Central Virginia Beekeepers Association

Ergonomics in the Hive
Beekeeping without hurting our bodies
Thursday, June 11, 2026
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Ivy Creek Foundation Educational Building
1780 Earlysville Road, Charlottesville
The June presentation will not be about beekeeping but have
everything to do with beekeeping. Our human bodies are subject o
aches and pains from necks, wrists, elbows, fingers, backs, knees,
etc. and beekeeping often doesn’t do any favors.
Tara Fontenot will discuss common
overuse injuries and demonstrate
ergonomic ways to work bees with less risk
to our bodies.

Received a swarm call in Charlottesville. Hope that's a good sign.

Upcoming class on electric fences. Not too far

Electric Fence-Building — Virginia Cooperative Extension - Virginia State University Electric Fence-Building Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 450 Walker Road Mount Jackson, VA, 22842

Rain!!

This American Holly was just about to bloom when it got zapped by a late freeze on April 20th. You can still see the blackened buds and leaves. A month later it's recovered enough to be pushing out a few blooms but won't be producing nearly as much nectar for the bees as it would have during its normal bloom time.

🐝 Happy World Bee Day from the Virginia State Beekeepers Association! 🌎🍯

Today we celebrate the honey bees, native pollinators, and the dedicated beekeepers across the Commonwealth who work tirelessly to support healthy colonies, sustainable agriculture, education, and conservation.

Pollinators are essential to our ecosystems and food supply, helping produce many of the crops and plants we rely on every day. Whether you manage thousands of colonies or simply plant flowers for pollinators in your backyard, every effort matters.

World Bee Day is also a reminder of the challenges bees continue to face:
🐝 Varroa mites
🌿 Habitat loss
☀️ Environmental stressors
🚫 Pesticide exposure
🌧️ Changing weather patterns

Through education, mentorship, research, and community outreach, the Virginia State Beekeepers Association remains committed to supporting beekeepers and promoting healthy pollinator populations throughout Virginia.

Today, we encourage everyone to:
🌻 Plant pollinator-friendly flowers
💧 Provide clean water sources
🐝 Support local beekeepers
📚 Learn about pollinator conservation
🌎 Help create healthier habitats for all pollinators

Thank you to all of the Virginia beekeepers, clubs, educators, researchers, and volunteers helping make a difference every day.

Happy World Bee Day! 💛

Talk about productive laying workers! Queen rearing is not always rosy. Occasionally I miss checking on a nuc until it's a bit too late. One thing I've been observing is that the few times I see laying workers they lay far more eggs in the drone size comb than worker comb. Makes sense that the diploid drones would not be culled as fast by other bees.

CVBA meeting Thursday, May 14th. 6:30 PM. Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm