Archive for the ‘New Beekeepers’ Category

Apiary Work Party – Sunday, June 6

Friday, May 28th, 2010

The next PSBA apiary work party will be Sunday, June 6, 11:00-1:00. Leaders will be Kevin Gow and Laura Lovell (206-633-3577). Contact them for more information, or just show up.

The apiary is behind the greenhouses next to the Graham Visitor’s Center at the Washington Park Arboretum.

Bring your bee suit if you have one. Some protective gear will be available. Anyone who is interested will get hands-on experience.

Beekeeping Webinar – June 1, 6-7 pm EDT

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Title: 6 weeks As a Beekeeper…Now What?
Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Time: 6:00-7:00 PM EDT

Hosts: Kim Flottum (editor, Bee Culture) and Shane Gebauer (General Manager, Brushy Mountain Bee Supply, and long-time beekeeper)

Space is limited. To register:
Registration

More information:
Information

New Hive Inspection Sheet

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Available on the Bee Yard page.

Apiary Work Party – Sunday, May 23

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

The next PSBA apiary work party will be this Sunday, May 23, 12:00-2:00. Meet at the apiary, which is behind the greenhouses next to the Graham Visitor’s Center at the Washington Park Arboretum.

Patti Loesche (206-403-6263) will lead this work party. New and old beekeepers are welcome. If you want hands-on experience, bring a bee suit if you have one, or wear light colors and close up neck, arm, and leg holes. I’ll bring a spare veil and extra gloves.

PSBA Apiary Field Day!

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Saturday, May 15, 10 am-3 pm

Don’t miss this annual educational event! Registration starts at 9:30 am in the greenhouse adjacent to the Graham Visitor Center of the Washington Park Arboretum. Fee is $15 per person or family.

Starting promptly at 10 am, we will offer a lecture, question and answer,  hands-on construction by each attendee of a device for measuring the incidence of varroa infestation using the powdered sugar or ether methods, and hands-on experience with hive inspection.

10:00-12:00 – Main presentation:

  • What to look for in May
  • Disease and treatment
  • Standard tool kit for apiary visits

12:00 – Break for lunch; bring your own or visit local eateries

1:00 – Suit up and walk over to the apiary. Bring your bee suit, veil, gloves (some loaner bee suits will be available). Experienced members will take small groups and demonstrate proper techniques for opening a hive, removing frames, examining for disease or poor brood pattern, and assessing the incidence of varroa infestation. Participants will have hands-on time.

The PSBA apiary is behind the greenhouses next to the Graham Visitor’s Center at the Washington Park Arboretum.

Final Beginning Beekeeping Class

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

The last PSBA-sponsored beginning beekeeping class of the spring is coming up:

When:  April 17 & 18 (Sat & Sun), 12-4 pm each day
Where:  Meadowbrook Farm, North Bend
Cost:  $30

See Meadowbrook Schedule or contact Bob Combs.

PSBA’s First 2010 Apiary Work Party!

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Drop by the PSBA Apiary at the University of Washington Arboretum between 12:00 and 3:00 on Saturday, March 20, for our very first work party of the year!

This is a great opportunity for new beekeepers to check out over-wintered hives and to help inventory and prepare our woodenware for the coming season. You’ll be able to ask some of the Association’s most experienced beekeepers your pressing early-season questions and get some hands-on experience with the tasks you’ll need to perform on your own hives each spring. Spare equipment has sometimes been given away to lucky volunteers at this work-party in the past, so don’t miss it!

Brian Allen will lead this work party (206-973-7374).

Mentoring for First-Year Beekeepers

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

PSBA provides mentors help new beekeepers to learn the essentials of hive management. If you would like a mentor and you are both a first-year beekeeper and a current PSBA member, contact Rob Stevens.

Who is a mentor? Anyone with a season’s experience knows enough to help a beginner with beekeeping basics (as Rob said at the Feb. 23 meeting, if your hive survived the winter, you’re now a mentor). If you’re willing to help a new beekeeper get started, contact Rob.