The situation on the Coronavirus and its spread in Washington has been dynamic in the last weeks and since our publication of the last newsletter. We had hoped to continue our education program and meetings without interruption but we are going to have to go “virtual” to support you as best we can!
Governor Inslee has banned public meetings of over 250 people in King, Snohomish and Pierce county. Instruction for group meetings under 250 have guidance for health, sanitation, at risk members and “social distancing” of 6 feet. Pretty hard for us in the settings and meeting that we’ve enjoyed for many years.
Schools are closing, the Pierce County Library has cancelled all use of public meeting rooms in their facilities and nearly all the sporting teams have cancelled or delaying their seasons.
For now, We are cancelling our education and general meetings planned for April 6th, 2020 and will continue to monitor events as they emerge and make decisions going forward. Time will tell us how we will go forward for an April Apiary day, May and summer meetings. We hope this begins to resolve soon.
For our “Introduction to Beekeeping” students.
We will continue to communicate and support you going forward on the PCBA Website. You can also ask for help on our PCBA Facebook Virtual Mentors page found here:
It is a private group, so you will have to request access and we will accept you. After that, you can post questions, ask for help and get other good information as you begin your adventures into beekeeping.
For our OMB Master Beekeeper Students:
Continue to follow up on the monthly online content from OSU. They will continue to publish the online video’s on or around the first of the month. We encourage you to join us on the PCBA Master Beekeeper Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/170010993734925/
It is also a private page that you ask for access to and we will accept you. After that we’ll have the ability to review your monthly video assignments, answer questions, and coordinate your mentors for help that you may need.
You can also check for updates on the PCBA Webpage and apiary days and the Spring Fair found here:
Thank you for your patience as we sort this out together….
Don’t forget to wash your hands……use soap!
JT
PCBA President 2020
Introduction to Beekeeping Class Temporarily Suspended due to the Coronavirus emergency.
When resumed, classes start at 6:15 p.m. Previous members that have taken the introduction course may come for any of the monthly classes as a refresher or join the Sustainable beekeepers group that meet in the WOSSA building at 6:15. Scroll down for more detailed information.
Apiary Day’s are the 3rd Saturday of the Month at the Apiary starting 12:00 p.m.
NOTE:
Apiary Day is on
March 21 , Has been Cancelled due to Weather
Bring your bee gear and your questions as we inspect our education Apiary on the south side of the campus. If weather doesn’t permit inspections we will update the website the morning of….so check back before you drive out if the weather looks sketchy.
Introduction to Beginning Beekeeping
(Temporarily Suspended)
Registration for our 2019/2020 class on beekeeping will start @ 6:00 p.m. Almendinger Center, WSU Puyallup Campus on October 7th, 2019 so come early. Class starts at 6:15 p.m. The fee for the class is $75.00 and includes 9 – 1 hour classroom sessions, taught by a variety of experienced PCBA Beekeepers through out the year. Topics include all aspects of beekeeping and what you need to know to be a successful beekeeper. The class also includes 10 – 2 hour sessions (weather permitting) of hands on beekeeping in our PCBA Apiary that includes how to set up your apiary, getting your bees installed, hive inspections, finding the queen, feeding and treatment to keep you colonies healthy and over wintering preparations for your apiary. 100 % of the Class fee’s go to support PCBA, bees in the apiary and supplies.
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OMB Apprentice and Master Beekeeping program
(Third Saturday meetings at the WOSSA building are Temporarily Suspended)
The OMB Apprentice Group will meet starting January 18th, 2020 at the WOSSA Building at 10:00 A.M. Make sure to bring your Beekeeper’s Handbook and questions! This lecture series will meet the 16 hours required under the Apprentice OMB program.
We may adjust the schedule to be a little later, based on weather when we start Apiary Days in March to allow it to warm up enough to work the bees.
Sustainable Beekeeping
(meetings are Temporarily Suspended)
Next meeting, November 4th at 6:15 P.M. in the WOSSA Building
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March 16th @ 6:15pm
Board Meeting
TBD
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PCBA General meeting and Beginner Beekeeping meets in the Allmendinger Center:
The Website Committee would like to thank all of the PCBA members who contributed to the new website. In recent years, PCBA's membership has grown by leaps and bounds. We hope the new pcbeekeepers.org will meet the needs of our members for years to come.
