AKRON, Colo. — We have another exciting year coming with lots of educational programs and demonstrations planned. Come join us! We welcome any beekeeper whether you are a hobbyist, a beginner or advanced. We enjoy sharing information about our experiences with the challenges and rewards of being a High Plains Beekeeper.
The first meeting of the year is January 29 at 10:00 am at Health Essentials in Burlington, Colorado. This will entail a short business meeting followed by a talk by Bob Shade on Winter Hive Care and Feeding. You won’t want to miss it. Then if you are interested in the by-products of honey, Linda Wardlaw will hold a demonstration. Please send an email to hpcombeekeepers@gmail.com or call Linda Wardlaw at 719-349-5303 because supplies will be limited to 20 people.
The High Plains Community Beekeepers Club is offering seed packets of a western seed mix that will help us all build more bee habitat in our yards. The seed packets have both annuals and perennials in the mix. This is a full sun mix that is to be broadcast over 100 square feet. March is an ideal time to plant the seed for a cold treatment which helps force germination.
Another option for germinating the seed mix is to get a flat with a light, well-draining soil mix and place the seed on top. Add a light sprinkling of soil on top or sand and place it outside in a protected area. Water it well before you place it outside and check it regularly. The seed will germinate in the flat. When there is enough of a root system, you can transplant the seedlings breaking apart sections of the flat. You can germinate the seed in more than one flat if you like so the seed are not so condensed.
If you are interested in a seed packet, please feel free to contact Melissa Kleweno at Health Essentials or the following Colorado State University Extension Offices: Yuma County ask for JoLynn Midcap, Washington County ask for Jeannie Lambertson, Phillips County ask for Carrie Anderson and Sedgwick County ask for Linda Langelo.
Be sure to order your bee supplies in January and pre-order bee packages or nucs, if you are interested in raising bees for the first time. There are suppliers in Denver, Colorado or Cheyenne, Wyoming. By joining the club, you can get recommendations and help from members on Facebook called High Plains Community Beekeepers Club.
HPBC holds meetings four times a year in January, March, September and November on the fourth Saturday of the month. Locations and time will be announced on our FaceBook page. As we get into summer there will be hive visits and classes on various topics depending on weather and seasonal variability. Please feel free to suggest topics that you are interested in, and we can add those to our agenda. We will be happy to host topics that are important and relevant to you. We hope to see you at the next meeting!
If it happens to snow or the roads turn icy, we will post it on the High Plains Community Beekeepers Club FaceBook page if the meeting is cancelled or moved to a Zoom format.
–CSU Extension