On Saturday, May 17, 2014, just over 1000 people visited the UF/IFAS Extension grounds for the annual Master Gardener’s Plant Sale and Ag Fest.  Not only were there beautiful flowering plants, trees, herbs, and vegetable plants available for sale, several local agricultural organizations were represented as well, including the Gainesville Area Bee Club! This is probably our most effective outreach program all year because we get to talk to a lot of people who have an interest in gardening, the earth, homesteading, and similar topics that often give them some level of interest in honey bees.  Volunteers from GAB Gary Dockter, Susan Harris, Janice Garry, Cecelia and Ken Young, and Kim Harris, plus state apiary inspector, Ryan Willingham, were on site to answer questions and spread the good word about beekeeping.  Several hundred people stopped by the GAB booth to see our observation hive and talk about pollination, CCD, the basics of beekeeping, and the club, and we hope to have some new members join GAB or another area club to become better and more-informed beekeepers as a result.

Gary, Cecelia, Susan, and Ken with event organizer Wendy Wilbur.

The club’s observation hive and bees were a big hit with young and old alike.

There’s so much to learn.

The GAB booth even offered opportunities for artistic creativity.

We enjoyed getting to talk to all kinds of people about bees.