Session 1 - Online via Zoom
Presented Wednesday evening in March.
Click here to see the description from 2022.
The Honey Bee
- Key facts
- Anatomy
- Head
- Antennae, eyes, mouth
- Mandibular glands
- Hypophyngeal glands
- Thorax
- Locomotion
- Pollen collection
- Abdomen
- Digestion
- Reproduction
- Wax glands
- Venom sac
- Stinger
- Head
- Queen, workers, drones
- Brood development
- Queen
- Workers
- Drones
Pests and Diseases
- Varroa
- Wax moths
- Hive beetles
- Other pests (ants, mice, etc)
- Other diseases (nosema, DWV, chalkbrood, foulbrood, etc.)
Types of Hives
- Langstroth, Top Bar, Warre, Flow Hive
- Langstroth
- Hive bodies
- Bottom boards
- Frames and foundation
- Lids
PPE, Tools and Equipment
- Personal Protective Gear (PPE)
- Full suit, or jacket
- Gloves
- Precautions when working on your hives
- Tools and Equipment
- Hive tool and smoker
- Queen excluder
- Feeders
- Entrance reducer
Getting Bees
- Where to get bees
- Packages and Nucs
- Comparison
- Be prepared
- Local regulations
- Location
- Installation plan
Inspecting Your Hive
- First 90 days
- Expected growth
- Inspection plan and schedule
Installing Your Bees
- How to install a Nuc
- How to install a Package.
Products of the Hive
- Honey
- Wax
- Mead
- Propolis
- Pollen
- Venom
- Royal Jelly
Resources
- Web Sites
- Books
- Magazines
- Master Beekeeping Programs
Session 2 - Field Class
Presented Saturday morning on site.
The following is taken from Sara's prep sheet for the the March 2021 class.
Welcome Presentation
- Arrive and check in
- Welcome
- Introduction of mentors
- Events overview
- Match students with mentors
Time: 15 minutes
Equipment Presentation
- Smoker
- Overview
- Fuel
- How to light
- Tools
- Hive tool
- Hive Components
- Overview of hive components
- Use and assembly
- PPE
- Zip up!
Time: 15 minutes
Hands On
- Break off into mentor groups
- Demonstrate a hive inspection with the empty hive
- Explain installation of a nuc
- Install the nuc
- Pass around frames and answer questions
Time: 1 hour
Closing Remarks
- When to install a honey super
- Q & A
- Pass out GBA cards with mentor's name and contact info
- Thank you
Time: 15 minutes
Logistics
Take Home
- Students will take home a lighter, cork and laminated inspection sheet
Props
- Sara: lighters, corks for smokers, laminated inspection sheets, queen excluder, duct tape, shavings
- Randy: demonstration hive box
- Lew: your pest control, borax..., folding table, hive brackets to hold frames
- Roark: your smoker fuel, cardboard/burlap cigar
- Arthur: your smoker fuel, wood chips, your ant control, hive brackets to hold frames, the hook hive tool
- Jaime: I didn't write down what you were assigned
- ALL: smokers, extra smokers, we would like to have a smoker per student to practice with.
- Flat hive tools, unless Arthur has enough for everyone? Otherwise make sure your tool comes clean and sanitized. We should also torch them that morning.
- Arthur, Lew, Roark one of you make sure you have your torch with you.