Humboldt County Beekeepers Association November Meeting Invitation

Dear HCBA Members,

We are delighted to invite you to our November General meeting, set for Thursday, November 5th, 2026, at 6:00 PM Pacific Time.  The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom, allowing you to join from the comfort of your home.

Pollen

Although individual grains are too small for our human eyes, pollen is fascinating in design and function. It serves as the reproductive link for flowering plants and also vital nutrition for our bees. Bees use their fuzzy bodies to collect and transport pollen and while remembering the smells and tastes of different flowers, just like how we remember our favorite foods. Join Master Beekeeper, Mark Carlson, President of SF Beekeeping Association, as he unlocks the magic and mystery of bees and their pollen. He’ll discuss the role of pollen in bee nutrition, tips for identifying the types of pollen in your bee yards, and explain how pollen’s smelly oily coating serves as both aromatic advertisements and an immunity boost against diseases.

About Our Speaker: Mark Carlson

Mark started keeping honey bees 20 years ago as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador and today he has a dozen backyard hives around San Francisco. He is the President of the SF Beekeepers Association, a CA Master Beekeeper and a Senior R&D Scientist for Micro-Tracers, Inc. He’s also a honey judge, and like his urban honey bees, he loves the local eucalyptus, blackberry, mustard and fennel flavors.

Meeting Details

• Date: Thursday, November 5th, 2026

• Time: 6:00 PM Pacific Time

• Location: Virtual via Zoom (join from anywhere!)

• Registration: Click here to register. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with instructions to join the meeting.