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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.