James Haskell Classes

Becoming a Beekeeper – Free Class in October!

Ever wondered how to become a beekeeper?

Join our free class and find out what you need to get started! No prior experience necessary, this course is designed to help anyone considering caring for their own bees.

We will explain the necessary tools, hive components, and safety gear. You will learn the difference between starting your colony with a bee package vs a nuc. And build up your understanding of what to expect throughout the beekeeping year. Finally, the most important thing to take away is where you can go for help when you don't know what to do. We scheduled this class before the holidays so you can treat yourself with the gift of bee supplies and a future hive!

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.

When:
- Thursday, Oct 26, 7-8 PM:  Zoom
- Saturday, Oct 28, 9-11 AM:  Hands-On at GBA Apiary,

Cost:  FREE!

We will be covering:

Register now, or email GBA for more information.
You must be a current GBA member - click here to become a member.

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Please use the same email as your GBA membership registration.

Harvesting and Hive Products

Your bees have been busy making honey - how do I harvest?

Join our class and find out everything you need to know about harvesting, hive products, and summer hive maintenance! This course is designed to show you how and when to harvest honey, wax and other hive products. We will also review summer hive maintenance - proper feeding and treatment. The best way to protect is to identify problems early - that's why the focus of these sessions will continue to be on identifying and eradicating common honeybee maladies such as Varroa, ants, foulbrood, and nosema.

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.

The Harvesting and Hive Products class is a hands-on field class.

When: TBA

Location:  Location to be announced

GBA Member Instructors:  Master Beekeeper Sara Cutrignelli (UC Davis)

Cost per person: $80.00

Click here to enroll.

At the field location
Date and Location TBA

Here's your chance to get together with experienced beekeeper mentors:

  • How to do a hive inspection
  • Selecting and removing honey frames from the hive
  • Uncapping techniques
  • Loading and running the extractor
  • Wax rendering
  • Other hive products
  • Cleaning and maintaining frames and boxes

Note: each participant is expected to bring personal protective equipment (PPE) including veil, jacket, gloves and boots. PPE is available at these establishments:

Helping Your Hives Thrive and Grow

You've installed your bees and things are starting to happen in the hives, what's next?

Join our two-part class and find out everything you need to know about helping your hives thrive and grow! This course is designed with mid-year maintenance in mind to help beekeepers keep their hives healthy. Learn about the nutritional requirements and how to monitor/maintain the growing hive. This includes protecting honeybee colonies from harmful diseases, parasites, and other pests. The best way to protect is the ability to identify problems early and that's why the focus of these sessions will be on identifying and eradicating common honeybee maladies such as Varroa, ants, foulbrood, and nosema.

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 Helping Your Hives Thrive and Grow class with a virtual meeting, followed with a hands-on session at the Club Apiary.

When: 
TBA

Location:  Zoom and bee yard location to be announced

GBA Member Instructors:  Master Beekeepers Sara Cutrignelli (UC Davis) and Arthur Kubogamell (Cornell), plus GBA mentors.

Cost per person: $80.00, or $280 for the 4 class series

Click here to enroll.

Day 1: Zoom
TBA

Join experienced and master beekeepers from the comfort of your computer for the first in our two-part course. We will discuss:

  • How to assess your brood and take corrective actions
  • What you can expect of a healthy hive at this time of the year
  • Identifying and treating for common pests
  • Preparing for summer
  • Syrup prep
  • When to give and when to reduce space in a hive
  • Influences on honey production

Note: attendance at this midweek online class is a prerequisite to the practical class at the weekend.

Day 2: at the Club Apairy
TBA

Here's your chance to get together with experienced beekeeper mentors and put into practice what you have learned online:

  • How to do a hive inspection
  • Brood assessment
  • Hive expectations/simple fixes
  • Recognizing and testing for common maladies
  • Space - when to give and when to reduce space in a hive

Note: each participant is expected to bring personal protective equipment (PPE) including veil, jacket, gloves and boots. PPE is available at these establishments:

You’re Getting Your Bees – Now What?

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:

James Haskell Beekeeping, Classes

Reducing Stress On Your Hives – July 2022 class

Summer is here - do your bees have enough to eat?

This course covers the common stressors for your bees - food, water, heat, and pests, and how to mitigate them. The best way to protect is to identify problems early - that's why the focus of these sessions will continue to be on identifying and mitigating common honeybee maladies Varroa, and other pests.

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.

The Reducing Stress On Your Hives is two sessions: a Zoom class Wednesday evening, July 27th at 7PM, and a hands-on field class on Sat, July 30 from 8-10AM.

