Montgomery County Beekeepers Association of Pennsylvania

2018Beginners Beekeeping Course

Are you interested in beekeeping but have never done it before? Have you started raising honey bees and want to lean more? Perhaps you have been raising honey bees for a few years and just want some refresher techniques. If so, then the Montgomery County Beginners Beekeeping Course is just the right thing for you! It offers classes that are timely to your seasonal beekeeping needs with a hands-on session in the apiary followed by lessons full of beekeeping insight and information in a classroom.

WHEN: The course consists of 8 classes from February to September. March to September there will be hands on activities in the apiary starting at 6:00pmfollowed byclassroom activities starting at 7:00pm. Please note- the first class will be entirely in the classroom so no veil or equipment is needed. It begins at 6:00pm in the 4-H Center.After the first class, veils will bemandatory at the apiary. Anyone who attends the apiary sessions and does not have a veil will not be permitted near the hives. Be sure you are not allergic to honeybee stings – get tested before you sign up.

WHERE: The Montgomery County 4-H Center, 1015 Bridge Rd., (Route 113), Creamery, PA.

COST: A single student receives membership to the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association, membership to the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association, one ticket to our fabulous fall banquet, educational materials, and eight great classes with hands on apiary experience for only $120. The “family” rate is for two adults living at the same address and includes all of the above plus an additional banquet ticket for a total fee of $180. Class size is limited and enrollment will be allotted on a first to register-first enrolled basis. Do not expect to walk in and be seated.

CONTACT: For more information go to our website where you can register and pay for the course at:

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New Beekeeper’s Calendar -

February 8,
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM / Welcome to Beekeeping – Sign-in and introductions
- What level of commitment is required to keep honey bees
- Getting tested for allergic reactions to bee stings
- Equipment and gear needed
- Ordering equipment, packages, and nucs
- Assembling and weather proofing equipment
- Selecting hive locations
- Honey bees and varroa mites
March 8, 6:00 PM
7:00 PM / In the beeyard: Lighting smokers – bring your smokers
In the classroom: Preparing for package arrival or nuc pick up
- Equipment needed (review)
- Ordering equipment & packages (review)
- Assembling equipment (review)
- Hive locations (review)
- Installing packages and nucs, feeding and pollen substitute
-When and how to use smoke
- Mite assessment and oxalic acid dribble/vapor
April 12, 6:00 PM
7:00 PM / In the beeyard: Feeding bees – bring veil – no gloves. Sugar roll and mite assessment.
In the classroom:
- Varroa mite reproduction cycle, mite drop data collection and survey
-Bee equipment
-Feeding, looking for eggs and brood, checking the queen
- Colony development, honey comb – good and bad
- Varroa mite intervention and mite drop information
May 10, 6:00 PM
7:00 PM / In the beeyard: Working bees – bring veil –no gloves. Sugar roll and mite assessment.
In the classroom:
- Spring management
- Mite drop data collection and survey
- Feeding bees, growing the colony, adding brood boxes
- Pollen and nectar sources,
- Reading the honey comb,
- Analyzing the colony
June13,6:00 PM
7:00 PM / In the bee yard: – Working bees - bring veil – no gloves. Sugar roll and mite assessment.
In the classroom:
- What your bees should be doing
- Brood pattern, pollen & nectar storage
-Mites - why, where, when, what to do
-Mite Controls – IPM, VHS bees, treatments, hard or soft vs. organic
July 12, 6:00 PM
7:00 PM / In the beeyard: Honey harvesting – bring veil – no gloves. Sugar roll and mite assessment.
In the classroom:
- Honey extraction - Uncapping, spinning and drip, straining, cappings, wet supering
-Post harvest management, restricting the queen
-Colony management with little or no nectar flow
-Post harvest mite control
- Robbing prevention and protecting weak colonies
August 16,6:00 PM
7:00 PM / In the beeyard: Colony evaluation - bring veil – no gloves. Sugar roll and mite assessment.
In the classroom:
- Checking for colony health, stores assessment, brood production
-Bee diseases andtreatments
- Parasites and predators
- Preparing for fall – feeding mid-late summer
Sept. 13, 6:00PM
7:00 PM / In the beeyard: Mouse guards – bring veil – no gloves. Sugar roll and mite assessment.
In the Classroom:
- Fall queen assessment and re-queening
-Fall management – feeding, queen management, preparations for winter
- Feeding bees - fall vs. winter, colony strength evaluation, combining colonies
- Over Wintering bees- feeding, checking the colony
- Over wintering supers- storing equipment
-The beekeeper’s year – planning for spring

To All,

A bit of insight for anyone considering a start in the art and science of keeping honey bees - these amazing little insects are a wonder of nature and truly fascinating to work with and learn about. However, beekeeping is no longer the casual endeavor it used to be before the importation of tracheal mites, varroa mites, and African small hive beetles. All of these, along with the agricultural and turf management chemicals used on a broad basis across much of our landscape,have a negative impact upon the health and success of honey bees making them more vulnerable to decline and die-off than ever before.

Like raising any other kind of livestock, to successfully maintain honey bees requires time, effort, and attention to the health and condition of the honey bees on a regular basis. As a beginner beekeeper one should be prepared to open and inspect your colonies once a week from early spring until mid-fall,feeding your bees more often than that when needed. Careful attention must be paid to the development of the colony, the status and productivity of the queen, the level of stores the bees are able to bring in and maintain, plus monitor and treat for mites, hive beetles, and disease as is necessary.

The start-up costs varybut can range between $600 - $800 for the necessary gear, honey bees,and one complete Langstroth hive setup. Having two colonies to compare against each other and share colony resources is beneficial for anyone but, in particular, for a beginner beekeeper. No additional beekeeping gear is required to maintain a second colony, only the additional cost of the honey bees and the hive which may range from about $375 to $500.

Keeping honey bees is not like setting up a bird house in the back yard only to relax and enjoy the subjects of your interest. It requires effort and focused attention. But if you like to be outside, propagate things, roll up your sleeves and accomplish a task, and learn about the natural world – this could be one of the best things you have ever done in your life. I can attest to that from my own experience.

Regards,

Mark Antunes

MCBA Beginner Beekeeping Instructor