Santa Barbara Beekeepers Association was glad to be apart of the Earth Day Festival. Our yellow and black Hex Hive Tent could be seen next to other grassroots food movements promoting the bounty of Santa Barbara. Beyond promoting sustainable beekeeping practices it was great to teach future beekeepers on the important roles bees have in the environment.

Thousands of people came into the tent over the two-day festival. They peeked into the visible hive, and looked at examples of a Langstroth box, a topbar, and the splendid HexHive prototype. We had a big display of bee-friendly plants, and lots of members stayed for hours to answer questions from the public about swarms and bee behavior. Many of the visitors signed up to become members of SBBA, take beekeeping classes, and donated to the cause. Many left with little decal tattoos of the SBBA logo bee and will be spurred to talk about their enthusiasm for bees. We’re excited that these educational presentations make people aware of ways they can change their own landscaping or host a hive in their yard, and help our vital friends the honeybees.

We want to say a big thanks to the Community Environmental Council, the Santa Barbara community and the people that visited our tent. As well we appreciate even more all the great work and support from out volunteers as we work towards the goal of helping people help bees.

Through the help of SBBA, Westmont’s Beekeeping Club has been able to complete the beginning stages of a hive transfer, and are looking forward to tending an apiary on their campus. Students cleaned and fixed up an old Top Bar Hive, as well as transferred comb from a swarm occupied in an old bird box, to the newly reconstructed hive. The students learned a great deal in the process simply by asking questions and getting a hands on experience from beekeeping expert, Nick “the beekeeper”.

For Immediate Release: March 3, 2014
Contact: Todd Bebb, Vice President, Santa Barbara Beekeepers Association (SBBA)
805-450-9194; todd@sbba.org

Local Bees in Danger – California Department of Food and Agriculture Plans Pesticide Application in Carpinteria and Summerland

In response to the discovery of 2 Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) in residential citrus trees in Carpinteria and Summerland, the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) is planning a targeted pesticide application in Carpinteria, in the Cravens Lane and Foothill Road area, possibly affecting numerous residential properties. This application follows on the heels of similar sprayings throughout the State, and most recently, Ojai in Ventura County.

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