Introductory course to the fascinating world of beekeeping and honey production for the beginner or hobby beekeeper. Learn the art of basic beekeeping. Set up your own colony of bees. Assemble your own bee equipment. Learn how to produce your own honey
The sessions are led by experienced beekeepers and include lecture and hands-on application of the presented material that is based on Beekeeping Basics, originally prepared by Clarence Collison with major updates and revisions by Maryann Frazier and Dewey Caron. Course includes six 3½ hour sessions. Morning classes run 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. These classes are designed for the beginner or beekeeper with limited experience. Beekeeping equipment and bees will be available for purchase during the seminar.
This course is scheduled for six Sunday sessions from February thru July at Pennypacker Mills, Morris Arboretum, and Worcester Honey Farm. Only 25 people for each group of classes will be accepted and advance registration is required.
Additional sessions are available for those who miss one or more of the sessions or just want to spend more times with the bees.
The instructors are committed to present a knowledgeable and enjoyable, interactive, and intensively hands-on workshop. We are friendly and encourage you to contact us throughout the course for advice, help, or a sympathetic ear.
Worcester Honey Farms
P.O. Box 269
Worcester, PA 19490
February Session
Session one will cover the history of beekeeping, bee anatomy, and setting up bee colonies. Bee anatomy and how it is related to the bee’s life and work will be covered. The various ways to set up new colonies will be discussed and demonstrated. You will also learn about woodenware and personal protective equipment. Students will be able to order new equipment, bees, and woodenware at this session.
March Session
Session two will review the difference between honey bees and other bees in addition to the difference between bees and other stinging insects. The history of Africanized Honey Bee (Killer Bee) and its current location in North America will be reviewed. Information on identification of bee diseases and parasites will be presented.
April Session
Session three will focus on the collection of nectar and pollen, natural conversion of nectar into honey, and the honey harvest. Production of comb honey and extracted honey will be discussed. Then, it is outdoors to open hives and analyze what is happening in the hives. Everyone will be expected to operate a smoker, open a hive, remove a comb, and identify eggs, larva, pupa, pollen, nectar, and honey on that comb.
May & June Sessions
Session four and five will be in the bee yard opening hives and performing a normal spring inspection that will include evaluation of stores, honey flow underway, amount of brood, location of the queen, and general health of the colony. A swarm will be hived from the crab apple tree.
July Session
Session six will provide a review in the beeyard. The class will provide additional practice finding the queen and examining an established colony for brood, hive population, and general health of the colony. Then, honey will be removed from hives and honey extracting equipment will be demonstrated. The last part of the class will cover the list of year round activities and Fall/Winter treatment.
“I took this class, signing up after the class from the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association class was filled up. Sometimes God smiles on you—this was a small (25 students) hands-on class where the students actually got their hands dirty, installed the bees, moved the combs, caught drones, found queens, and harvested honey. The only thing we did not do was sell the honey. I am ready to take the second course that might be offered next year or the following. Yes, I would recommend this class to not only beginners but those who have had bees before. As a reference, I had bees for two seasons before taking this course.”
Click here for a registration form.
Web Site: www.pabeekeeper.com