Valley of the Moon Garden Club hosts bee-keeping experts

The Valley of the Moon Garden Club will host the educational event titled "ABCs of Living with Honey Bees" at its upcoming meeting.

Honey bees, renowned for their vital role in pollination and their association with honey and candle wax, are the focus of an upcoming event organized by the club. The event aims to educate attendees about the significance of honey bees in the local ecosystem and provide valuable insights into beekeeping and bee-related activities.

Local bee experts and mentors to young keepers, Will Ackley and Nadya Clark, will both present talks on their expertise with bee-keeping and related knowledge.

Clark started beekeeping from scratch over 10 years ago with three swarms, and volunteered for many years as Librarian for Sonoma County Beekeepers Association. She is currently a member of the SCBA Swarm List for Sonoma Valley. She takes calls to collect honey bees that have left their hive to “swarm” and find a new home after the hive becomes too full.

With 16 years of experience, Ackley is an expert at removing bees from homes and other structures. He is the owner of Wild Will’s Honey with a passion for engaging the public on the topic of bees. His current inspiration is studying Apitherapy, also known as bee sting venom therapy.

The interactive session will cover a range of topics, including raising bees, swarm management and the extraction of bees from buildings. The event also aims to shed light on the challenges faced by bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, in the wake of pesticide use, habitat loss and climate change. Participants will have the opportunity to learn practical ways in which they can contribute to the survival and well-being of these essential creatures.

Attendees will learn what can be done to help bees survive. Bees and all pollinators, including butterflies, are all are adapting to overcome pesticide use, loss of habitat and climate change.

The evening will commence with a meet and greet session starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the main presentation at 7 p.m. Admission is free for club members, while guests are kindly requested to make a $5 donation, which can be applied towards a club membership fee of $25 per year. Attendees can also look forward to a plant raffle and refreshments after the presentation, providing an opportunity for further discussion and networking.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 1, at Burlingame Hall, located at the First Congregational Church at 252 W. Spain St. in Sonoma.