About Us
ILLINOIS VALLEY BEEKEEPING CLUB
is a support group for people interested in getting started keeping bees.
Next Meeting!
Friday April 14th 2023
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Masks will bee a personal choice for the meeting.
La Salle County Extension Office
1689 North 31st Road
Lower Level (basement)
Ottawa, IL 61350
What we will be discussing at the April Meeting:
We are hoping to have the bee inspector for our area at the meeting.
He is a wonderful guy and we want you to meet him and bring your questions.
He isn't anyone to bee afraid of - He is here to help!
His name is Jim Wellwood come to the meeting and check him out!
And of course the wonderful bee questions - We just love them!
It's time to order your bees for spring - They will bee sold out soon.
If you have bees on order get your hives set up before you pick up your packages and
bee ready for them to come home.
See you there!
It's going to be another great meeting
Bee There Or Bee Square!
Thank You
A BIG THANK YOU!
1st and foremost I would like to thank everyone who came to the Beginner Beekeeping class! It was the best turnout we have ever had!
The speakers were great, the food was great and we all had a good time and I think everyone learned a lot! I can't stress how much I appreciate the people who help out by doing the demonstrations and the people in the background that are helping and making everything go smoothly!
SUBWAY on Columbus Street Did a FANTASTIC job with the sandwiches!
Next Meeting is April 14th 2023
We had a great March Meeting!
We talked about Honey Bee Misconceptions and
found out how much we knew of the terminology that has to do
with beekeeping. We learned a lot!
You can feed Dry Pollen on random 50 degree days - there isn't anything blooming right now so there isn't any pollen out
there yet and if you feed them dry pollen it gives them something to do
and something to feed the brood they are raising right now.
Just put it on a lid or something and set it out near your hives. They will find it and eat every bit of it. (Deer also like it)
We discussed transporting your bee packages when you pick them up at the suppliers. Plan ahead - the weather has a lot to do with putting them in a secure cool place!
Installing a new package of honey bees into your hive. We played a video of installing bees at the waterway - we had lots of new beekeepers in the audience that didn't have a clue on what to expect. A lot of fun was had by all. We showed what to do with the queen that comes with the package and how and when to release her.
We raffled off a package of bees that was donated by Meyer Bees, the person who won them donated them to the waterway. That was unexpected and very well received!
Meyer Bees is going to have the ability to wax dip hive bodies and supers. This will be very affordable and the wax can last up to 20 years on a hive.
Please email Dave if you are interested so he knows how many days to plan for doing this. You can even dip equipment that has already been painted and is in need of being redone.
You can start feeding Liquid 1 to 1 sugar water when the temperatures are a steady 50+ degrees - the bees will not eat it if it's too cold.
See you at the April Meeting!
Its going to be another Great Meeting!
If anyone has a problem and needs some help with their hives please call the number on this website or email us by way of the contact us button, and we can get some help for you.
LOCAL BEEKEEPER MENTORS
SUPPORT GROUP FOR BEGINNER BEEKEEPERS OR HELP GETTING STARTED!
We have monthly meetings to help the beginner or anyone who has questions. You do not have to be a member to attend the meetings!
They are open to anyone who wants to attend!
We welcome anyone who would like to come and talk at any of our meetings. We are always looking for speakers about beekeeping, observation hives, wax making, honey extracting, pretty much anything bees!
Total membership are $20.00 - $10.00 for the IVBA Club and $10.00 to Join the ISBA Club. It is time to renew your membership for 2023.
The ISBA gives us more information on what is happening down state and they have a lot of good information about new things with bees. They send out a quarterly news letter that is very informative.
If you would like to get someone a gift membership to the club please
call the number on the website and we will get you taken care of.
You can also use the contact us button to ask any questions about your bees or installing bees - any question is welcome.