safely lighting a smoker
• approaching a hive and observing the bees
• how to use a hive tool
• how to inspect a colony
• recognize the caste of honeybees in the hive
• name and recognize how bees organize a frame of brood
• observe how bees organize their colony
• perform a varroa mite test
There will be a discussion about Varroa life cycle, fomites, and how to clean your tools.
There will be a discussion/practice about Queen cages and how to install a Queen.
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email from MDBA.
On Tuesday or Wednesday before the class, you will receive a welcome email with more information you will need to know and bring. Don‘t forget your beekeeping jacket and veil.