Next TBBA Meeting
Thursday September 12, @ 7 p.m.
Hillsborough County Extension Office
5339 County Rd 579, Seffner, FL 33584
About Us
Our meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month with a work day in the bee yard the following Saturday. For location and directions, check back monthly, the locations can change.
The Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association (TBBA) exists to promote responsible beekeeping. One of our aims is to encourage new people into this fascinating craft and to assist you by:
- Providing contact with experienced beekeepers who can help you start
- Running introductory courses
- Supporting and mentoring to help you through your first year
- Advising on the purchase of equipment
- Providing a local association as a focal point for members
Membership is $20.- per household, for a calendar year.
membership forms will be at the meetings.
The Board of Directors meets quarterly. For dates, please contact an officer.
Meeting Information
Our regular bee meetings will be on the Second Thursday of every month at the Hillsborough County Extension Office: 5339 County Rd 579, Seffner, FL, 33584 The meeting starts at 7 PM followed at 7:30 by a potluck dinner and special speakers at 8:00 PM. We close off the night with business meeting and raffle.
Apiary Field Day:
Our Apiary field days are on most Saturday’s following our meeting, the location, day, and time can change due to weather or situations. It is announced at the meetings. Often meet at 9:30 a.m. go through the bees and have a lunch paid for by the association.
Events
2024 TBBA
Honey Bee Seminar
Was on Saturday June 22, 2024
We will announce when our next seminar is in the future.
Bee Removals
The TBBA does not perform bee removals but you if there is a swarm or a colony of honey bees, that is a nuisance, you can reach out to the listed people below for your area.
Removals take time, equipment and experience, most removals are not free.
Brandon, Plant City, & Riverview
Robert Jones - (813)-424-9252
Lutz, Wesley Chapel, & Land O’ Lakes
Bert Blackburn - (813)-758-7822 (text first!)
South Tampa & McDill AFB
Kyle Foster - (813)-503-9654
Seminole Heights
Angela Rodriguez Diaz - (787)-717-7689
Polk County
Steve Bouchard (Steve’s Bees) - Specializing in high swarms - (863)-602-0646
Jonathan Beale (Miss Beehavin’ Bee Company) - (863)-336-1127
Carlin Doyen - (863)-289-3985
Please contact a beekeeper listed above for price quotes and availability. If safely possible take some photos of the bees and where they are at exactly, to help the beekeepers.
This information is provided for reference purposes only, you are responsible to check the license and insurance of the subcontractor you hire to work on your property.
No endorsement or recommendation by the TBBA is implied.
Or check with the Florida Department of Agriculture page for additional listings: https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Consumer-Rights-and-Responsibilities/Pest-Control/Honey-Bee-Removal-or-Eradication-in-Florida
TBBA Library
Booklist
Info For NewBees
Resources & Classes
voucher information
beekeeper registration
Jamie & Amy UF-Beelab
2 Bees in a Podcast
2024 TBBA HONEYBEE SEMINAR
Was on Saturday, June 22, 2024
podcast
Bee Yard Information
Most Saturday’s, following our meetings, we meet at a bee yard with the associations hives.
We meet at 9:30 a.m. learn from us in the bee yard then join us for lunch paid for by the association. You will learn how to enter the hives, what is happening in the colonies, and depending on the season different maintenance and procedures we do to keep the colonies healthy, make increases and harvest honey.
YOU MUST sign a waiver, wear long pants, long sleeves and closed toe shoes.
This is a family-friendly event and kids (6 and older) are welcome. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
On a typical day at the bee yard, members learn from experienced club members how to open, inspect and manage hives at the clubs apiary.
During a routine inspection you will be shown how to identify workers, drone, queen, larva, and eggs within the brood box.
Contact Us
President: Bert Blackburn
Vice President: Bill Clark
Treasurer: Rein Verbeek
