All club meetings are free to attend and start at 6 p.m. Meetings include light refreshments, networking, education, Q & A and fun.
Wednesday, April 9
The First Six Weeks
The First Six Weeks, includes how to install a NUC or package. This club meeting will be an overview on preparing for bees arrival, installation and key initial activities and checks for about the first six weeks of beekeeping. Are you ready? This gives you the chance to ask questions before you take possession of your honey bees, all 10,000 of those little darlings.
- Wednesday, May 14: Frame Management — Drawn comb is gold to a beekeeper, but at some point, it should be replaced. When? And why? And how can you help your bees replace this incredible resource?
- Wednesday, June 11: Queen Evaluation — The most important part of a beehive, the queen bee. Learn about queen evaluation for an expert, Dr. Larry Connor.
- Wednesday, July 9: Integrated Pest Management — Did you know that a single honey bee colony can face up to 20 different pests and diseases? It’s a jungle out there for our buzzing friends! Don Lam will talk about integrated pest management to controlling pests and disease in your hives. As a bonus Don will be driving in his mobile showroom and making available bee equipment for purchase.
- Wednesday, Aug. 13: Overwintering — Bitter cold temperatures and icy roads seem a long way from here, but it is coming, and your bees know it. They are already preparing for winter. Are you?
- Wednesday, Sept. 10: To come
- Wednesday, Oct. 8: Mead Making — Discover the art of mead-making. Rick Arnold, president of the Holland Area Beekeepers, will present on making mead (honey wine).
- Wednesday, Nov. 12: To come
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: Bee-Zaar — Enjoy a fulfilling and enriching shopping experience right in your own “backyard.” Support local shopping at the Winter Bee-Zaar and play a game of Bee-ingo with fun prizes.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: So, You Want to be a Beekeeper? This is intended to introduce individuals from the community to beekeeping and is open to all. It’s perfect timing for those who might want to take a deeper dive and are thinking about attending Bee School in February. (potentially virtual)
Above in-person events will be held at:
Schrier Park
850 W. Osterhout Ave
Portage MI
Please note: Any meeting cancellations or change of venue will be communicated via email blast and on our Facebook page no later than two hours prior to the event’s start time.
Location for future meetings may change, so be sure to bookmark this page and follow us on Facebook so you don’t miss out on any of our upcoming events!
Please note: KBC will be taking photos and videos during any/all of its events. These may be used on social media, our website or in our newsletter. If you do not want your photo taken, please inform our team on-site during the event.