The buzz on bees
Beekeeping conference in Yerington
We have a strange relationship with bees. Without them, we would be in a whole lot of trouble, which is why colony collapse disorder (CCD) is so distressing, but many of us are terrified of them as soon as we hear that buzz anywhere near us. The Mason Valley Beekeepers certainly aren’t afraid of bees, though, and have chosen to keep them as a hobby. And on Feb. 28 and March 1, they will be holding their fourth annual conference for those who want to learn more about these insects.
The conference will be at the Pioneer Crossing Convention Center in Yerington. The gathering has grown quite a bit since its first year with 16 attendees, and now has more than 80 people signed up from Northern Nevada and California, Pahrump, McGill and other places with more time left to register. The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch on Saturday. There will also be a raffle and a silent auction to raise money for the Young Beekeepers Scholarship program.
“Anyone can come,” said organizer Debbie Gilmore. “If they have bees, if they don’t have bees, if they want to have bees or if they’re just interested in learning. Anybody, any age. The good thing about beekeeping is families can do it, old people can do it—like me—anybody can do it.”
Speakers at the conference will include beekeepers from California, Oregon and Nevada with discussions about bee biology, pests and diseases, how to get started, commercial beekeeping, hive products, queen rearing, making nucleus colonies or nucs, swarms and small cell foundation. Separate sessions will be held for beginning beekeepers and more advanced beekeepers throughout Saturday.
The goal of the conference is to educate anyone who is interested in bees which may help beekeepers and others in the fight against CCD and keep bees around for the future. CCD is a widespread problem, but Gilmore said that the Mason Valley Beekeepers don’t see much of it, which may help shed some light on its causes.
Gilmore said she’s excited for the conference and interested to hear from the variety of people that will be speaking. She is a more advanced beekeeper because she grew up doing it with her family, and began again about eight years ago. But she said that it’s important that new beekeepers know what they’re doing and that all beekeepers keep up on the research.
“Hobby beekeepers are not always looked favorably upon because they get into it and then they lose interest and then what do you do with these bees?” Gilmore said. “They become a nuisance and stuff. So we try to educate people, not only those who want to do bees, but those who just are interested in learning more about bees.”
But she said beekeeping isn’t for everyone. Gilmore is stung often, but half-jokingly says that it’s a good thing because bee venom is used in beauty products and in some therapies.
“If you look into a colony of bees, and you’re a little squeamish about it or you don’t like to get stung, beekeeping is not for you,” Gilmore said. “’Cause you will get stung. But bee venom is very beneficial.”