Last month we posted about Beekind, the great bee keepers’ store in Sebastopol. But you should also know about the Sonoma County Beekeepers’ Association.

The Sonoma County Beekeepers’ Association has monthly meetings that cover a variety of topics designed to help all beekeepers at their various stages of knowledge. Each meeting begins with a question and answer time when the members help each other solve problems they encounter or attempt to prevent problems.

Topics that are covered during the year are disease and mite prevention methods, uses of hive products such as wax, honey extraction techniques, hive building, hive management, apitherapy, bee friendly plants, gadgets we have found that make beekeeping easier, and other topics of interest. Some speakers are professional beekeepers, some are long time beekeepers who have good techniques to share and some are entomologists such as Dr. Eric Mussen from U.C. Davis.

Benefits to becoming a member include use of the library of books, journals, and video media, use of our two electric honey extractors and hot knives, and receiving a monthly copy of the newsletter. Members are also able to post want ads having to do with bees in the newsletter at no cost.

We attempt to match up new beekeepers with mentors to help them work with their hives.

Members pay an annual membership fee of $25 per person. We also encourage members to participate in exhibits we have during the year at various faires.

Meetings are on the second Monday of each month (that’s tomorrow, folks!). Check out their newsletters for minutes from past meetings and other great info.

One of the most interesting pages on their site is the Swarm List, for people who find a swarm of bees on their property and want to have them removed. (And if you’re lucky enough to be on the apprentice list, you might get called to help and even get a swarm of your own.

Link: Sonoma County Beekeepers’ Association