It’s Springtime and a Farmer’s Thoughts Turn To Pollination?

The next meeting of the KCAA will be held on:
Tuesday, May12, 7:00 pm
Norm Dicks Center
345 Sixth Street
Bremerton, WA

One of the most critical challenges facing all farmers these days is the crisis affecting bee populations. While there are other pollinators that interact with the plants bees are by far the most important to the majority of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. In recent years some scientists estimate that the bee population has been decimated, losing as much as 2/3′s of bees raised commercially and possibly a similar number in natural hives.
No bees, no food.

Sharon Howard and Sally Lorree, president of the Peninsula Fruit Club, have arranged for two expert speakers to educate us on this topic. Dave Hunter and Paul Lundy will be sharing their experience and research in this area.
What started out as a backyard hobby 18 years ago has shifted into a commercial mason bee producing business.  Dave strives to be as current with the latest studies, practices, and trends of the mason bee through continual conversations with the nations leading scientists.

Dave Hunter, Bee Man

In his presentation, you’ll increase your practical knowledge of the mason bee’s advantages to your orchard or backyard:
·         He encourages the backyard gardener on best practices to increase their mason bee population
·         Through comparison to the well known honeybee, you’ll learn why the mason bee is such a different and more efficient pollinator on certain crops
·         He provides tips to the smaller orchard owner on how to pollinate with mason bees
·         There are a variety of mason bee “huts/blocks” available.  What are the advantages of each and why?
·         We have a few NW pests to the mason bee.  Learn how best to manage them

Dave’s a UW graduate in Civil Engineering, was the director of real estate for Airborne Express and DHL, is a certified Project Manager Professional, and now has shifted focus to help create a commercial mason bee industry.  And through all of this… his wife and children still love and support him.

Paul Lundy

Paul is the editor of the Washington State Beekeeper Association newsletter www.wasba.org , chair of the State Master Beekeepers Committee, which creates the testing curriculum and provides standards for beekeeping education in Washington State. Paul is also a Washington State Beekeepers representative for area 1b serving King, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam counties. Locally, Paul is a member of West Sound Beekeepers www.westsoundbees.org and Chimacum Grange Beekeepers, teaching beginning beekeeper classes in each association. He has been a beekeeper since 1997. Paul loves nature, honey bees, beekeeping and educating the public about the joys of pollinators and beekeeping. Paul & his wife Lisa raise honey bees and produce much of their own food.

Paul is also a facilities management professional with over 20 years experience directing the operations of bio-pharmaceutical and bio-technology companies. Currently, Paul is a Senior Director of Facilities for the cancer therapy bio-pharmaceutical company Seattle Genetics, located in Bothell, Washington.

Paul’s presentation will cover pollinators that play an important role in agriculture and are major  pollinators in ecosystems that contain flowering plants. Paul will cover the life cycle of bees and what you can do to encourage pollinators in your area. Bumble bees and honey bees will be the main topic of the presentation.

Bee There!