Next meeting is May 14, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver
Collecting Pollen: How to Collect and What to Do After
Presented by Mike Seib, co-owner of Seib's Hoosier Honey in Indiana. Together with his wife Debbie, Mike keeps 150 to 200 hives. Mike has been a beekeeper since he was 10 years old.
Are you pollen curious? Join your fellow MHBC members for this informational meeting on how and when to collect pollen.
Due to weather events prior to the Saturday following the monthly MHBC meeting (when field trips are generally held), this apiary visit is being held the next Saturday March 23rd from 2:00-3:30 pm for a first look into the club bee hives at Riverside Cemetery/Pollinator Meadow. Come join in on the "surprise" to see what is found and discuss: the agenda to have prior to opening the hives coming out of winter; how to assess the colony's needs, strength, and health; and plan to address any issues found.
This would especially be good for newbees-to-3rd year beekeepers. How to prepare for first time beekeeping or for warmer weather ahead on established over-wintered hives; will discuss/see hive equipment, clothing and paraphernalia; will check what is happening in the hive this time of year by observing under the inner cover on top hive box and how to assess hive needs
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Co-Guest Speaker Coordinator
Officer at Large
Officer at Large
Secretary
secretary@milehivebeeclub.org 309-912-4866
Co-Guest Speaker Coordinator
Hives for Heroes is a national non-profit service organization focusing on sustainability, conservation, and providing a healthy transition from a career in the miltary or emergency services. Through our national network of beekeepers, we provide connection, purpose, and healthy relationships, through access, resources, and funding for the success of Active-Duty and Veteran Military and First Responders. From just an idea in 2018 to a small cluster of volunteers in 2020, the program has grown to almost 5000 members today across the United States and the world. At the core of the program is the value of Connection. Connecting one mentor and one newBEE over one hive. It’s about connecting Veterans to each other, to nature, and to themselves all through the activity of beekeeping. The program pairs local beekeepers as mentors with Veterans interested in beekeeping as a hobby (Mentors do NOT need to be Veterans). Interested newBEEs and mentors simply fill out a short application on our website < https://www.hivesforheroes.org > and our Connections Team will try and locate a match. Once the connection is made, the newBEE and mentor coordinate the relationship going forward. Following the “See one, Do one, Teach one” model, the first year the Veteran newBEE watches their mentor, shadowing their activities and assisting with beekeeping tasks. The mentor shares educational resources, information on local bee clubs, and teaches the newBEE on existing hives in their apiary to help the newBEE become a successful beekeeper in the future. Should the relationship continue into a second year, Hives for Heroes encourages mentors to provide a nucleus colony or share a split of bees with their newBEEs to allow them to keep bees of their own. The mentor/newBEE relationship matures and topics and questions discussed become more advanced. In their third year, the newBEE is invited to pay it forward by becoming a mentor themselves and continuing to grow the beekeeping community! In addition to the local connection, the national Hives for Heroes organization is always there as a resource for both newBEE and mentor alike. Hives for Heroes headquarters hosts a national meeting monthly over Zoom allowing Veterans to interact with guest speakers, State Leaders, and mentors from across the country. Hives for Heroes also provides scholarships, educational resources, and a wide variety of collaborative partnerships to support Veterans. So, whether you’re a Veteran of the military or emergency services interested in learning more about beekeeping or an experienced beekeeper interested in connecting with a local newBEE, consider Hives for Heroes. It’s free to join and a great way to connect over the amazing world of bees and beekeeping.