When:
Wednesday evening Zoom, July 27 at 7PM
Saturday morning, July 30 at 8AM

Location:  Location to be announced

GBA Member Instructors:  Master Beekeepers Sara Cutrignelli (UC Davis) and Arthur Kubogamell (Cornell)

Cost per person: $80.00, or $280 for the 4 class series

Click here to enroll.

Zoom
Wednesday, July 27th at 7PM

  • Common stresses
  • Varroa
  • Nutritional Stress
  • How to provide food
  • Ants and other pests
  • Heat stress
  • Water
  • Hive inspections
  • Mite Counts

At the field location at 8 am
Saturday, July 30

Here's your chance to get together with experienced beekeeper mentors:

  • How to do a hive inspection
  • How to feed syrup and sugar
  • How to feed pollen patties
  • Mite counts
  • Controlling other pests

Note: each participant is expected to bring personal protective equipment (PPE) including veil, jacket, gloves and boots. PPE is available at these establishments:

James Haskell Beekeeping, Classes

Harvesting and Hive Products – June 2022

Your bees have been busy making honey - how do I harvest?

Join our class and find out everything you need to know about harvesting, hive products, and summer hive maintenance! This course is designed to show you how and when to harvest honey, wax and other hive products. We will also review summer hive maintenance - proper feeding and treatment. The best way to protect is to identify problems early - that's why the focus of these sessions will continue to be on identifying and eradicating common honeybee maladies such as Varroa, ants, foulbrood, and nosema.

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.

The Harvesting and Hive Products class is a hands-on field class on Sun, June 12 (8-12 am).

When: Sunday morning, June 12 at 8AM

Location:  Location to be announced

GBA Member Instructors:  Master Beekeepers Sara Cutrignelli (UC Davis) and Arthur Kubogamell (Cornell)

Cost per person: $80.00

Click here to enroll.

At the field location at 8 am
Sunday, June 12

Here's your chance to get together with experienced beekeeper mentors:

  • How to do a hive inspection
  • Selecting and removing honey frames from the hive
  • Uncapping techniques
  • Loading and running the extractor
  • Wax rendering
  • Other hive products
  • Cleaning and maintaining frames and boxes

Note: each participant is expected to bring personal protective equipment (PPE) including veil, jacket, gloves and boots. PPE is available at these establishments:

James Haskell Beekeeping, Classes

You’re Getting Your Bees – Now What?

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 Wednesday evening, March 23 at 7PM, and follow up with a hands-on session in the field on Saturday, March 26 at 9AM.

When: 
- Wednesday, March 23 at 7PM via Zoom
- Saturday, March 26 at 9AM in the field, location TBA

Location:  Zoom and field location to be announced

Instructors:  Master Beekepers and GBA Members - Sara Cutrignelli (UC Davis) and Arthur Kubogamell (Cornell)

Cost: $80.00 per person

Click here to enroll.

Day 1: online
Wednesday, March 23 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 bee yard
Saturday, March 26

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:

Katherin Beekeeping, Meetings

Club Night Oct 2021: Preparing your hives for winter

With October upon us, this month's club meeting included a presentation by our Education Committee to start thinking about preparing our hives for the winter months ahead. Great Q+A session afterwards, as well as a tempting thought to join our potluck later this month! These meetings are open to GBA members and one-time visitors. If you'd like further information, please contact us.

Winter Preparations – Oct 2021

Katherin Beekeeping, Meetings

Club Night Sept 2021: Fall issues in California

In our online education series, our Education Committee experts cover a variety of topics important for the hobby beekeeper. As a hot summer draws to a close, we took a closer look at some of the most pressing issues beekeepers face in this part of California, ranging from drought and threat of fire to predators, and how to make the last honey extraction of the season. Led by Master Beekeepers, Sara Cutrignelli and Arthur Kubogamell, these meetings are open to GBA and provide useful Q+A opportunities throughout. Thank you to Jamie Haskell for the video editing and slide show.

Honey Extraction – Sept 2021

Katherin Beekeeping, Meetings

Club Night: Mid-year member hive maintenance

In our current online education series, we have covered a series of topics important for the hobby beekeeper. Our subject this month continues the theme of mid-year hive maintenance and follows on the heels of our two-part class. This evening, our Education Committee, led by Master Beekeepers, Sara Cutrignelli and Arthur Kubogamell, share the inspection results and recommendations of the hives of some of our members - Steve, Chris and Chris! Thank you to Jamie Haskell for the video editing and slide show.

Mid-year hive maintenance (member hives courtesy Steve, Chris & Chris) June 2021