Beekeeping Fundamentals

🐝 Now’s the Time to Start Your Beekeeping Journey! 🌸

If you’ve ever wanted to harvest backyard honey, tend your own colony, or just want to learn about the enchanting world of bees – this is your moment! My Beekeeping course is designed to help you connect with the bees safely, and embrace a rewarding new hobby in agriculture.

 

✨ 6 Online Classes: Step-by-step guidance on bee biology, apiary setup, ongoing maintenance, swarms, making splits, gardening with bees, recipes from the hive, history, lore, science, planting for pollination, and honey harvesting.

✨ 3 Optional Field Trips: Hands-on experiences with live hives to build your confidence, plus opportunities to harvest honey, proplis and beeswax (in the Abilene area) – You will also need to purchase your own protective gear. 

Why now? 🗓️ Bee orders for April/May pick-up are happening NOW. Learn everything you need this season so you’ll be ready to welcome your bees in the Spring!

📅 Don’t wait—space is limited. 

Register here

January 22 - February 26, Wednesdays 4p-5p CST
online over zoom - replays will be sent to all who register

Week 1: Introduction to American Beekeeping and Bee Biology (Jan 22)
  • Overview and Landscape of Beekeeping: History, benefits, and why it’s a rewarding hobby.
  • Understanding the Bee Hive: Basic hive components (Langstroth vs. Top Bar).
  • Bee Biology 101: The roles of the queen, worker bees, drones, and how the colony functions.
  • How Bees Impact the Environment: Pollination, ecosystem health, and the importance of bees.
  • Course Assignment: Identify different types of bees (local and imported) and explore the life cycle of a bee.

     

Week 2: Setting Up Your Hive (Jan 29)
  • Choosing the Right Hive for You: Langstroth, top-bar, and other hive styles.
  • Hive Location: How to select the best spot for your hive, including climate, sunlight, and water sources.
  • Setting Up Basic Equipment: Essential tools and supplies needed to start beekeeping.
  • Preparing Your Apiary: Space considerations, safety, and managing bee behavior around your home.
  • Course Assignment: Research and select your first hive kit and equipment to order.
 
Week 3: Ordering Your Bees and Building Your Colony (Feb 5)
  • Package Bees vs. Nucleus Colony (Nuc): Pros and cons of each option.
  • Ordering Bees: How and when to order your bees for spring delivery, and the best sources.
  • Hive Installation: Best practices for introducing your bees into the hive.
  • Understanding Bee Delivery: What to expect when receiving your bees and how to handle them.
  • Course Assignment: Order your bees, plan your hive installation date.

     

Week 4: Basic Bee Care and Maintenance (Feb 12)
  • Routine Hive Inspections: How to check for queen health, brood patterns, and hive health.
  • Feeding Your Bees: When and how to supplement with sugar syrup or pollen patties.
  • Managing Pests and Diseases: Common threats like Varroa mites and small hive beetles, and natural management techniques.
  • Hive Management in Spring: Preparing your hive for growth in the warmer months.
  • Course Assignment: Conduct your first hive inspection (simulated in class) and identify hive health indicators.

     

Week 5: Understanding Bee Behavior and Managing a Growing Hive (Feb 19)
  • Colony Expansion: How bees naturally grow and how to prevent swarming.
  • Queen Management: Identifying healthy queens, managing weak queens, and replacing queens.
  • Understanding Bee Communication: The waggle dance, pheromones, and how bees communicate with each other.
  • Seasonal Hive Maintenance: Preparing for summer nectar flow, and strategies for honey storage.
  • Course Assignment: Learn the signs of swarming and how to manage it.

     

Week 6: Preparing for Winter and Honey Harvesting (Feb 26)
  • Harvesting Honey: When and how to harvest honey, including uncapping and extracting techniques.
  • Winter Hive Care: How to prepare your hive for winter, including reducing entrances, providing insulation, and ensuring food stores.
  • Beekeeping Throughout the Seasons: Tips for managing your hive year-round.
  • Final Steps and Continuing Education: How to expand your beekeeping knowledge and community support for beginners.
  • Course Assignment: Plan your fall and winter bee care strategy.