PCBA Club Meetings
The Pueblo County Beekeeping Association meets every second Thursday of the month, at 6:30 p.m., at the:
Pueblo County Lamb Branch Library
2525 S Pueblo Blvd
Pueblo, CO 81005
January:
o Elections
o Membership drive
o Presentation: Winter Hive checks
o Q&A
February
o Discussion of programs, events, and volunteer opportunities
o Speaker event sign-ups
o Presentation: How to handle losing bees, how to keep bees alive
March:
o Pueblo Ag Fest March 18-20th
o Speaker Event March 29th
o Hives for Heroes speaker
o Presentation: Pesticide/Herbicide by Matt Martinez
o Sun, Soil, Water Ag Summit booth March 15th
April:
o Speaker Event overview with follow-up questions
o Presentation: Swarm-catching
o Presentation: Initial Hive
o Presentation: Bee sting management
o Presentation: How to install a package and a nuc
May:
o How to become involved in the Club
o Zoo outreach booth
o Mentor list finalized
o Presentation: grasshoppers management
Pueblo County Beekeepers Association
Providing Education and Support for Beekeepers and the Public
o Presentation: Splits
o Q&A
June:
o Presentation: Seasonal Management by Rick Martinez
o Presentation: Queens: where to get, how to install
July:
o Presentation: How to do a hive inspection
o Presentation: Mite Treatments by Rick Martinez
o Q&A
August:
o Club Picnic
September:
o Presentation: Honey Extraction
o Presentation: Winterization
October:
o Presentation: Sugar Board Demo
o Presentation: How to market honey basics
o Honey Contest
November:
o No Meeting
December:
o No meeting
PCBA Member Education
NewBee
Mentor Program
This is a program for members of the Pueblo County Beekeepers Association. We are a community of beekeepers. Once you have benefitted from the mentorship program, please consider paying it forward and helping other new beekeepers.
Rick Ludwig, Mentor Program Coordinator
719-242-1509 | Email
🐝 Our mentors are volunteers that are happy to give their time and share their knowledge about beekeeping. Please be respectful of their time by adhering to the following guidelines
🐝 Mentorship program is really for those who have been keeping bees fewer than three years.
🐝 If you have been keeping bees longer than three years please take advantage of the club’s directory to reach out to other beekeepers for suggestions.
🐝 Please don’t ask for RULES. Every hive and every hive situation is unique. Mentors can give you suggestions, but please don’t ask them to tell you what to do.
🐝 Beekeeping is an ongoing learning experience. Even for experienced beekeepers!
🐝 Please familiarize yourself with the issue you are facing before you call your mentor – remember, beekeeping is an ongoing learning experience–use multiple resources!
🐝 Out of respect for our volunteer mentors, please be respectful of their time. Remember they have hives and lots of other things going on in their lives too!
🐝 When your mentor is set to visit your bee yard, be ready for them. Please don’t make your mentor wait around while you gather equipment, etc. Be ready to go when your mentor arrives at
the agreed upon time.
🐝 Mentorship comes with unlimited telephone discussion about your questions.
🐝 Mentorship is limited to four hours of yard visits out of respect for mentors’ time.
🐝 Mentors should have a minimum of 3-4 years of beekeeping experience.
🐝 You are not bound by the mentee suggestions. i.e. if you want to provide more time that is entirely up to you.
🐝 Mentors should be available for telephone discussions of mentees’ issues.
🐝 Mentors should show up for yard visits on time, out of respect for mentee’s time.
🐝 For hygienic reasons, and to prevent the possible spread of pathogens, it is very strongly suggested that you do not use your hive tools or leather gloves in someone else’s hives and that you do not let anyone get into your hives with their hive tools or leather gloves.
🐝 The hive owner’s hive tools should be used and also their gloves, if they have an extra pair available.
🐝 Disposable nitrile gloves, can be used as an option. These are available in different thicknesses and can be doubled up, if necessary.
Equipment Rental
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COMING SOON:
Commercial Oxalic Acid Vaporizer Wand – Rental Agreement & Usage Instructions
Honey Extractor – Rental Agreement & Usage Instructions
Shop our Local Sponsors for Beekeeping Supplies & Hive Equipment
Beeline of Colorado (Pueblo):
www.BeeLineOfColorado.com
Rocky Mountain Bee Supply (Colorado Springs):
www.RockyMountainBeeSupply.com
Swarm Scramble + Swarm List
Starting in January, members can sign up for the Swarm Scramble, which closes at the April Meeting.
At the April meeting, the Swarm Scramble (like a lottery) is performed--names are pulled out of a hat, and that's the order of the list for that year.
Names submitted AFTER the Swarm Scramble, will be added to the bottom of the Swarm List.
The Swarm List is carried over into the next member year. Whomever is no longer a member, their name gets removed from the list.
Don't be shy--add your name to the next Swarm Scramble ASAP--apply to the swarm list.
Beekeepers often see swarms as an opportunity to increase their apiary or to prevent the bees from establishing themselves in unwanted locations, such as inside buildings or trees where they may pose a risk to humans or property.
To catch a swarm, beekeepers typically:
Locate the Swarm: Swarms are usually found hanging from tree branches, fences, or other structures. They can be quite conspicuous due to their size and the large number of bees clustered together.
Prepare Equipment: Beekeepers prepare a hive box or a swarm trap to capture the bees. This may involve setting up bait hives with frames containing empty comb or a pheromone lure to attract the bees.
Capture the Swarm: Beekeepers gently shake or brush the bees into the hive box or swarm trap. It's essential to work calmly and carefully to avoid agitating the bees.
Transport and Relocation: Once the bees are captured, they are transported to a new location, typically to a beekeeper's apiary. Here, they are introduced to a new hive where they can establish themselves and continue their activities.
Swarm catching requires experience and skill to be done effectively and safely. It's essential to take precautions to protect both the beekeeper and the bees during the process. Additionally, beekeepers should be mindful of local regulations and obtain any necessary permits before relocating swarms.
A "trap out" in beekeeping refers to a method used to remove bees from a structure or location where they are unwanted, such as a building or a tree, without harming them. It involves setting up a one-way exit that allows bees to leave the area but prevents them from returning. Typically, this involves placing a device or cone over the entrance the bees are using to exit the hive. The bees are then encouraged to find a new home, often a nearby bait hive provided by the beekeeper. Once the majority of bees have left the original location and moved into the bait hive, the original hive can be safely removed or sealed off. This method is more time-consuming than other bee removal techniques, but it is generally considered more humane because it doesn't involve killing the bees.
Our Amazing Sponsors:
