When: 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5
Where: Meadowbrook Farm Park, 1711 Boalch Ave NW, North Bend
or
Where: Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82289661247?pwd=T3dBY2JSZFVNR2hkamJzaTM4SjJMdz09

Please join us next Tuesday night for our April club meeting in person at Meadowbrook Farm or online via Zoom.

This month it is our privilege to host Dr. Jennifer Han, Ph.D. from the Department of Entomology at WSU. She will be giving a talk titled, “Is Varroa control possible without chemical miticides?”. Time permitting, she will also present on some of the other research currently being done at the WSU Bee Lab.

We will finish the evening with a Beekeeping 101 presentation and an open Q&A session.
This will be a brief presentation to go over the tasks that we should all be performing in April and an opportunity to ask any questions.

But wait…there’s more! Our club is scheduled to receive bee packages next Tuesday. This means there will be an opportunity for those attending in person to watch us install the packages in our club apiary. We will begin the installs at 6:00 p.m. and kindly ask that anyone wanting to attend bring their protective gear. Safety first! Of course, sometimes package deliveries can be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Be on the lookout for an update next Tuesday confirming whether or not the installations are happening.

When: 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1
Where: Meadowbrook Farm Park, 1711 Boalch Ave NW, North Bend
or
Where: Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82289661247?pwd=T3dBY2JSZFVNR2hkamJzaTM4SjJMdz09

Are you a beginner beekeeper who is freaking out about what to do with your new bee package or nuc when it arrives or how to care for over overwintered hives? Then you won’t want to miss this meeting.

Our speaker will be friend of the club Cory Marchand from the Snohomish Bee Company. Cory spoke to our club last fall about preparing for winter and has graciously agreed to visit us again to give an in-person talk geared towards beginner beekeepers.

We will finish the evening with an open Q&A session to allow those in attendance an opportunity to ask any burning (stinging?) questions to which they will get multiple conflicting, yet correct, answers to. Also a great opportunity to meet and chat with your fellow local beekeepers!

Please join us in person at Meadowbrook Farm or online via Zoom.

*UPDATE*
Due to the snow in North Bend, this is now a Zoom-only meeting. There is no in-person meeting.

When: 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4
Where: Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82289661247?pwd=T3dBY2JSZFVNR2hkamJzaTM4SjJMdz09

Tuesday night is our first meeting of 2022 and we will talk about what you should be doing in January to prepare for the new year.

And new President Dave will have a great presentation about what is really in your honey and how to find out. An very interesting talk.

If you have feedback or ways we can make it work better for you, please let us know: [email protected].

When: 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2
Where: Meadowbrook Farm Park, 1711 Boalch Ave NW, North Bend
OR
Where: Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/92391693233?pwd=dkQzOC9kVFljeFZscEtHcXlVUTE4QT09

Tuesday night is our November meeting and we will answer all of your overwintering questions.

Winter is coming, and it is time to make sure your bees have what they need to stay snuggly and warm. We’ve got a few tips and tricks for you, and we will attempt to answer your questions.

And the last hybrid meeting went so well, we are doing it again.

The system worked well last time, so you can join us at the Meadowbrook Farm or on Zoom.

Those who attend in person will probably enjoy a bounty of leftover Halloween candy brought by members.

When: 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4
Where: Meadowbrook Farm Park, 1711 Boalch Ave NW, North Bend
OR
Where: Zoom meeting: https://snovalleybees.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d34ff71fcdf8adc9277ade000&id=ce4657bc4d&e=d617d2aeb0

Cory Marchand of the Snohomish Bee Company will be joining us in person tomorrow night to talk about winterizing your hives. Last year, Cory’s presentation on keeping your hives warm through the winter received fantastic reviews, so we asked him for an encore performance.

…and due to COVID concerns, we are making it a hybrid meeting

With the weather getting colder and the potential for rain, we will be holding our meeting indoors tomorrow night, but will also offer a Zoom option for those who would prefer not to be inside.

We have a new system we will be trying, so we welcome your feedback.

September 7 is our first in-person club meeting in more than a year.

The forecast is for a lovely evening and if the forecast holds, we will open the doors and meet outside. If we meet inside, masks will be required, but won’t spoil the fun of seeing everyone.

And we have a great program, including the return of honored friend-of-the-club Charles Schaffer and our amazing panel of experts who will answer all questions about mite treatments, winter preparations, and the black knotweed honey that will soon be in your hives.

Zoom won’t be available for the meeting, so we look forward to seeing everyone in person.

Club elections

Tomorrow is also our annual meeting and we will be electing officers for 2022. Current President Todd Myers is moving out of the area, so several positions are open, including:

• President
• Treasurer
• Secretary

We are also looking for new board members. Our members and board members make the club strong and we have a fun group. Thanks to the leadership of Past President Diane Price, the club is in good financial shape. What more could you ask for?

When: 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7
Where: Meadowbrook Farm Park, 1711 Boalch Ave NW, North Bend

When: Tuesday, June 1, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom meeting: https://snovalleybees.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d34ff71fcdf8adc9277ade000&id=75f0d00c06&e=d617d2aeb0

For the new members, there will no doubt be many questions about how your new hives are doing. Have no fear…the ever-popular panel of experts will answer all of your questions.

We have an interesting speaker – Sasha Shaw from the King County Noxious Weed Control Program. She will tell us about what beekeepers can do to make their bees are happy and well fed while reducing the harm from invasive plants.

Plus we will discuss when to meet in person!

When: Tuesday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/92391693233?pwd=dkQzOC9kVFljeFZscEtHcXlVUTE4QT09

This month we feature our famous panel of experts who can answer all of your questions. Bring all your beekeeping queries for the Q&A, especially those timely Spring topics such as package installation, queen health, sugar syrup ratios, and anything else on your mind.

When: Tuesday, April 6, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92391693233?pwd=dkQzOC9kVFljeFZscEtHcXlVUTE4QT09

Spring is here and it is time to get ready for new hives! Joining us for a primer on beginning beekeeping is Danny Najera of Green River Community College. Learn about the equipment you need, how to install bees in your new hive and how to them off to a good start.

And, if that wasn’t enough, Cassie Cichorz of the WA Department of Agriculture will join us to give an update on the Asian giant hornet and efforts to track and eradicate them.

When: Tuesday, March 2, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92391693233?pwd=dkQzOC9kVFljeFZscEtHcXlVUTE4QT09

Our first speaker on March 2 is Loni Ronnebaum of Fungi Perfecti. She will discuss “how fungi can help give bees a chance.” Fungi Perfecti has teamed up with Washington State University to study the effects of fungal extracts on bees. Together our efforts have raised over $5 million towards this important cause! She will discuss their research, future plans and what, as individuals, we can do to give bees a chance.

Then we will hear from Ellen Miller of the Washington State Beekeepers Association, who will talk about their Apprentice and Journeyman beekeeping programs. If you haven’t taken the Apprentice class, it is very worthwhile and will improve your beekeeping knowledge. If you already have your Apprentice certification, the SnoKing Beekeepers Association is forming a study group for the Journeyman program, starting on March 22.