The Mid Island Farmers Institute will be hosting their January Meeting on the topic of “An Introduction to Beekeeping” on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Merville Hall, 1245 Fenwick Rd.
The workshop is $5 for non-members and free for all current members of the Institute.
Gerry and Chris Rozema run Rozehaven Farm in Campbell River and are avid beekeepers. They will be providing an overview of what is involved in beekeeping for anyone wishing to get into production, especially farmers. As members of the Comox Valley Beekeepers Association and the BC Honey Producers Association, they have a depth of knowledge on how to manage bees in the climate of the Comox Valley.
Nosema, varroa mites, and foul brood are just some of the pests and diseases that can hit honeybees here. In addition, with wetter springs and hot, dry summers, forage for bees is becoming more and more limited. To overcome this, many producers take their hives up to Mount Washington to collect fireweed nectar so that they have enough honey to extract.
The Mid Island Farmers Institute holds its meetings on the third Wednesday of each month between September and May. Membership is open to farmers and non-farmers alike and is just $20. For more information, please contact Arzeena Hamir at 250-702-5657 or email midislandfarmersinstitute@gmail.com