Interested in keeping bees? Want to learn more about the bees you already have? Info about classes across the state of Iowa has been compiled for you —
****updated to include Iowa Falls 1/7/16****
Quad Cities Pollinator Conference: June 10 – 11, 2015
Very detailed information can be found at this webpage: http://nahantmarsh.org/qcpollinatorconference/
———–
Greetings,
I am writing to let your organization know about the inaugural Quad Cities Pollinator Conference, June 10-11, 2015 at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel in Rock Island, Illinois. Our planning committee believes your organization, or its members, may have an interest in learning more about pollinators and pollinator health. If so, please help us spread the word about this exciting event!
Short summary
Quad Cities Pollinator Conference, June 10-11, 2015 at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, Rock Island, IL. Keynote dinner by John Phipps, commentator for US Farm Report. Sessions on: plant-pollinator relationships, pollinator decline, designing pollinator support plantings, conservation measures, pollinator-friendly landscapes in agricultural and urban settings, and more. Knowledge-sharing, networking, and pollinator-related goods and services! Register by 6/1 at qcpollinatorconference.org.
Facebook event (set up through Nahant Marsh Education Center)
Please help us spread the word by sharing this through your social media networks!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1581574648794517/
Info can also be found at: www.qcpollinatorconference.org
Thank you in advance. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like additional information.
Erin Vorac
Conference Planner
563-349-3345
We have T-shirts, yes we do
****** updating information on Jan. 5, 2015 ********
Anyone can order a Des Moines Backyard Beekeepers T-shirt through the shop at CafePress. You have multiple product choices. http://www.cafepress.com/desmoinesbackyardbeekeepers
Thank you for taking a look!
2015 Beginning Beekeeper Classes
Information on central Iowa beginning beekeeping classes follows. Please contact the person listed below for more details on that specific course and to register.
- Central Iowa Beginning Beekeeping Course
Instructor: Andy Joseph, State Apiarist
When: Tuesday evenings, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Feb. 3 through March 10 (6 weeks)
Location: the DCI conference room in the Iowa Laboratory Facility, Ankeny – adjacent to the DMACC campus
Price: $30/person, $15 each additional family member, and includes everything: tuition, book, handouts, field day expenses, etc. Cash or check made out to “IHPA.”
Need more info? Send email to Andy at andrew.joseph@iowaagriculture.gov
- The Friendly Beekeepers of Iowa (FBI) Beginning Beekeeping Course
Instructor: FBI members, slated by the week
When: Thursdays at 6:30-8:30pm, Feb. 5 through March 26, 2015 (8 weeks)
Location: Calvary Baptist Church, 2708 N Jefferson Way, Indianola, IA 50125.
Price: The cost of the course will be free, but for first time beekeepers we require you purchase the book, “First Lessons in Beekeeping” by Keith Delaplane, which will be available for $8.00. A power point presentation provided by Andy Joseph, State Apiarist, follows the “First Lessons in Beekeeping” book that we will use as a course outline. This information will be available the first night of class.
Need more info? Send email to Judy at jespencejr44@gmail.com Our club welcomes all levels of beekeepers. Most of us continue to attend the course after the first year, as there is always something new to learn! We are of all ages and willing to help and support all.
FBI Sept meeting detail
From Judy and Rhonda:
6:30pm
Annett Nature Center
15565 118th Ave
Indianola, IA
Dear Members-
If you would like bring a treat to SHARE and your own drink!!
BEE Club Schedule 2014
Sept 25 – Andy Joseph – State Apiarist
Youth in 4-H Polk County Bee Keeping Club
Youth and adults interested in bee keeping are invited to join 4-H Polk County Bee Keeping on October 11, 2014 from 10 a.m. – 12 noon.
4-H Polk County Bee Keeping will be meeting at the Chapter House at the Ankeny Izaak Walton League, located at 4857 NE 110th Ave, Elkhart, IA 50073
We plan to build a couple more hives, butterfly houses, mason bee houses, plant flowers in the spring, put in flower beds, how to properly keep honey bees, and lots of fun stuff.
4H registration is $30 a year per child plus $20 club fee (if your child is in k-3rd then they are a Clover Kid; 4th – 12th is 4H). To register and pay, you will need to do this with ISU Extension, either online (link here) or in person (1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A, Altoona, Iowa 50009 (515) 957-5760
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). If you’re unable to pay a club fee, consider if sharing your tools, supplies, knowledge, etc. — we’ll work something out! Families who are curious about 4-H can attend Find-Out Night this Thursday evening: click here for more information .
Thanks everyone!
Jen
515-490-0695
What we do
We support each other wherever we happen to be on our beekeeping journey.
- If you want general support, our monthly meetings are a great place to start. Put your shyness aside and ask away!
- If you want to ask questions outside of our meetings, we have a Facebook Page.
- If you want to see a bee vacuum, ask for a show and tell meeting next month and make sure you’re there to see it.
- If you want to catch a swarm, use the Contact Form to get your name on the Swarm Page.
Upcoming events
Our club
The Des Moines Backyard Beekeepers meet generally on the third Thursday of the month. Check the Events Page for more locations and other information.
Other clubs
The Friendly Beekeepers of Iowa (FBI) meets on the fourth Thursday of each month from March through October at 6:30 pm. with a speaker or a roundtable discussion. Meetings are held at Calvary Baptist Church, 2708 N Jefferson Way, Indianola, IA 50125. Contact is Judy Spence.
Central Iowa Beekeepers Association (CIBA) meets on the third Saturday in January, March, May, July, October, and November. Contact through Facebook Messenger.
Bee Removal
If you think you need a honey bee removal, check out >this page< or >this page< to confirm that you have honey bees.
MAKE SURE THEY ARE HONEY BEES AND LOOK LIKE THIS:
- If the ‘bee’ has yellow legs and/or yellow face, it is not a honey bee.
- If the ‘bee’ has no hair/fuzz, it is not a honey bee.
- If the ‘bee’ has a thread-like waist, it is not a honey bee.
- If it is black and bright yellow, it is not a honey bee.
- If they are flying in and out of a hole in the ground or a railroad tie, they are probably not honey bees.
If you see a structure like either of these, you have wasps:
![Lefthand photo by Downtowngal (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons. Righthand photo with permission of B. Buckley.](https://i0.wp.com/www.desmoinesbackyardbeekeepers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/wasp-Collage.jpg?resize=450%2C225)
- Honey bee swarm. A random clump of bees hanging from an elevated surface, not feeding on flowers
- Established colony in a structure or living tree
- Downed tree with an established colony