Beekeeping Class for Beginners – NOV 2 & 9

  • WHAT:
    • 3-Day Beginner Beekeeping Class
  • FORMAT:
    • 13 hours of classroom, presented on 2 consecutive Saturdays, PLUS a 3rd day of instruction in an outdoor apiary
  • WHEN:
    • Day 1 is Saturday Nov 2, 9:00AM to 3:30PM
    • Day 2 is Saturday Nov 9, 9:00AM to 3:30PM
    • Day 3 is the Field Day, date, time TBD by weather (may be held in spring)
  • WHERE:
  • $90 TUITION INCLUDES:
    • 1 student enrollment in the 3-Day course (must be an MCBA member in good standing)
    • 1 copy of "The Beekeepers Handbook" by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile ($21 value)
    • 1 note pad and MCBA folder
    • 1 hive tool
    • Light snacks and beverages on days 1 and 2

WANT TO BE A BEEKEEPER?  

You’ll be taking on the earnest responsibility of caring for 10’s of thousands of honey bees.  Beekeepers must monitor their bees’ wellbeing. They make sure bees have the things the colony needs to thrive (including food, water, shelter, and a viable bee community), and that the colony isn't suffering from things that cause honey bees harm or death -- (including parasites,  diseases, and invaders that want to rob them).

IT IS A YEAR ROUND COMMITMENT.

SPRING requires frequent inspections of the inside of the hive. You’ll check if they need food, and you’ll help the colony if it gets too big or too small.  Spring is the only time in our area when bees make excess honey, so you need to be ready to enlarge their hive as they run out of storage space. However, the number one thing to do in  early spring is treat for mites 

SUMMER requires inspections every other week.  At the end of July, you’ll harvest some of the honey - don’t take too much.  What you leave them has to last them till next spring. By July, very few blossoms produce appreciable nectar.  In our area, beekeepers start feeding their bees after the harvest, so bees can replace some of the harvested honey. After the harvest, it is important to treat for mites again, because the mite population will be peaking.  Treating for mites ensures the bees are strong and healthy as they start producing the generation of bees that will tough-out the winter. No treatment successfully kills all the mites, and new mites arrive all the time, so treating is an ongoing effort. 

FALL   is your last chance to ensure the hive is arranged and stocked to survive winter.  

WINTER doesn’t require regular inspections - opening the hive chills the baby bees. On a warmish day late in winter you might sneak a peek to see if they have food.  Mostly, use winter to plan for the busy spring, and learn new things about caring for bees.

WHERE DO YOU START?

Montgomery County Beekeepers Association is offering a THREE DAY introduction to beekeeping course. Days 1 and 2 are at an indoor classroom. Day 3 is a Field Day, outside in an apiary (date TBD).

The class teaches the beginner beekeeping skills needed to establish, maintain and protect a honey bee colony. 

The only prerequisites are being an MCBA member and having an interest in learning about beekeeping.  There is a lot to learn, but remember: bees have trained beekeepers for thousands of years, and they have gotten good at it.

Ξ Please Note   

  1. You must be an MCBA member to enroll in this Beekeeping Class.
  2. Membership in MCBA does not guarantee a seat in the class.  Enrollment is limited to 50 students, and does fill up.
  3. Tuition is NON-REFUNDABLE.  However, with teacher approval, you are permitted to sell your seat to another qualified MCBA member for up to full face value.
  4. Each participant must register separately.  (i.e. It is not possible to purchase two seats in the same transaction.)
  5. Only registered participants may attend.
  6. Be sure you have joined our free ListServ to receive notifications.

Textbook is included with the course.

The Beekeeper’s Handbook (4th Edition)
Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile

 

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Ξ To Enroll

Remember:

  • Enrollment is limited to the first 50 members to complete enrollment
  • Each participant must register separately.  (i.e. It is not possible to purchase two seats in the same transaction.)
  • Only registered participants may attend.
  • You must be LOGGED IN to register.

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Syllabus for "Beekeeping Class for Beginners"

Click to see Syllabus

Field Days

Field days give new beekeepers hands on mentoring with an experienced beekeeper in the club’s bee yard at Brookside Nature Center (Different location than the indoor class!)  Dates for field days will be determined based on weather.  All field days will be announced in advance via the MCBA ListServ.

Additional Field Days & Mentoring

MCBA sponsors free Hands-On Hive management demonstrations throughout the Spring and Summer at Brookside Nature Center.  To receive emailed updates on demonstration topics, dates, and times, join the MCBA Listserv.

Resources

Additional Reading 

  • Our Website!   www.MontgomeryCountyBeekeepers.com
  • Backyard Beekeeper – author Kim Flottum
  • Top-Bar Hive Beekeeping: Wisdom and Pleasure Combined – author Wyatt A. Mangum

Bee Magazines

Beekeeper Equipment Suppliers