2012

Beginning Beekeeping Course

Feb. 28, Mar. 6, 13, 20,

Field Day March 31

 

The course is free, and designed to supply a novice beekeeper with all the information needed to take a colony from it’s inception through its first year.  We only ask that you be interested in beekeeping.  The class is free, and open to all who are interested in beekeeping.

The classroom sessions will be held at the Houston County Farm Center (corner of Ross Clark Circle and Rt. 53 (Cottonwood Rd)), and start at 7 pm and run for about 2 hours.  The field session will start at noon at Landmark Park on US 431.  Because we will be working with active colonies, people coming to Landmark will need their beekeeping protective gear.

Recommended texts:  First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane; The Beekeeper’s Handbook 4th Edition by Diane Sammataro

Questions? Call Bill Miller at (334)794-8362 or e-mail him at wgmiller@aol.com

 

Tuesday Feb. 28 7 pm: Welcome to Beekeeping and Equipment Overview

 

            Introduction to beekeeping, equipment needs and sources, and equipment assembly

            This is a hand-on session.   Bring a hammer!

 

Tuesday Mar. 6, 7 pm: Biology 1 - The Three Types of Bees

 

            The bees in a colony come in three basic types – worker, drone, and queen.  We’ll discuss each type’s unique biology, life cycle, and functions.

 

Tuesday, March 13, 7 pm: Biology 2 - The Colony as a Unit

 

            We’ll discuss how the three types of bees form a working colony, and how the colony varies with the year depending on what is needed and what is available.

 

Tuesday, March 20, 7 pm: The Beekeeper's Year and Bee Diseases

 

            We’ll cover how a colony varies with the season and how the beekeeper deals with each season.  We’ll also cover Alabama registration requirements and common bee diseases

 

Saturday, Mar. 31, 12 noon: Field Session with the Landmark Park Hives (beekeeping protective gear required!)

 

            We will meet at Landmark Park.  We’ll suit up, light smokers, and inspect the park’s hives, emphasizing proper hive working procedure.  We’ll find the three types of bees, and probably a few unwelcome pests too.  We’ll also start a colony by hiving a package.

 

New File 1/2/12 BM/brf