Ever wondered how to get started as a beekeeper?
Join our two-part class and find out everything you need to know to get started! No prior experience necessary, this course is designed to help anyone new to beekeeping gain confidence to care for their own bees.
Gilroy Beekeepers Association (GBA) has been supporting local hobby beekeepers and bringing those curious about bees together for over 20 years. Our members range from experienced beekeepers to complete newbies. Members benefit from regular meetings, access to great speakers, and training opportunities like this one - the ideal combination for learning and sharing about beekeeping.
We will be kicking off our You're Getting Your Bees - Now What? (A.K.A. "Introduction to Beekeeping") with a virtual Zoom meeting on Thursday evening, March 30 at 7PM, and follow up with a hands-on session in the field on Saturday, April 1 at 9AM.
When:
- Thursday, March 30 at 7PM via Zoom
- Saturday, April 1 at 9AM at the Apiary
Location: Zoom and field location to be announced
Instructors: Master Beekeper Arthur Kubogamell (Cornell)
Cost: $80.00 per person
Click here to enroll.
Day 1: online
Thursday, March 30 at 7PM
Join experienced and master beekeepers via Zoom for the first in our two-part course. You will hear and see:
- Why keep bees...not just for the honey
- Basic bee biology and life cycle
- Choosing which bees are best for you and how to install them
- Local regulations
- Hive setup, configuration and placement
- Pest issues
- How to do a hive inspection
- Protective equipment needed (before next session!)
Note: attendance at this online class is a prerequisite to the field class this weekend.
Day 2: at the Club Apiary
Saturday, April 1 at 9AM
Here's your chance to put into practice what you have learned the previous week. Get together with experienced beekeeper mentors and find out how to:
- Properly wear all protective equipment
- Use all tools
- How to light and use your smoker
- How to open a hive
- Recognize each of the bee castes (queen, drone, worker) cells
- Identify brood cells, honey storage cells, capped and uncapped cells
- How to install bee packages and nucs
- Look for pests
Note: don't delay! Each participant is expected to bring personal protective equipment (PPE) including veil, jacket, gloves and boots, to this class. PPE is available at these establishments: